Harrison Public Schools Foundation “Thank You” graphic celebrating hands-on learning. Photos show students wearing gloves and masks examining and dissecting earthworms during a classroom science activity, along with a close-up of an earthworm. The blue-and-gold design features the Foundation logo and the message, “Investing in our students. Building a brighter tomorrow.”

Hands-On Learning in Action: Thank You, Harrison Public Schools Foundation!

Harrison Schools

September 8, 2026

Hands-On Learning in Action: Thank You, Harrison Public Schools Foundation!

The Harrison School District extends a sincere thank you to the Harrison Public Schools Foundation for its generous support and commitment to enhancing educational opportunities for our students.

Thanks to a foundation grant awarded to teacher Becca Jackson for her project "Ecosystem Engineers: Earthworms," students engaged in an immersive, hands-on scientific investigation. Through live observations and guided dissections, students examined the anatomy of earthworms, drew key scientific conclusions, and gained a deeper understanding of the critical role these organisms play in maintaining healthy soil and supporting our environment.

How & Why This Grant Impacted Student Learning:

  • Direct Interaction: Handling and observing live specimens moved lessons beyond textbooks, making biological concepts tangible and memorable.

  • Scientific Inquiry: Students utilized tools like digital magnifiers, lab trays, and instruments to examine structures firsthand, fostering critical thinking and active problem-solving skills.

  • Environmental Literacy: By studying these "ecosystem engineers," students gained insight into nutrient cycling, soil health, and broader ecological balance.

Grants from the Harrison Public Schools Foundation continue to spark curiosity and open doors for creative, experiential learning across our classrooms. We are deeply grateful for the foundation's ongoing partnership and dedication to our students' success!

A smiling young boy with short blonde hair sits at a classroom table, holding a small brown earthworm between his fingers.A young girl in a pink plaid dress stands in a classroom, playfully sticking out her tongue while holding a live earthworm in her palm over a table where two other classmates observe.A female student wearing a face mask and blue surgical gloves carefully uses scissors during an earthworm dissection lab on a white tray.A teacher bends over a classroom desk to guide two young students wearing face masks and blue gloves as they examine a dissection tray together.Two students wearing face masks and blue lab gloves work together at a desk, using a handheld illuminated magnifying tool to examine a specimen on a white tray.Two boys wearing face masks and blue gloves lean closely over a desk, focusing intently as one uses tools to pin open a specimen on a tray during a science lab.Two boys wearing face masks and blue gloves lean closely over a desk, focusing intently as one uses tools to pin open a specimen on a tray during a science lab.Two students with face masks work side-by-side, carefully inspecting an earthworm dissection tray using a light-up magnifying glass.A female student with long brown hair wearing a black top, blue gloves, and a headband leans over a table, carefully using scissors during an earthworm dissection.Two young boys sitting together at a classroom desk wearing face masks and blue gloves use lab tweezers to dissect a specimen on a white tray.