Nine NJ teachers awarded funds to help teach students about the environment NEWARK, N.J., Oct. 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Nine New Jersey educators have extra money to supplement lesson plans with hands-on learning, thanks to grants from PSEG. The energy company awarded nearly $20,000 this year to teachers who successfully linked their students' understanding of math, science, computer science, and technology with an enthusiasm and appreciation for the environment. The PSEG Foundation has awarded Garden State educators more than $333,000 since starting its Environmental Education grant program 18 years ago. "Our grantees come up with creative ideas each year, finding ways to get their students involved in activities that directly support what they're learning in the classroom," said Jo Ann Dow-Breslin, PSEG's community affairs manager. "We're proud to support their efforts to encourage students to think about the environment in new ways." Photos of winners are available upon request. Bergen County Lyncrest Elementary School in Fair Lawn Leslee Fisher and Deborah Kempin's project, A "Ribbit-ing Mystery," will teach 3rd, 4th and 5th graders about the link between pollution and global warming, and show them how pollution affects the environment. Their students will work together in scientific teams to understand why frogs have disappeared from Lyncrest Landing. The students will become environmental ambassadors. Camden County Lawnside Public School in Lawnside Through Project Wind Power, Marques Stanard will teach 8th graders about different sources of renewable energy, with a focus on wind power. In addition to visiting the Jersey-Atlantic Wind Farm in Atlantic City, students will design and build their own miniature windmills. Upon completion of the project the students will have learned about the role alternative energy can play in decreasing New Jersey's carbon footprint. Hudson County Washington Community School in Bayonne Rose Abeal will use forensic science, via CSI-Washington School, to help 8th graders understand the different forms of local environmental pollution. Her students will determine the sources of pollution in water and soil and develop proposals for addressing environmental "crimes" such as littering and soil and groundwater contamination. The project will culminate with a class trip aboard the Hackensack River Eco-Cruise, to learn more about the value of this watershed. Dr. Walter F. Robinson School in Bayonne Eleni Verardi will give 4th graders an opportunity to appreciate the environment and understand that human activities have a global impact. Through curriculum called The Global Community-Biodiversity is Everyone's Responsibility, students will research the possible causes of species endangerment and devise an action plan for saving select animals. Middlesex County Linwood Middle School in North Brunswick Danita Guarino will help 8th graders understand the Environmental Affects of Fuel Alternatives. Her students will examine issues affecting air pollution and energy conservation. They will create and design model cars powered by solar cells, hydrogen fuel cells and electric motors. The student teams will study how energy consumption impacts the environment, while considering the economic issues involved with choosing alternative fuels. Passaic County Macopin Middle School in West Milford Michelle Lugerner and Ellen Nash will illustrate to 7th graders that recycling household waste reduces the amount of garbage in overflowing landfills, through Don't Dispose It! Decompose It! Ms. Lugerner's students will create a compost bin and study the organisms that aid decomposition. Various biodegradable materials will be used, including recycled paper from the classroom. Students will visit the Hackensack Meadowlands Environmental Center in Lyndhurst in preparation for the project. Union County Leonard V. Moore Middle School in Roselle Mark Ludwig's project, Trout in the Classroom, will help 4th and 5th grade students understand environmental citizenship as they analyze the impact of their actions on their surroundings. Students will study how water quality affects brook trout and the changes taking place in areas native to the fish, including the New Jersey Highlands and the Delaware Water Gap. PSEG has a long tradition of caring for New Jersey's people and communities. Each year, the energy company and its employees invest millions of dollars and thousands of hours to improve the quality of life in New Jersey. The company's culture dictates that service to customers and community go hand-in-hand. For more, visit http://www.pseg.com/ Want to know what's new at PSEG? Go to http://www.pseg.com/getnews and sign up to have our press releases and weekly environmental commentaries sent right to your inbox. DATASOURCE: Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG) CONTACT: Denise Denk, +1-973-430-6336 Web Site: http://www.pseg.com/

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