STEM Competitions for K-12 Students

Code Chronicles Student Competition

STEM Competitions for K-12 Students

Deadline: on or before 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, Sunday, August 31st.

CALLING ALL CODERS!

ORISE invites you to jumpstart your school year by designing and developing your very own game or story using Scratch or Scratch Jr. This is your chance to showcase your programming skills and share your innovative ideas with ORISE. Students will use Scratch to create an interactive game, while K-2 students have the option to use Scratch Jr to create a story.

Eight prizes will be awarded with two winners per grade band – two for K-2nd, two for 3rd-5th, two for 6th-8th, and 2 for 9th-12th.

Prizes

K-2nd grade:

  • LEGO Education SPIKE Essential Set

3rd-5th grade:

  • LEGO Education SPIKE Essential Set

6th-8th grade:

  • LEGO Education SPIKE Prime Set

9th-12th grade:

  • Makeblock Ranger
  • Nous AI Robot

Instructions for K-2

  1. Look at the rubric (.PDF). This is what will be used to score your project.
  2. Access Scratch.

Scratch is web-based and also has an offline version.

Scratch Jr. is available on tablets and some computers.

    • For iPads: Visit the App Store and search for "Scratch Jr."
    • For Android tablets: Visit Google Play and search for "Scratch Jr."
    • For Chromebooks: Check the Chrome Web Store for availability.
    • Download and install the app. Scratch Jr. is free to use.
  1. Explore Scratch, create a new project, and build your game.
    • Make a title screen including your first name and state
    • Choose a theme
    • Add characters
    • Create interactions
    • Design levels
    • Create a story description by recording an audio description. Scratch Jr. allows you to record audio. You can use this feature to include a verbal description of your project. On the first page of your project, record a short message explaining the story.
  2. Once completed, record your story using a cell phone, screen recording software, or other device. Save the recording to submit to us!
  3. Go to the competition form, fill in the form with your information, and share the link to the story recording. Please ensure the privacy and sharing settings allow reviewers to access it. If it is not accessible, it will not be scored.
  4. Winners will be announced in late September.

Instructions 3-12:

  1. Look at the rubric (.PDF). This is what will be used to score your project.
  2. Access Scratch.

Scratch is web-based and also has an offline version.

    1. For web-based: Visit https://scratch.mit.edu.
    2. For offline use: Download the Scratch desktop app from https://scratch.mit.edu/download.
    3. Create a free account on Scratch to save your projects online.
  1. Explore Scratch, create a new project, build your game.
    1. Make a title screen including your first name and state
    2. Choose a theme
    3. Design characters and backgrounds
    4. Add game mechanics
    5. Design levels
  2. Once completed, save and submit your game.
  3. If you’re using the online version, click the “Share” button to make you project publicly available.
  4. Add a Game Description:
    1. If you are using the online version of Scratch:
      1. After clicking "Share," you'll be taken to your project's page.
      2. In the "Instructions" and "Notes and Credits" sections, write your game description.
        1. Instructions: Explain how to play your game (e.g., controls, objectives).
        2. Notes and Credits: Provide additional information, such as the theme of your game, your creative process, or acknowledgments for any inspiration or help you received.
  • Save Changes: Once you've added your description, the changes will automatically be saved to your project page.
  1. If you're not using the online version of Scratch, you won't be able to save the description directly within Scratch. Instead, you can write the description in a separate document and submit it along with your project file using the competition form.
  1. Go to the competition form, fill in the form with your information, and upload the completed project file, and game description and ensure that file including the description has been shared and/or uploaded. Please ensure the privacy and sharing settings allow reviewers to access it. If it is not accessible, it will not be scored.
  2. Winners will be announced in late September.

Tips:

  • Search the web for Scratch tutorials.
  • Start small and build your story or game step by step.
  • Test your story or game often to ensure it works as expected.
  • Be creative! Think about how you can make your story or game fun and engaging for players.

Who can enter?

  • Students in a U.S., U.S. territory, or DoDEA School
  • Students in any schooling situation, including public, private, and homeschool
  • Students are eligible to win 2 ORISE competitions in a 12-month period

If you have any questions, please contact: STEMEd@orau.org.


Past competitions and winners

Get ready to be creative with your spring cleaning! ORISE invites students to repurpose something around the house and walk through the engineering design process to determine a new use for it. Create a 1–3-minute original presentation that creatively explains or demonstrates how you used the engineering design process to revitalize your item. EIGHT prizes will be awarded with two winners per grade band— two for K–2nd, two for 3rd–5th, two for 6th–8th, and two for 9th–12th.

