With a $500 teaching tools grant, Stacey Meade, a teacher at Aiken Elementary School has big plans.

"I like to do things and teach experiments with plants and animals," said Meade, who received the grant from the Augusta-Fort Gordon Chapter of the Armed Forces Communications Electronics Association at a ceremony Jan. 24 at the National Science Center's Fort Discovery.

The dozen teachers receiving the grants said they would be able to do hands-on activities with their students they otherwise would not due to monetary cutbacks.

Beverly Lord, a Glenn Hills Elementary School teacher, said she was going to buy a microscope to give her pupils the chance to take a closer look at plants and plant structures. She also wanted to do some planting at the school.

AFCEA distributed about $4,000 in grants to the teachers, according to Joe Yavorsky, president.

Teachers receiving classroom assistance include Ella Rucker Baker, Sand Hills; Jim Coleman, Coleman Academy Home School; Stacey Meade, Aiken Elementary School; Ellen Cotton, Jefferson Elementary School; Margaret Fussell, Aiken Middle School, Debi Gibson, Tobacco Road Elementary School; Kristine Istre and Donita Legoas, Diamond Lakes Elementary School; Beverly Lord, Glenn Hills Elementary School; Marsha Moorman, Lucy C. Laney High School; Janell Smith, Martinez Elementary School; and Carol Stewart, Tobacco Road Elementary School.

The organization raises money for its grants through sponsors and an annual golf tournament, which will be held at Gordon Lakes Golf Course in April.