Competitions for K-12 EducatorsEducator competitions increase students’ interest and excitement for science: Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education
In June, ORISE is hosting two educator competitions; please scroll down for more information.
June Social Media Contest
Deadline: on or before 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, Wednesday, June 30
Teachers! School may be out, but summer social media contests are just beginning! Throughout the month of June, we want to know over the summer, what are things you can incorporate into or remove from your life to help with teaching fatigue or burnout? To enter the contest, follow ORISE on social media, fill out this (very short) survey, and comment your answer on the post!
Prizes:
THREE randomly selected teachers will receive AirPods Pro!
Details:
- The contest closes on or before 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, Wednesday, June 30.
- Teachers must teach in the United States, a U.S. Territory, or a DoDEA school to be eligible to win.
- Teachers are eligible to win two ORISE competitions in a 12-month period.
If you have any questions, please contact [email protected].
To view the current ORISE lesson plan library, visit https://orise.orau.gov/stem/k-12/curriculum-for-the-classroom.html.
STEM in the Great Outdoors Lesson Plan Competition
Deadline: on or before 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, Saturday, July 31
Teachers, June is National Great Outdoor month, and we want to celebrate with you! ORISE wants to see how you incorporate the outdoors into one of your existing content specific lesson plans. Teachers of any grade level or subject are invited to submit a STEM lesson plan that utilizes the outdoors. THREE teachers will be selected to win a mini-grant for their classroom up to $1,500! May the forest be with you!
Prizes:
- 1st: $1,500 mini-grant
- 2nd: $1,000 mini-grant
- 3rd: $500 mini-grant
Details:
- Interested educators are invited to submit an original lesson plan to https://orausurvey.orau.org/n/STEMoutdoors.aspx on or before 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time, Saturday, July 31.
- To avoid plagiarism, please a submit lesson plan that you have written. We understand that many activities are developed by other teachers; just make sure that you put your own spin on the activity.
- Lesson plan may focus on any topic as long as the lesson plan incorporates students using a makerspace.
- Lesson plans should include the following:
- lesson title
- teacher name and school
- target grade level
- time required for lesson
- standards/objectives
- materials required
- instructional steps for introduction, activities, and closure
- assessment strategies
- differentiation strategies
- Lesson plans will be scored using a rubric, and winners will be announced late August!
- Teachers must teach in the United States, a U.S. Territory, or a DoDEA school to be eligible to win.
- Teachers are eligible to win two ORISE competitions in a 12-month period.
Note: Lesson plans submitted for the competition may be shared with other educators via the ORISE website. Plans are subject to revision and edits by ORISE staff before they are shared, so please submit in an editable format (Not PDF).
To view the current ORISE lesson plan library, visit https://orise.orau.gov/stem/k-12/curriculum-for-the-classroom.html.
 Programmed Robotics in the School Makerspace (PRISM) is a project funded by the Burroughs-Wellcome Fund’s Student Science Enrichment Program (SSEP) (2020-2022) with a grant to North Carolina State University’s Colleges of Education and Sciences. The project trains 16 student and 8 teacher leaders from 8 middle/high schools per year at summer institutes on 4 targeted programmed robotics platforms that are popular in makerspaces (Cubelets, Sphero RVR, mBot, LEGO EV3). Four NC counties are targeted (Alexander, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba), but educators in neighboring counties are also welcome to apply (Iredell, Lincoln, McDowell, Wilkes). Training is intended to seed or expand maker clubs in schools with further students engaged in robotics challenges the year following training. The project introduces students to related STEM college and career tracks through industry experts associated with the NC Center for Engineering Technologies (NCCET) (spring field trip). Active recruitment is underway for educators for the August 2-4 programmed robotics workshop in Hickory, NC. Receive training, stipends, CEUs, and equipment to use with a new maker club. Additional information can be found at:https://programmedrobotics.weebly.com |
2021 NC Finalists for the Presidential Awards Announced
The applications review process for the 2021 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) has concluded. The North Carolina PAEMST state review panel has selected 3 applications in mathematics and computer science and 3 applications in science and engineering to be named as finalists. The finalists’ applications have progressed to the national review process to determine the awardees.
Please read the announcement here:
The 2022 Presidential Awards cycle will open for K-6 science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and computer science teachers at the beginning of the next school year. Please go to www.paemst.org for more information.
For any questions, please contact the North Carolina PAEMST State Coordinator, Joe Reaper at [email protected].
BIG Congrats to the winners from Western NC!!
