The Emerald Coast Science Center has received a $20,520 grant from the St. Joe Community Foundation to teach its Science Learning in Action program at two Walton County schools.
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The series of hands-on science lessons will be tailored to students in kindergarten to fifth grade at Maude Saunders and West DeFuniak elementary schools.
The program is designed to improve student performance and inspire interest in science by “making science classes more interactive and fun,” said James W. LaFollette Jr., executive director for the Science Center.
“Nurturing students’ interest in science at an early age will help produce more graduates in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics,” he said.
LaFollette said those areas of study are essential for the United States to continue to be competitive around the globe.
Walton County Superintendent of Schools Carlene Anderson said she is grateful to the St. Joe Community Foundation for its interest in science education.
Anderson said Maude Sanders and West DeFuniak were selected for the program because their student’s FCAT scores in science were below the state and county average.
Contact Daily News Staff Writer Kari C. Barlow at 850-315-4438 or kbarlow@nwfdailynews.com. Follow her on Twitter @KariBnwfdn.