STEM Competitions for K-12 Teachers

Teachers, we know that review time can spark some of the most creative and engaging moments in the classroom, and we want to hear your best ideas! Throughout the month of April, tell us: What is your favorite STEM review activity? It could be a hands-on challenge, a classroom game, a collaborative project, a digital tool you love, or anything else that helps your students strengthen their STEM skills in a fun and meaningful way.

Prizes:
TWO randomly selected teachers will receive an Cricut Explore 4 Machine with Vinyl and Iron-On Bundle

Teachers! How do you spark curiosity in STEM careers? The Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) invites you to submit a lesson plan that highlights a STEM career or multiple STEM careers. Teachers of any grade level or subject are welcome to participate.

THREE teachers who submit lesson plans will be selected to receive a dual‑monitor setup for their classroom.

Winners announced soon!

Prizes:

• Two Dell 21.5" Monitors
• DisplayPort Cables
• Dell Smart Dock
• Logitech Wireless Keyboard and Mouse Combo

Teachers! ORISE wants to see how you promote digital citizenship in your classroom! Teachers of any grade level or subject are invited to submit an original STEM lesson plan that helps students understand responsible and ethical use of technology.

THREE teachers who submit lesson plans will be selected to receive mini-grants up to $1,500 to help buy equipment for their classroom!

Prizes:

• 1st place: $1,500 mini-grant
• 2nd place: $1,000 mini-grant
• 3rd place: $500 mini-grant

Winners:

• Amber C. from Frontier Middle School, NY, Phishing Scam Lesson Plan
• Lily D. from H.H. Poole Middle School, VA, The Digital World: Screen Time and Responsible Technology Use Lesson Plan
• Dhenni G. from Los Alamitos Middle School, NM, Healthy Media Choices Lesson Plan

Teachers, AI is transforming classrooms, and we want your perspective! Throughout the month of February, tell us: What is your AI golden rule? It could be about using AI responsibly, protecting student privacy, finding ways to make AI a helpful classroom tool, or anything else that is important regarding AI use in your classroom.

Prizes: THREE randomly selected teachers will receive an Apple TV 4K streaming box!

Winners:

• Heather E. from Redding Christian School, CA
• Lorraine P. from Jupiter High School, FL
• Laurissa W. From Roane County High School, TN 

Teachers! ORISE wants to see how you harness the creative power of makerspaces and makerspace materials in your lesson plans. Teachers of any grade level or subject are invited to submit a STEM lesson plan that shows how makerspaces enhance your student learning. THREE teachers who submit lesson plans will be selected to receive a makerspace prize bundle to continue leveraging the power of makerspaces in their classroom!

Prizes:

• Two BeaverBot cardboard cutters
• Makedo Invent 360 piece toolkit
• BeaverBot angle cutting tool
• Cardboard screws kit – 360 pieces
• Jumbo arts and crafts supplies box that includes felt, pipe cleaners, pompoms, buttons, sticks, clothes pins and more!
• Colored masking tape 7 roll multi-pack  

Winners:

• Bess H. from Cut Bank High School, MT, Tipi Physics Design and Building Challenge Lesson Plan
• Annalisa S. From Delta Woods Middle School, MO, Do You Want to Build a Spacesuit? Lesson Plan
• Sandra O. From Mansfield High School, MA, Micro:bit Winter Village Lesson Plan

Teachers! As we look ahead to the new year, ORISE wants to hear from you:
What virtual professional development (PD) topic would you be excited to attend, or even lead? Whether it's STEM integration, classroom tech tools, or student engagement strategies, we want your ideas!

Prizes: TWO randomly selected teachers will receive a Kindle Scribe with Premium Pen!

Winners:

• Tina C. from Union Grove Middle School, TN
• Robert C. from Zuni High School, NM

Teachers! ORISE wants to see how you integrate technology into your lesson plans. Teachers of any grade level or subject are invited to submit a STEM lesson plan that shows how technology enhances your student learning. THREE teachers who submit lesson plans will be selected to receive mini-grants up to $1,500 to help buy equipment for their classroom!

Prizes:

• 1st place: $1,500 mini-grant
• 2nd place: $1,000 mini-grant
• 3rd place: $500 mini-grant

Winners:

• Tiarra B. from Franklin STEAM Academy, IL,  AI Taking Over the Word? Exploring AI as a Tool Lesson Plan
• Romel A. from Tombstone High School, AZ, The Robolympic: Newton’s Laws of Motion in Action Lesson Plan
• Kirsten S. from Justice High School, VA, Hydroponic in Action! Lesson Plan

Teachers! You’re the experts in inspiring the next generation of our workforce. Throughout the month of October, ORISE wants to know how you incorporate career awareness into your classroom! 

Prizes: THREE randomly selected teachers received Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation and Live Translation!

Winners:

• Katherine Peck, Brookside Elementary School, Massachusetts
• Melissa Love, Vermillion Elementary School, Kansas
• Monika Trivedi, Meade Senior High School, Maryland

ORISE is going nuclear this October! In celebration of Nuclear Science Week (October 20-24), we invite you to participate in the October Elemental Science Lesson Plan Competition. ORISE encourages K-12 educators to submit an original lesson plan. The lesson can cover topics ranging from atomic structure and interactions to nuclear energy. Submit your lesson plan for a chance to win a lab prize pack!

