The fifth- through eighth-grade students at Arizona Charter Academy in Surprise who take music appreciation, world music, social studies and civics will enjoy an enhanced learning experience next year, thanks to a grant recently awarded to the school.

Rachael Crossman, who teaches world music to ACA’s middle school students and grant writer Janeen Gaskins recently applied for a History and Social Science Grant from SRP.

Recently, they learned ACA was selected as a grant winner. The school will receive $2,500, which will be awarded in August for the 2021-22 school year.

As Crossman noted, most of the money will be used for ACA’s Historic Connections Project, an immersion learning experience that intentionally supports curriculum aimed at reinforcing social studies by simultaneously connecting it to course work in science, music and art.

“The Historic Connections Project will involve students learning about early civilization in social studies, human evolution in science, cave paintings in art, geological exploration of land in geography; and physically recreating prehistoric rhythms with flutes, horns and drums in music,” Crossman said, adding that this learning style will accelerate comprehension by giving students a better sense of different cultures, eras and experiences.

The grant money will also be used for a Nearpod, which is an interactive and fun way to present lessons to students and involves music, games, presentations, sight reading and more.

Crossman said it was an honor to win the History and Social Science Grant from SRP, and to know it will have a tangible and positive impact on the students who attend ACA.

“I work hard to find grants, curriculum and resources available to support our amazing students. I believe that they deserve the best education, and this grant is going to be a great way to buy more music, curriculum and continue to fund our online program through Nearpod.”