For the 2012-2013 school year, TLA provided grants to local schools to help with Science Education.

Here are some of the projects that TLA helped fund in the Mancelona Schools:

Mancelona Middle School Inland Seas Field Trip


This year the sixth grade students of Mancelona Middle School attended the Inland Seas trip on Suttons Bay. The experience was one not soon to be forgotten by all. Although the weather was a little cold, the students were engaged with the science program on the ship and enjoyed learning about how cargo was moved around the great lakes using the power of the wind. The crew of the ship was extremely welcoming and the volunteers that taught science lessons were successful in engaging the students in various activities. The sixth grade teachers of Mancelona Middle School want to thank you for your involvement in broadening the experiences of our students. It would not be possible to attend trips like this without your generous help. We look forward to continuing our partnership for years to come.

Michael Southwell, Nikky Willison, Jes Avery-Helwig
6th Grade
Mancelona Middle School
Mancelona Public Schools

Mancelona Middle School 8th Grade Class


Mancelona Middle School’s 8th grade class is currently studying oceanography. We will be covering multiple topics and a few of these are ocean life food chain and web, animal adaptions, defense mechanisms, conservation of our oceans species and the effects of overfishing. We received a grant from the Three Lakes Association to buy squid for our 8th grade classrooms. Our students were able to dissect the squid Loligo Pealei, common name Longfin inshore squid. Before we dissected the squid students researched questions that they had about squid. While dissecting they were able to determine if their squid was Male or Female. They also had to label the internal anatomy of the squid and remove the ink sac and the gladius from the squid. We attempted to write with the squid ink but it did not work. Our students were able to learn about the classification of squid, anatomy, defense mechanisms, and adaptations to their environment. We will continue to incorporate our knowledge of the squid when we discuss fishing practices and how it effects various species in the ocean. We will also learn more about where the squid is in the ocean food chain.

Nikky Willison
6th and 8th grade science
Mancelona Middle School

Mancelona Middle School 6th Grade Class

Thanks to a generous grant from Three Lakes association, our 6th grade was able to dissect barn owl pellets. The students first had to make a powerpoint on barn owls, their habitat, mating habits, and why they have owl pellets. Owl pellets are essentially owl puke. Owl’s are unable to digest bones and fur so they throw up what they can’t digest. Students dissected the owl pellets and had to identify what kinds of animals their owl had eaten. Students also measured the skeletal remains and graphed their findings. This fits in with the Ecosystem unit that we had studied where we learned many things, including about predators and prey.

Nikky Willison
6th and 8th grade science
Mancelona Middle School

Mancelona High School

Project: Data and Statistics

We received $250 through your SEOP grant which we spent on 4 Ti-nspire calculators. As I explained in the grant proposal, these calculators have capabilities beyond the traditional graphing calculators. They are microsoft compatible and will allow teachers to download spreadsheet and word documents to the calculator so that students will be able to follow instructions and carry out applications on these calculators. This should enable them to connect the classroom learning to real world applications. Anytime we can validate what they are learning using current technology it can only enhance their educational experience.

My ultimate goal was to acquire a classroom set of calculators, with a minimum goal of having no more than 2 students sharing any one calculator. I have used a per diem gift from a 2012 Summer training event and year long follow up concluding in May 2013 to acquire 6 more. In collaboration with our special ed. dept. we have purchased another 9. I have received 2 others through an EMATHS training seminar which I have been a participant which I will donate to the others. This gives me 21. This will allow 42 students to share a calculator or 21 individuals to use their own which is about the number of students that have been enrolling in Algebra 2A.

This summer my Algebra 2A co-teacher and I will complete the Algebra 2 EMATHS (Embracing Mathematics, Assessment, & Technology in High Schools) training we started in March 2013. The training is geared towards using the Ti-nspire to develop lessons that take advantage of the range of technology available on the Ti-nspire. We will also be provided lessons that we will be able to use immediately, and use to model our own lessons.

During the 2013-2014 school year I will be able to amass numerous examples of these calculators in action that TLA has generously provided funds to purchase. Your donation was a needed part, and has helped me reach my goal of acquiring a classroom set, so that students will be able to experience and use their own and reduce the need to share.

If you have relevant data that you might share connected to TLA or other projects that you have knowledge, it could be used in this class. I have attached pictures of one of the 4 calculators purchased and an example of some data that was used to generate a variety of graphs. The transition from graph to graph is seamless. Students will be able to compare and contrast, make determinations about which representation might be the most effective, discuss and debate their choices, and make presentations through our document cameras and the USB cord. I know our students will benefit.

Thank you for your donation. The calculators have been purchased. Teachers are acquiring the skill and resources to use them effectively with our students through training. With the acquisition of 17 others and the continued pursuit of funds to purchase more, I feel I have enough to integrate them into the classroom regularly next year.

I will make sure that there will be follow up provided so that you are able to update your association.

If there is anything else you require, please do not hestitate to ask.

Thank you again for your generosity and willingness to further the educational experiences here at Mancelona High School.


Larry Rager, Mathematics and Chemistry
JV Boys Basketball Coach, Varsity Golf Coach
Mancelona High School