"I'm hoping they learn about the components that make up a community and that they think about the future. When they're older, what are some ways they could save utilities and protect their future?" said Graham, who will be playing the role of the chief city planner in her classroom city scenario.

High-tech equipment will also soon be added to Laurel Steele's classroom at Bryant Middle School, thanks to the Qwest grant.

Steele, an eighth-grade science teacher, has had her eye on a state-of-the-art white board that will allow her to show videos in real time while students watch on graphs and charts what is actually happening on the video. A video of a ball bouncing, for example, would be accompanied by a corresponding chart showing how the momentum of the ball changes as it hits the ground and bounces back.

Students can pause the video by touching directly on the white board to get a closer look at just how science works, Steele said. Students can also drag words to match them with various processes like photosynthesis, or browse through photos right on the white board.

"There's this connection. You're right there. You touch, you drag, you do it. They have instantaneous results," she said.

Grant winners from other Salt Lake County schools include Julianne Paul of Lincoln Elementary, Ruth Ann-Abbot of Jordan High School, Deborah Owens of Draper Elementary, Rhonda Small-Oakes of Hartvigsen, P.K. Sanders of Olympus Junior High and Mary Martinez of Cottonwood High School.

The remaining winners from around the state will be announced by county in coming months.

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E-mail: estewart@desnews.com