There’s no arguing the importance of STEM education, but schools and districts don’t always have the money for “extra” STEM activities for students or teachers.
That’s where grants come into the picture–an enterprising educator can snag extra funding or additional resources for classroom STEM projects and can help students do the same.
Check out the following five grants; we have some for students, some for educators, and they all focus on STEM teaching and learning.
1. In the Powered Paper Airplane Challenge [1], students are challenged to design creative, aerodynamic paper airplanes that can hit a target–but there’s a twist. They get to use the POWERUP 2.0 Free Flight, a battery-powered propeller that gives a student’s paper airplane more than 30 seconds of flight. After registering, educators receive a six-lesson Teachers’ Guide that helps them teach students about aeronautics and challenges them to think critically while designing their paper airplane. When students are ready to test their airplanes, clip on the POWERUP 2.0 Free Flight motor, launch it, and record. Educators can upload their flight videos to POWERUP Toys’ FlightDeck online learning community between October 1-October 31.
Deadline: Sept. 28, 2018
2. The Vernier/NSTA Technology Awards [2] promote the innovative use of data-collection technology using a computer, tablet, graphing calculator, or other handheld in the science classroom. A total of seven awards will be given out, and each award will consist of $1,000 in cash for the teacher, $3,000 in Vernier products, and up to $1,500 toward expenses to attend the annual NSTA National Convention.
Deadline: Dec. 17, 2018
3. The 2019 Vernier Engineering Contest [3] recognizes one educator who is innovatively using Vernier sensors to introduce engineering concepts or engineering practices to his or her students.
Deadline: Feb. 15, 2019
4. Toshiba and the National Science Teachers Association are kicking off the 27th annual ExploraVision [4] program, which tasks students to use problem solving, critical thinking, and teamwork to imagine solutions to real-life issues. Participants will have a chance to win a number of prizes, including $10,000 U.S. Series EE Savings Bonds (at maturity).
Deadline: Feb. 8, 2019
5. The Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest [5] challenges 6th–12th grade U.S. public school teachers to submit ideas for how their students can use STEM to solve problems in their communities. For the competition, Samsung is collaborating with DonorsChoose.org, the nation’s largest fundraising site for public school teachers, to provide funding directly to the first 3,500 teachers that apply through Oct. 30, 2018. When teachers enter the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest, they will also be able to create a fundraising project on DonorsChoose.org, which they can use to engage citizen donors to contribute necessary supplies for their STEM-focused Solve for Tomorrow project. For the first 3,500 teachers who enter, Samsung will match 50 percent of their funding amount, up to $200 per teacher.
Deadline: Oct. 30, 2018
6. Pitsco’s #ThisIsSTEM [6] program invites educators to submit information about what STEM means to them. The program challenges traditional thinking about STEM and encourages failure, success, and a-ha moments. Educators can enter to win $500 toward Pitsco products.
Deadline: Rolling