STEM Competitions for K-12 Teachers

ORISE is excited to announce that we are hosting two engaging competitions this month. Keep reading for more details on each competition and how you can get involved. Don't forget to follow ORISE on social media to stay updated on competition news and announcements of winners.

April EdTech Showcase Social Media Contest

STEM Competitions for K-12 Teachers

Deadline: on or before 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, Wednesday, April 30th, 2025

Teachers! Let’s spring into embracing technology by sharing your favorite technological tools that you use in your classroom! To enter the contest, follow ORISE on social media, fill out this (very short) survey, and comment your answer on the post!

Prizes:

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

Details:

  • The contest closes at 11:59 p.m. EST on Wednesday, April 30th, 2025.
  • Teachers must teach in the United States, a U.S. Territory, or a DoDEA school to be eligible to win.
  • Teachers are eligible to win 2 ORISE competitions in a 12 month period.

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

View the current ORISE lesson plan library

The Great Virtual Field Trip | Lesson Plan Competition

STEM Competitions for K-12 Teachers

Deadline: on or before 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time, Wednesday, April 30th

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

Instructions:

  1. Look at the rubric (.PDF). This is what will be used to score your lesson plan.
  2. Lesson plan may focus on any topic as long as the lesson plan incorporates a virtual field trip experience.
  • Lesson plans should include the following:
    • lesson title
    • teacher name and school
    • target grade level
    • time required for lesson
    • standards/objectives
    • materials required
    • instructional steps for introduction, activities, and closure
    • assessment strategies
    • differentiation strategies
  1. Go to the competition form by 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time, Tuesday, April 30th, 2025., fill in the form with your information, and upload the completed original lesson plan.
    1. To avoid plagiarism, please a submit lesson plan that you have written. We understand that many activities are developed by other teachers; just make sure that you put your own spin on the activity.
    2. Winners will be announced late May.

Who can enter?

  • Teachers must teach in the United States, a U.S. Territory, or a DoDEA school to be eligible to win.
  • Teachers are eligible to win 2 ORISE competitions in a 12-month period

Note: Lesson plans submitted for the competition may be shared with other educators via the ORISE website. Plans are subject to revision and edits by ORISE staff before they are shared, so please submit in an editable format (Not PDF).

To view the current ORISE lesson plan library, visit https://orise.orau.gov/K12/teachers/lesson-plans.html.

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

 

Previous ORISE Educator Competitions and Winners

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

Dive into the atom’s core! ORISE wants to see how you bring the dynamic field of nuclear science to life in your lesson plans. Teachers of any grade level or subject are invited to submit a STEM lesson plan that includes nuclear science. TWO teachers who submit lesson plans will be selected to receive a MacBook Air and a nuclear science kit!

Prizes:

  • MacBook Air
  • Nuclear Science Kit

Winners:

  • Cheryl Burchett, Central High School, TN
  • Emily McDonald, University High, TN

Calling all innovative educators! ORISE invites teachers to submit their favorite self-made cross-curricular lesson plans that creatively blend STEM components with other subjects to enrich student learning. Whether you combine math with art, science with literature, history with technology, or something entirely different, this is your chance to share how you connect STEM across disciplines in your classroom. Teachers of any grade level or subject are invited to submit a lesson plan that includes cross-curricular activities. THREE teachers who submit lesson plans will be selected to receive 3D printers and filament for their classroom to help students engage with the latest technology!

Winners:

  • Rosalynn M., Lincoln Middle School,
  • Ashlie A., School for the Creative and Performing arts at Bluegrass, KY
  • Tiarra B., Franklin STEAM Academy, IL

Prizes:

1st place: THREE Prusa MK3 3D Printers with filament

Two Runners-Up: Two Prusa Mini 3D Printers each with filament

Teachers! Are you ready to be back in the classroom? Throughout the month of August, we want to know your dream piece of technology and how you would use it in your classroom.

Winners:

  • Amy Haney, Anderson County Schools, TN
  • Samantha Poll, Samuel L. Wagner Middle School, ME
  • Marlene Prater, Sweetwater Junior High School, TN

Prizes: THREE randomly selected teachers will receive a Kindle Scribe!

Teachers! This weather might be hot, but our social media posts are just getting hotter! Throughout the month of July, we want to know what are ways that you teach your students to be responsible and mindful of how they are using technology in the classroom? 

Winners:

  • Amanda Atkins, Copper Ridge Elementary, TN
  • Leslie Mohlman, Willowcreek Middle School, UT
  • Nicole Murphy, PS81x, NY

Prizes:

THREE randomly selected teachers will receive a tech bundle including the Eggspert wireless buzzer system, a Rocketbook with 10 colorful pens, a 22-outlet charging station, a voice amplifier, a laptop stand, 30 pairs of headphones, and a set of 24 doodle boards for their classroom!

Summer is here and as you reflect over your year in the classroom, ORISE wants to see your favorite STEM lesson plan! Teachers of any grade level or subject are invited to submit their favorite STEM lesson plan. Show off your neatest, most fun, or most creative lesson plan – whatever makes it your favorite may also make it our favorite! THREE teachers who submit lesson plans will be selected to receive mini grants up to $1,500 to buy new equipment and supplies for their classroom that will soon become your favorite things!

Winners:
  • 1st place: Crystal McDowell, Greenbrier High School, GA
  • 2nd place: Tiarra Baker, Franklin STEAM Academy, IL
  • 3rd place: Liliia Kharskaia, James M. Bennett High School, MD

Prizes:

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

Teachers! School may be out, but summer social media contests are just beginning! Throughout the month of June, we want to know about your strategies for teaching digital literacy. 

Winners:

  • Natasha Garza, Franklin Middle School, TX
  • Liliia Khmarskaia, James M. Bennett High School, MD
  • Lisa Wada, Central Middle School, OK

Prizes:

THREE randomly selected teachers will receive a classroom tech accessories kit including a digital camera, green screen, wireless clicker, and 8-player classroom quiz buzzer set!

Teachers! Throughout the month of April, we want to know how you make STEM more accessible to diverse groups of students in your classrooms! 

Winners:

  • Beverly Owens, Cleveland Early College High School, NC
  • Melinda Riggs, Jacksboro Middle School, TN
  • Laurelle Riola-Catbagan, ‘Ele’ele Elementary School, HI

Prizes:

THREE randomly selected teachers will receive an iPad 9 and Apple Pencil!

Teachers! Math is everywhere, and we want to see how you bring math to life in your classroom. The Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) wants to you to submit a lesson plan that demonstrates how math can be applied in the real world, highlighting its relevance and importance in everyday life. Teachers of any grade level or subject are invited to submit a STEM lesson plan that includes how we use math in the real world. THREE teachers who submit lesson plans will be selected to receive a math visualization prize bundle for their classroom!

Winners:

  • Ashlie Arkwright, School for the Creative and Performing Arts at Bluegrass, KY
  • Emily Mcdonald, University High School, TN
  • Lora Taylor, Tyner Middle Academy, TN

Math Visualization Prize Bundle:

  • Amazon Kindle Scribe Tablet (includes premium pen, power adapter, and denim fabric cover)
  • 24 Pack Dry Erase Graph Boards w/Erasers
  • 24 Dry Erase Markers
  • Hot Glue Gun
  • Hot Glue
  • Air Dry Clay
  • SET – Card Game
  • 50 Math-Themed Stickers