Science Grants Spark Curiosity in Montclair Classrooms

MHS teachers display science tools funded by MFEE grants.

Montclair teachers are elevating scientific practice and sparking curiosity in their classrooms, thanks to support from the Montclair Fund for Educational Excellence. 

MFEE, Montclair's independent, nonprofit education fund, awards $60,000 annually in grants to educators across the Montclair Public Schools, providing innovative tools and experiences for students.

Here, we spotlight three science grant recipients:

Exploring the Power of Physics and Chemistry

Dr. Daniel Kaplan and Dr. Peter Kaplan (no relation) don't just share a last name—they share a vision for the next generation of high school science education.

When Daniel Kaplan started, he set a personal goal to ensure his classrooms rivaled in quality with "the best in the state." With help from the district and MFEE, he’s making that happen.

In 2020, he was awarded a grant for spring scales, which MFEE helped to deliver to students throughout town during remote learning. Daniel Kaplan says students still use these tools today, and he’s been recipient of other resources from MFEE over the years. 

"We have a beautiful suite of measurement tools that make it easy for the students to do sophisticated and simple experiments for their learning," he said.

He is thrilled to share these experiences and tools with colleagues, too. Peter Kaplan was awarded a grant for a vacuum pump, valuable for both physics and chemistry. Both teachers use the pump and the scales to do experiments. Lessons with the pump include sound dynamics where they test, among other theories, the infamous quote, "in space no one can hear you scream"—a reference high schoolers in 2025 admittedly may not understand.

Digging Into the Benefits of Native Plants

At Buzz Aldrin Middle School, Dan Taylor is taking his classes outside to explore plant biology and physiology, along with math and design. Taylor received an MFEE grant to expand his native plant pollinator garden.

Planning starts inside during the cold days of February, with an introduction to natural sciences, including food webs and photosynthesis. As the days warm up, students plot their gardens using what they have learned about native ecology to design their own proposals.

Taylor said funding from MFEE has allowed the class access to the plants during peak planting weeks, without having to wait for end-of-season sales. This allows the class to be more creative with the plants and extends their timeline, ensuring more time in the garden. Support from the MFEE grant also allows for the purchase of tools and other garden essentials, providing the class with a greater sense of ownership over their collective project.

Exploring the Intersection of Art and Science

At Hillside Elementary School, science teacher Susan Bartol was awarded an MFEE grant for an innovative class called "Branching Out - Where Science and Art Intersect." Working with Ivory Wise, Hillside's art teacher, Bartol used her grant to buy additional art materials and illustrated books that explore patterns in nature, such as the Fibonacci sequence, seasonal changes, and other ecological concepts.

Students were encouraged to create art, exploring their natural surroundings, including patterns of bare branches in the winter, and identifying trees by sight. Bartol noted that students who did not show an inclination toward science initially were drawn to this way of engaging with nature. She was impressed by the students' ability to use visual practice to engage in larger lessons in science. As the class finishes, she plans to have students design a mosaic incorporating the art and the science they explored.

Art inspired by patterns in nature created by students in Susan Bartol's class.

MFEE's Educational Excellence grants are funded in large part by the annual Toast to the Teachers events (happening now through the end of June)! Attend or host one of these family-sponsored parties this spring, and fuel classroom innovation all year long.