Prizes

K–2nd grade:

  • Creative STEM Building Kit and Electronics Exploration STEM Kit

3rd – 5th grade:

  • Snap Circuits Green Alternative Energy Electronics Exploration Kit

6th – 8th grade:

  • Makey Makey + Expansion Pack and Chromebook

9th – 12th grade:

  • Arduino + Electronic Fun Kit, Arduino Without Prior Knowledge book, and Chromebook

 

Winners announced soon!

Are you curious about life on other planets? ORISE invites you to unleash your creativity and imagination! We are looking for original presentations where you design a unique creature and explain three adaptations that would make it able to survive on the planet you have chosen. The planet can be real or make believe, but remember, your creature’s adaptations should be appropriate for the environment and your presentation should include scientific evidence to back up your design.

Twelve prizes will be awarded with three winners per grade band— three for K-2 nd, three for 3 rd-5 th, three for 6 th-8 th, and three for 9 th-12 th.

Prizes

K-2 nd grade:

  • GeoSafari Jr Telescope, Ozobot Evo Kit

3 rd-5 th grade :

  • Telescope & Tripod, Ozobot Evo Kit, OzoGoes Solar System Kit

6 th-8 th grade:

  • Lego Technic Solar System Set, Celestron Telescope & Tripod, Mars Puzzle Set

9 th-12 th grade:

  • Celestron Telescope & Tripod, Este 3 Rocket Kit, Recovery Wadding, Engines, and platform
Winners announced soon!

Get ready to blend curiosity and creativity by exploring how systems in the human body help us to participate in everyday activities. The Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) is asking you to pick an activity (like running, eating something, crafting, etc) and explain how a system in the human body (endocrine, muscular, lymphatic, etc) helps to complete that activity. To enter, read the instructions for your grade level below! THREE prizes will be awarded to each grade band.

Prizes

K-2

  • Interactive Human Anatomy Model for Kids
  • Human Anatomy Floor Puzzle for Kids
  • Amazon Fire HD 10 for Kids

3-5

  • Interactive Human Anatomy Model for Kids
  • Human Anatomy Floor Puzzle for Kids
  • Amazon Fire HD 10 for Kids

6-8

  • Anatomicum-Hardcover
  • Beats Solo 4
  • Grey Stanley Flip Straw Tumbler

9-12

  • Anatomicum-Hardcover
  • Beats Solo 4
  • Grey Stanley Flip Straw Tumbler

Winners announced soon!

Is there a topic in your school that has not been covered that you would like to learn about? ORISE wants you to teach it! We are asking that you create an original activity to teach your topic, and then make a 2–3-minute video pretending like you are teaching the activity to your classmates. It must be a STEM topic of your choosing that has not been covered in your school. Make sure you explain how you designed your activity in your video!

Prizes for Winners:

Winners will be given the opportunity to spend up to $200 on an approved STEM prize. See below for some ideas and ORISE’s favorite STEM prizes.

  • Telescope
  • Snap Circuits
  • Coding Robots
  • Chemistry Sets
  • Rock Tumblers

Winners:

  • Lily A. from KY
  • Emily B. from TN
  • Ishank A. from VA
  • Rowan S. from FL
  • Chunru H. from TN
  • Crystal S. from GA
  • Josiah C. from GA
  • Anna D. from TN
  • Gary B. from FL
  • Yandres R. from FL

Join us for an exciting opportunity to explore the fascinating connection between art and STEM! ORISE wants you to choose an existing piece of art or create your own masterpiece and create a 2-3 minute original visual presentation that creatively connects back to a STEM concept that helped to plan it or create it.

Eight prizes will be awarded with two winners per grade band—two for K-2nd, two for 3rd-5th, two for 6th-8th, and two for 9th-12th.

Winners:

  • Alice K. from TN
  • Helen K. from TN
  • Shanaya P. from FL
  • Heidi S. from TN
  • Shane S. from TN
  • Yuno Y. from KY
  • Tiara C. from FL
  • Mariana B. from TX

Prizes:

K-2nd grade:

  • Spirograph Deluxe Arts and Crafts Set, 3Doodler Start+ (3D Pen), 3D Coloring Puzzle Set, Vtech Smart Watch, Lite Brite

3rd-5th grade:

  • Spirograph Deluxe Arts and Crafts Set, 3Doodler Start+ (3D Pen), 3D Coloring Puzzle Set, Vtech Smart Watch, Lite Brite

6th-8th grade:

  • 155 Piece Painting Kit, SCRIB3D 3D Pen, Amazon Fire 10 tablet

9th-12th grade:

  • 155 Piece Painting Kit, SCRIB3D 3D Pen, Amazon Fire 10 tablet

Have you ever wondered why the leaves change color in the fall, why the days are longer in the summer, or how snowflakes form in the winter? ORISE wants you to figure it out! We are asking that you create a 2–3-minute original presentation that creatively explains or demonstrates a seasonal phenomenon of your choice. Eight prizes will be awarded with two winners per grade band—two for K-2nd, two for 3rd-5th, two for 6th-8th, and two for 9th-12th.

