Most schools grapple with budget restrictions and funding frustrations–and that’s where classroom grants can be just what the doctor ordered.
There are classroom grants to support STEM learning, to improve school culture, to bring awareness to bullying prevention, and to recognize excellent educators.
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Set Google alerts and keep searching online, because there are tons of classroom grants that meet your teaching and learning needs. While not every grant offers tens of thousands of dollars, smaller grants do add up–and that means more funding for your projects that support your goals.
1. Vernier Engineering Contest: 2020 Engineering Contest, which recognizes the innovative use of Vernier technology to introduce engineering concepts or practices to students. Middle school, high school, and college educators are encouraged to apply for the chance to win a prize valued at $5,500. To enter, educators must complete an online application and produce a video showcasing the investigation conducted with students, the Vernier technology used, and the engineering concepts addressed. The Vernier sensors may be used in conjunction with any Vernier software titles or other programming and robotics systems.
Deadline: February 15, 2020
2. Students with Solutions: In honor of National Bullying Prevention Month, Planet Fitness, Inc. is teaming up with PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center, the nation’s leading nonprofit bullying prevention organization, to launch Students with Solutions. The contest invites classrooms across the country to share ideas that can help prevent bullying. As part of the nationwide contest, teachers of grades K-12 are encouraged to share the Students with Solutions video and guide about bullying with students, leading to a thought-provoking group discussion on the topic. Students are then encouraged to create and submit a visual representation – such as a collage, photograph, drawing, video or other creative medium – inspired by what they’ve learned that demonstrates ideas related to acts of kindness, acceptance and inclusion.
Deadline: December 31, 2019
3. National Science Bowl: The 30th National Science Bowl (NSB), hosted by the U.S. Energy Department’s Office of Science, invites students to compete in one of the largest academic math and science competitions in the country. Teams of students–four or five students and a teacher who serves as a coach–can sign up to participate in the NSB by registering with the coordinator for their regional competition. The competition is divided into two categories: high school and middle school. During the competitions, students participate in a fast-paced verbal forum to solve technical problems and answer questions in all branches of science and math.
Deadline: Varies; Check your regional competition page
4. Follett Challenge: Does your school have an incredible program that’s changing the way you teach and your students learn? Enter the Follett Challenge and tell us about it–you could win a share of $200,000 in Follett products and services. Submissions are open to all educators in K-12 schools (public/private) in the United States, Canada and Australia. This includes classroom teachers, special teachers (e.g., art teachers, music teachers), technology specialists, administrators, PTAs and librarians/media specialists.
Deadline: December 12, 2019
5. Vernier/NSTA Technology Awards: Vernier Software & Technology and the National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) are now accepting applications for the 2020 Vernier/NSTA Technology Awards. A total of seven educators—one elementary teacher, two middle school teachers, three high school teachers, and one college-level educator—will be recognized for their innovative use of data-collection technology in the science classroom or laboratory.
Deadline: December 18, 2019
6. CITGO Fueling Education Student Challenge: CITGO Petroleum Corporation and Discovery Education’s first-annual CITGO Fueling Education Student Challenge invites elementary and middle school students to apply STEM skills to develop a solution for a better, more sustainable world. Participating as individuals or groups of 2-4, students in grades 5-8 are asked to identify a community problem that aligns to one of the four topic areas, and propose a solution that follows a 4Cs (critical thinking, collaboration, communication, and creativity) framework. Challenge topic areas are created to align to four of the 17 United Nations Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs): safety and well-being, quality education, sustainable cities and communities, and life on land.
Deadline: February 13, 2020
7. Data Science Bowl: The Data Science Bowl brings together data scientists, technologists, and domain experts across industries to take on the world’s challenges with data and technology. This year’s Data Science Bowl, presented by Booz Allen Hamilton and Kaggle, focuses on identifying factors to help measure how young children learn from media and which approaches work best to help them build on those foundational skills. Using anonymous gameplay data from the PBS KIDS Measure Up! app, developed as a part of the CPB-PBS Ready To Learn Initiative with funding from the U.S. Department of Education, participants will create an algorithm that will lead to better designed games and greater learning outcomes, benefiting all in the children’s learning ecosystem.
Deadline: January 15, 2020
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