Gravely & Paige Grants for STEM Teachers
| https://www.afcea.org/site/?q=foundation/gravely-teacher-grants/stem-teachers | |
| Contact: | AFCEA Educational Foundation 4114 Legato Rd. Ste. 1000 Fairfax, VA 22033 Phone: 703.631.6147 Email: [email protected] (For questions) |
| Description: | The AFCEA Educational Foundation, in partnership with AFCEA chapters, awards Gravely Grants for elementary-level teachers and Paige Grants for middle school teachers to promote innovative science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education within classrooms and outside, such as through robotics clubs. Teachers working with students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds receive priority. Grant requests are evaluated on teacher skill level, potential for funds to be used well, and school financial need. Eligible applicants are elementary and middle school STEM teachers in US public and private schools. Required is detailed information on the proposed project or program, including goals and objectives, methods and procedures, timetable, number of students served, and budget. The application is available during the submission period. It must be completed and submitted using the online system. A letter of recommendation from the school principal is required once an application is sent. Grants will be awarded in September for the 2020-2021 school year. |
| Eligibility: | Public, Private, Charter |
| Award(s): | Grants up to $1,000 are awarded. |
| Deadline(s): | Applications are accepted May 1 through July 31, 2021. |
| Focus: | Engineering, STEM/STEAM/STREAM, Technology Education/Computer Science, Underserved Populations/At Risk |
| Grade Level(s): | K-2, 3-5, 6-8 |
| Content Area(s): | Mathematics, Science |
STEM Minigrants
| Website: | https://ngcproject.org/mini-grants |
| Contact: | National Girls Collaborative 4616 25th Ave. NE #248 Seattle, WA 98105 Email: [email protected] (For questions) |
| Description: | The National Girls Collaborative Project (NGCP) supports girl-serving programs focused on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) to address gaps and overlaps in service and share exemplary practices. Minigrants are awarded as seed funding for projects that encourage girls to pursue STEM-related educational programs and careers, and are intended to promote cooperation between existing girl-serving programs. Preference is given to applications for innovative activities and that involve first-time collaboration between the applicant organizations. Eligible applicants are organizations with a registered and approved program in NGCP’s Connectory prior to submitting the grant request. State or regional members of NGCP offer minigrants on their own schedules. Interested organizations should review the application guidelines on the NGCP website and check their state or regional collaborative for opportunities. A map of state and local collaboratives is available at ngcproject.org/find. |
| Eligibility: | Public, Private, Charter, Other (including homeschool, 501 (c)(3) organizations) |
| Award(s): | Minigrants up to $1,000 are awarded. |
| Deadline(s): | Minigrants are awarded year-round, with application deadlines determined by state or regional collaboratives. |
| Focus: | Engineering, STEM/STEAM/STREAM, Technology Education/Computer Science, Underserved Populations/At Risk |
| Grade Level(s): | K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12 |
| Content Area(s): | Mathematics, Science |
| 21st Century Themes and Skills: | Collaboration, Communication, Creativity, Critical Thinking, Innovation, Problem Solving |
Bookmobile Grant Program
| Website: | https://www.loislenskicovey.org/bookmobile-grants/ |
| Contact: | Alexis Covey Lois Lenski Covey Foundation PO Box 255366 Sacramento, CA 95865 Email: [email protected] |
| Description: | The Lois Lenski Covey Foundation offers grants for bookmobile programs across the nation that serve children from disadvantaged populations. Grants support organizations that operate a lending bookmobile that travels into neighborhoods populated by underserved youth. Funds must be used to purchase fiction or nonfiction books published for young people preschool through grade 8, from Early Reader books through Young Adult and Hi-Lo books. Bookmobiles operated by nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations, public libraries, and schools are eligible to apply. Priority is given to organizations that serve economically or socially at-risk children, have limited book budgets, and demonstrate real need. Applications must be submitted by postal mail. |
| Eligibility: | Public, Private, Charter, Other (including homeschool, 501 (c)(3) organizations) |
| Award(s): | Awards range from $500 to $3,000. |
| Deadline(s): | Applications are due September 1, annually. |
| Focus: | Library/Media, Literacy, PreK-12, Underserved Populations/At Risk |
| Grade Level(s): | PreK, K-2, 3-5, 6-8 |
| Content Area(s): | Reading/English/Language Arts |
Literacy Donations (How about STEM Careers as Lit. focus?)
| Website: | https://www.wishyouwellfoundation.org/apply-for-funding/ |
| Contact: | Wish You Well Foundation 12359 Sunrise Valley Dr. Ste. 360 Reston, VA 20191 Phone: 703.476.6032 Email: [email protected] |
| Description: | The mission of the Wish You Well Foundation is to support adult and family literacy in the United States by fostering and promoting the development and expansion of new and existing literacy and educational programs. Donations are made to programs and projects that relate to and aid in this stated mission. The foundation reviews donation requests with a wide array of funding needs. Previous grants were used to fund adult education, literacy programs, English language education programs, workforce development training, libraries, and learning centers for individuals with disabilities. Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations are eligible to apply. Requests must be submitted by postal mail. |
| Eligibility: | Public, Other (including homeschool, 501 (c)(3) organizations), Charter |
| Award(s): | Awards range from $200 to $10,000. |
| Deadline(s): | Donation requests are accepted year-round. |
| Focus: | Family/Social Services, General Education, Literacy, Adult, Literacy, PreK-12 |
| Grade Level(s): | 6-8, 9-12, Higher Ed, 3-5, K-2, PreK, Adult |
| Content Area(s): | Reading/English/Language Arts |
Energy education and action-packed fun in one app. And it’s FREE.
We hope you’ve enjoyed the free home Energy Efficiency Kit that you ordered from Duke Energy. With it, you also got an ALL-ACCESS code for our fun app, Kilowatt Krush. Give it a try today!
This FREE educational app teaches kids about smart energy use and conservation through an engaging arcade of action-packed, energy-themed games. Unlock all the exclusive features using your unique access code: WRJTJ0.
🏽 2021 Clubs Application: Our 2021 Clubs application is open and we are looking forward to welcoming new girls into our sisterhood! Apply today to see what new and exciting programming awaits! (Make sure to signup under STEM West for added benefits!)
Closing The Gap: It’s no secret that women in tech — especially women of color — need more resources to feel supported. Tarika explains to The Wall Street Journal how we can help close the gender gap in tech.
Code at Home Activity: Learning how to code doesn’t have to be difficult. With our simple, fun PDFs, you can code at the click of a button.
A couple of summers ago, the Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences department hosted a professional development workshop for 3rd, 8th and HS science teachers about the hydrosphere (water science). We gave out 20 classroom kits of materials to teachers who participated, CEUs, a stipend, and ten mini grants for classroom equipment. We would love to offer this workshop again in the future, and are looking for feedback from teachers who teach about water in their science class. If you cover any water related topics, please complete this brief survey (if you haven’t already) so we can continue to improve our offerings: http://tinyurl.com/wateronthemove.
Thank you!