Congratulations to the winners:

• Chelsi D. from Walker Valley High School, TN, House of Decay Lesson Plan
• Romel A. from Tombstone High School, AZ, The Alien Periodic Table Lesson Plan (.PDF, 1.6MB)
• Christy H. from Alexander Early College, NC, Atomic Structure and Atomic Theory Scientists

Three teachers with outstanding submissions will be selected to receive the following:

• (2) Nesting Graduated Beakers of 5 beakers: 50, 100, 250, 500, and 1,000 mL
• (1) Carolina® Beaker-Breakers Sets- 108 Pieces, 12 Beakers, 250 mL, 12 Graduated Cylinders, 100 mL
• (3) Carolina® Electronic Pocket Scales, 500 g x 0.1 g
• (1) Plastic Microchemistry Pipets, pack of 100
• (2) Utility Funnels, pack of 12
• (3) Test Tube Rack
• (5) Test Tube Clamp
• (1) Test Tube Brush, pack of 4
• (20) 12ft Retractable Measuring Tape
• (6) Nitrile Exam Gloves, pack of 100 assorted sizes S, M, L
• (2) Disposable Lab Coats, pack of 10
• (1) Clear Safety Glasses, pack of 50

This September, ORISE invites you to showcase your artificial intelligence (AI) success in the classroom in a fun and creative way! Whether your AI success is teacher-focused or student-focused, we want to see it brought to life in a 60-second “reel.”

Winners:

• Raoping Trinh, Vandeventer Middle School, TX
• Anna Brawner, White Station High School, TN
• Elizabeth Elliott-Solis, AB Miller High School, CA

Three winners were awarded an exciting AI Prize Pack!

AI Prize Pack Includes:

• Kindle Scribe (64GB) with Tungsten Premium Pen
• Kindle Plant-Based Leather Folio (Black)
• Kindle Power Adapter
• AI Voice Recorder
• Rocketbook Beacons
• Mattel Games Pictionary vs. AI Family
• Bird Feeder with Camera and AI

Kick off the school year strong! This August, we’re inviting you to share your favorite teacher hacks for easing back into the classroom after summer break. We can’t wait to hear your pro tips!

Winners:

• Sarah Carter,  Coweta High School,  Oklahoma
• Amber Murley,  Chester County Junior High, Tennessee
• Roxanne Spencer, Ranney School, New Jersey

Prizes:

THREE randomly selected teachers will receive the following back-to-school bundle:

• Rocketbook Pro 2.0
• Frixion Pens (15 Pack)
• EXPO Dry Erase Markers (40 Count Assorted Colors)
• Post-it Notes (48 Count 3 in x 3 in)
• Samsonite Xenon 3.0 Backpack
• Astrobrights Color Paper – Mega Collection Brilliant and Frosty Colors
• Mini Keurig
• Owala SmoothSip Slider Insulated Coffee Tumbler

Teachers! Do you have innovative ideas for a lesson plan that explores emerging technologies? Topics like artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing, machine learning, computer science, and fusion energy are buzzing in the world of STEM. These advancements are shaping the future and sparking curiosity in classrooms nationwide, offering exciting opportunities to inspire the next generation of scientists and innovators.

This summer, ORISE invites teachers of all grade levels and subjects to submit STEM lesson plans that delve into cutting-edge technologies. ORISE is looking for engaging, educational lessons that introduce K-12 students to the fascinating world of emerging technologies.

Winners:

• Tyler Dufrene, Raceland Middle School, Louisiana
• Kim Alvin De Lara, Hartford Sylvia Encinas Elementary School, Arizona
• Paul Hall, Gatlinburg-Pittman High School, Tennessee
• Ashley Waycaster, Cedar Bluff Middle School, Tennessee

Prizes:

Teachers! Summer is here, and we know you’re soaking up the sunshine. This July, we want to hear about your best outdoor STEM activities that spark excitement in your students!

Winners:

• Jennifer Gills-Scott, Fayetteville PK-8, West Virginia
• Lori McClain, Inman Middle School, Tennessee
• Peter Lauzon, Center for Advanced Technical Studies, South Carolina

Prizes:

THREE randomly selected teachers will receive the following prize pack:

• Amazon Kindle Paperwhite 16GB
• Stanley 30 oz IceFlow Flip Straw Tumbler
• Solar power bank charger
• Outdoor blanket

Teachers! School may be out, but summer social media contests are just beginning! Throughout the month of June, we want to know your classroom experiences and strategies for creating a positive, engaging STEM environment! 

Winners:

• Gretchen Gault, Lorraine Elementary School, Georgia
• Suzanne Kilburn, Underwood Elementary School, Alabama
• Katrina Madok, Gerald Adams Elementary School, Florida

Prizes:

THREE randomly selected teachers will receive a classroom student incentive prize pack!

Each incentive pack will include:

• 1 Gumball machine w/ reusable gumball capsules
• 1 Prize storage box
• Assortment of:
  • Fidget pop and squishy toys
  • 3-D Erasers
  • Stickers
  • Rubber bracelets
  • Scented bookmarks
  • Stackable pencils
  • Multi-color ballpoint pens
  • 3-D puzzles
  • Foam glider airplanes