Winners:

  • Amelia M. from NJ
  • Sami S. from TN
  • Hudson S. from TN
  • Laila H. from TN
  • Elin T. from KY
  • Lucinda M. from KY
  • Favour O. from ND
  • Israel M. from FL

Prizes

K-2nd grade:

  • Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro tablet and Osmo Kit

3rd-5th grade:

  • Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet and Sphero Bolt+

6th-8th grade:

  • Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet and Sphero Bolt+

9th-12th grade:

  • Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet and Sphero Bolt+

If you have any questions, please contact: STEMEd@orau.org.

Get ready to mix up some fun in the kitchen! ORISE is inviting students to create a delicious dish while uncovering the science behind it. Whether it's baking bread, making ice cream, or crafting the perfect pizza, students will explore concepts like chemistry, physics, and biology as they cook. After preparing their dish, participants will present their culinary creations by creating a presentation of their dish and the scientific explanations behind it! It's a tasty way to learn and compete - let's cook up some science!

Twelve prizes will be awarded with three winners per grade band—three for K-2nd, three for 3rd-5th, three for 6th-8th, and three for 9th-12th.

Winners:

  • Ezri C. from TN
  • Mayukha K. from VA
  • Jai V. from TN
  • Hannah P. from TN
  • Blair C. from TN
  • Jane Y. from TN
  • Aprameyan R. from VA
  • Nozima Z. from IL
  • Luke L. from TX
  • Lynn N. from CA
  • Kylie C. from CA
  • Adrian M. from FL

Prizes

K-2nd grade:

  • Erupting Volcano Cakes Cooking Kit
  • Science of Cooking Ice Cream Kit
  • Food Science of Candy Chemistry Kit
  • Garmin Vivofit Jr 3 Watch

3rd-5th grade:

  • Erupting Volcano Cakes Cooking Kit
  • Science of Cooking Ice Cream Kit
  • Food Science of Candy Chemistry Kit
  • Garmin Vivofit Jr 3 Watch

6th-8th grade:

  • Interactive Cooking Set - Explore Japan
  • The Super Easy Teen Cookbook
  • Apple Watch

9th-12th grade:

  • Pasta Making Kit
  • The Super Easy Teen Cookbook
  • Apple Watch

Looking for a way to beat the heat this summer? ORISE wants you to have fun with water! We want you to show the journey of water as it moves through the hydrologic cycle in your neighborhood and discuss how humans interfere with the cycle. TWELVE prizes will be awarded with 3 winners per grade band— three for K-2nd, three for 3rd-5th, three for 6th-8th, and three for 9th-12th.

Winners:

K-2

  • Cunxi H. Towne Acres Elementary School, TN
  • Alexander M. APT Homeschool Academy, TN
  • Keerthi S., Oliveira Elementary School, CA

3-5

  • Lily B., Honor School, TN
  • Urvi T., Saint Joseph Elementary school, MA
  • Reagan U., Lipscomb Academy, TN

6-8

  • Aparna A. Park Forest Middle School, PA
  • Hana E., Homelife Academy, TN
  • Annie N., Stacey Middle School, CA

9-12

  • Sofia A., Miami Palmetto Senior High School, FL
  • Liam F., Jupiter High School, FL
  • Sankarsh M., Farmington High School, CT

Prizes

K-2nd grade:

  • Waterproof digital camera with accessories, ORISE Summer Swag, Splashology Water Kit

3rd-5th grade:

  • Waterproof digital camera with accessories, ORISE Summer Swag, Water Science Lab Kit

6th-8th grade:

  • Waterproof digital camera with accessories, ORISE Summer Swag, LifeStraw

9th-12th grade:

  • Kodak Waterproof digital camera kit, ORISE Summer Swag, LifeStraw

Throughout the school year ORISE hosts STEM competitions where YOU could win SWEET prizes! We want you to share the love for a chance to win!

Winner:

  • Karee H., Jupiter Community High School, FL

Prizes:

Grand Prize: iPad mini, Apple Pencil, iPad case, and Sphero with case

Tagged friends: ORISE Summer Swag pack