Peter Woodbury School teachers Kristen Possee and Rosemary Nunnally were awarded the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.

They were two out of five teachers recognized statewide by the New Hampshire Department of Education on Dec. 7.

“I think one of the things that’s really notable is that two teachers from the same school were selected in the same year,” said Peter Woodbury Principal Ken Williams.

Williams said Possee and Nunnally are leaders at Peter Woodbury.

“It’s really an award that recognizes all the teachers,” he said.

Nunnally has taught second grade at Peter Woodbury for 21 years, and took home the award for her method of teaching science. Award applicants had to put together a 45-minute continuous video of a lesson, along with a seven- to eight-page description of their teaching technique. Both teachers said their lessons emphasize group learning and presenting results to the class.

Nunnally chose a science lesson in which students were asked to study controlled variables. Students first rolled marbles down a ramp onto a carpet, then did the same onto a tile floor.

Possee, a fourth-grade teacher, has worked in Bedford for 14 years. For the math award, she taped a lesson in which groups of students compared ordinary fractions with uncommon denominators. The groups of students then presented their results to the class.

“One of the most important part of a child’s learning is their interaction with each other and their teacher,” Possee said. “Students should be ‘doers,’ they need to be active.”

The most dfficult part of applying for the award was making the tape, Nunnally said.

“You can’t edit the video tape. Once you start, it’s just going to keep rolling,” she said.

Possee’s students, though, didn’t have a problem with it. “The students were all very excited about being videotaped,” she said.

The award is funded by the National Science Foundation and was established in 1983.

Each year, awards are alternately presented to teachers in grades kindergarten through 6 and grades 7 to 12.

Possee and Nunnally find out in April 2007 if they are nominated for the National Presidential Award, which includes a $10,000 educational grant.