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

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! To enter the contest, follow ORISE on social media [orise.orau.gov], fill out this (very short) survey [orausurvey.orau.org], and comment your answer on the post!

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
• 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

Teachers! Let’s spring into embracing technology by sharing your favorite technological tools that you use in your classroom!

Prizes:

THREE randomly selected teachers will receive an Amazon Fire Max 11 tablet and Stylus Pen!

• Kara Bochenek, Denver Place Elementary
• David Gentry, Franklinton Elementary School
• Katie Mckee, Midway Middle School

Get ready to take your students on an unforgettable journey without leaving the comfort of your classroom! ORISE invites teachers to transform the way students explore the world. We’re looking for your best lesson plan that incorporates a virtual field trip. Teachers of any grade level or subject are invited to submit a STEM lesson plan that brings the world to your students through technology. TWO teachers who submit lesson plans will be selected to win the prizes below!

Prizes:

• Oculus Quest 2 headset
• VR World Atlas activity kit
• VR World Oceans activity kit
• 3 sets of The World Geography Card Game
• VR headset charging station
• VR headset hard carrying case

Winners:

• Shannon Ventresca, East Cobb Middle School, Georgia
• Kristen Maier, Skinner North Classical School, Illinois

Teachers, it is time to engineer your own stories! It is National Reading Month, and here at ORISE we want you to create a lesson plan that brings together the love of both engineering and reading. Teachers of any grade level or subject are invited to submit a STEM lesson plan that includes engineering and reading. THREE teachers who submit lesson plans will be selected to receive one of the prizes below! The prizes are separated by grade bands to allow a more directly related prize.

Winners :

• Nicole Mounger, Andersonville Elementary, Tennessee
• Patricia Dennis, Forest Street Community School, New Jersey

Prizes:

• K - 5 ^th: 2 Engineering Starter Kits, Engineering Activities Book, Engineering for Curious Kids
• 6 ^th – 8 ^th:   A Beginner’s Book for Engineers & Architects, 2 STEAM Kits
• 9 ^th - 12 ^th: 12 Lost in Space Arduino Kits, Engineering in Plain Sight, 50 pack of Composition Notebooks, Rube Goldberg Machine Kit

Teachers! The ORISE wants to see how you show the HEART of STEM in your classroom by sharing your lesson plans about teaching empathy and compassion in STEM topics/fields. Teachers of any grade level or subject are invited to submit a unique STEM lesson plan that incorporates teaching empathy and compassion in any STEM topics/fields. THREE teachers who submit lesson plans will be selected to receive the following prizes!

Winners:

• Laurelle Riola-Catbagan, Eleele Elementary School, Hawaii
• Amanda Barrett, Marietta High School, Georgia
• Nicole Murphy, PS 81 Robert J Christian, New York

Prizes:

• Cricut Maker 3
• Cricut accessories bundle
• Cricut case bag
• 60 ct cardstock for Cricut
• iPad 10th Generation
• Apple Pencil
• Kindness sticker set
• Mindful Talk card set

Teachers! You spend so much of your time caring and working for others, but now, it’s time to think about how you care for yourself! Throughout the month of February, we want to know your favorite self-care activities.

Winners:

• Lindsey Montilla, Holly Ridge Elementary, NC
• Karen Raboin, Al Brown High School, NC
• Katryn Dougherty, Dugger Union School, IN

Prizes:

Three randomly selected teachers will win:

• Keurig K-Duo Hot & Iced Single serve and Carafe Coffee Maker
• Variety single serve tea pack
• Variety Starbucks K-Cup Coffee pack
• Fitbit Charge 6
• Coloring book
• Paper mate Flair Pens (2 pack)

Teachers! Throughout the month of January, we want to know what technology you currently have available in your classroom and what technology you want to have!

Congratulations to the winner: Stacy Garofalo, P.S. 081 Robert J. Christen School, NY

Prizes:

ONE randomly selected teacher will receive a teacher technology bundle valued at $500 that includes an Alexa Echo, smart bulb, personal laminator, Cricut joy, and more!

Teachers, January is National Puzzle Month! Puzzles are great for building problem solving skills, critical thinking skills, and attention to detail. ORISE wants to see how you incorporate puzzles (scavenger hunts, breakouts, etc.) and games into your lesson plans to help build these skills. Teachers of any grade level or subject are invited to submit a STEM lesson plan that includes puzzle or game. THREE teachers who submit lesson plans will be selected to receive mini grants up to $1,500 to help buy equipment for their classroom!

Winners:

• 1 ^st place: Kirsten Salonga, Justice High School, VA
• 2 ^nd place: Leslie Mohlman, Willowcreek Middle School, UT
• 3 ^rd place: Ross Ruschman, Monroe Career and Technical Institute, PA

Prizes:

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

STEM teachers! The weather may be getting colder, but our social media contests are heating up! Throughout the month of December, we want to know your most creative strategy you use to review with your students! 

Prizes:

THREE randomly selected teachers will receive a classroom supplies kit valued at over $300 that includes cleaning supplies, desk supplies, treats for the students, and more!

Winners:

• Tiffany Logsdon, Wynn Habersham Elementary, TN
• Peter Lauzon, Center for Advanced Technical Studies, SC
• Alexandria Whitaker, South Doyle Middle School, TN