Meeker Energy’s Operation Round Up® program proves how small contributions can create meaningful opportunities close to home. By voluntarily rounding up their monthly bills to the nearest dollar, participating Meeker Energy members and Vibrant Broadband subscribers help build a trust fund that supports local nonprofits, schools, community organizations, and educational initiatives.
Once a year, funds are set aside for a grant opportunity for schools to support collaborative, cross-departmental projects. One grant recipient is Kimball Elementary School, where Operation Round Up® funding helped second-grade students access Generation Genius, an online learning platform used to support science instruction.
According to Kimball Elementary teacher Abigail Lorentz, Generation Genius offers engaging lessons written to meet state standards. Each lesson includes a video with demonstrations and explanations, written lesson plans, interactive experiments and explorations, quizzes, and vocabulary games. The platform includes lessons for kindergarten through eighth grade in math, science, and English language arts.
This year, Lorentz used Generation Genius with second-grade students in science.
“Many schools have invested in outdated, unengaging science curricula that lack excitement and substance for students to relate to,” Lorentz said. “But with Generation Genius, students are engaged and excited, and there are more opportunities for them to relate to what they are seeing and how it is presented.”
The Operation Round Up® grant allowed Kimball Elementary’s second grade to purchase a one-year teacher license for Generation Genius. Through that license, students gained access to interactive Kahoot games and quizzes connected directly to the videos, lessons, and experiments. They also used text-based learning resources, music, vocabulary activities, and comprehension questions.
Lorentz said the program helps students stay connected to the main ideas throughout each lesson. Questions are built in before, during, and after the lesson, while supplemental text supports help students follow along with the videos and demonstrations.
The student response has been memorable.
“I absolutely love how my students sing the intro song along with the videos,” Lorentz said. “It is just like being back in grade school, singing along to Bill Nye the Science Guy’s video intro.”
Students also enjoy the large-scale experiments featured through the program, including experiments that would not typically be possible in the classroom. The interactive technology component gives students another way to participate in the lesson using their school devices.
For teachers, Generation Genius also provides practical planning support. Lorentz said the lessons are already aligned with Minnesota state science standards and include fully written lesson plans that are easy to follow.
“Other than the consumable materials, everything is done for you,” Lorentz said.
For Meeker Energy members who participate in Operation Round Up®, Lorentz said the impact of those small monthly contributions is significant.
“What seems small for one can add up fast when many contribute,” she said. “Your small contributions, when combined, make a big impact on our communities. Thank you.”
Her message to members is simple:
“Thank you. Everyone is capable of changing the world, especially when we all do it together.”
Since its launch in 1998, Meeker Energy’s Operation Round Up® program has distributed more than $1.1 million to local organizations, schools, and community initiatives throughout the Cooperative’s service area. Each grant reflects the power of members working together, one rounded-up bill at a time.
Operation Round Up® proves that a few cents can go a long way. By rounding up their monthly electric bills, Meeker Energy members and Vibrant Broadband subscribers help fund local schools, nonprofits, and community projects, including hands-on learning tools like Generation Genius at Kimball Elementary.
Thank you to the members who participate. Together, your small contributions are creating meaningful opportunities close to home.