STEM Competitions for K-12 Educators Educator competitions increase students’ interest and excitement for STEM

30 Never Looked So Good | K-12 Teacher Competition

STEM Competitions for K-12 Educators

Deadline: on or before 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time, Tuesday, May 31st.

Calling all K-12 Teachers! We are inviting you to help ORISE celebrate 30 years of growth and innovation! Just like ORISE, technology is ever evolving and ORISE wants to help you bring new equipment into your classroom. Teachers of any grade level or subject are invited to create and submit a 30-second video creatively showing us a piece of equipment in your classroom that you would love to have updated and tell us how the update will affect your classroom! THIRTY winners will be awarded a prize, see breakdown below.

Prizes:

  • 3 WINNERS can choose a piece of equipment for your classroom up to $1,000.00
  • 5 WINNERS can choose a piece of equipment for your classroom up to $750.00
  • 7 WINNERS can choose a piece of equipment for your classroom up to $500.00
  • 15 WINNERS can choose a piece of equipment for your classroom up to $250.00

Look around your classroom and find a piece of equipment that you’d like to update. Maybe you need new student whiteboards instead of those old shower panel boards. Maybe you could use an update to the hot plates in your laboratory. Perhaps you’d like to replace your tube TV with a flat screen. There are so many possibilities! Think about which prize level above would allow us to replace that piece of equipment for you. Review the guidelines and rubric below. Then, create your 30-second video to convince us to replace it for you and enter it using the link.

Details:

  • A submission includes a 30-second video of your choice (animation, video, stop-motion, etc…) that shows something in your classroom that you would love to replace with new equipment. No slideshow presentations will be accepted.
  • Interested educators are invited to submit a 30-second video to https://orausurvey.orau.org/n/May30thAnniversary.aspx by 11:59 p.m. EST on Tuesday, May, 31st, 2022.
  • To avoid copyright issues, please ensure that any music used in a video is self-created or open-source music.
  • If your submission is a link (example WeVideo, Vimeo, Google, etc.), please make sure the privacy and sharing settings allow reviewers to access it. If it is not accessible, it may not be scored.
  • Projects will be scored using a rubric, and winners will be announced late June!
  • 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.

Previous ORISE Educator Competitions and Winners

Winners will be announced soon!

Teachers! Spring into the new season with the upcoming ORISE social media contest! Throughout the month of April, we want teachers to submit a list to us of the top 10 best online resources used by educators. 

Prizes: FIFTEEN randomly selected teachers will receive a $50 gift card to get supplies for your classroom!

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

Teachers! Here’s an opportunity for you to win supplies to aid in your Earth Science lessons! The grand prize is a Geology Teaching Kit with a variety of supplies to use in your classroom! ORISE wants to see how you teach Earth Science whether in a science class or integrated into another subject area. Teachers of any grade level or subject are invited to submit a lesson plan that includes Earth Science or geology. Three teachers will win a Geology Teaching Kit for their classroom!!

Winners:

  • Catherine Molder, TX, Lake Pointe Elementary School
  • Bryson Leftwich, TN, Robertsville Middle School
  • Jennifer Munsey, TN, West Middle School

Prizes: Geology Teaching Kit including a classroom set of rocks and minerals, mineral testing kits, a rock tumbler and MORE!

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is an emerging technology in computer science. Preparing students for future careers in varying fields is important, no matter the subject or grade level that you teach, and a lesson on AI would be a great introduction for your students to a potential career field. ORISE wants to see how you include education about artificial intelligence in your classroom. Teachers of any grade level or subject are invited to submit an original STEM lesson plan that includes the topic of artificial intelligence.

GRAND PRIZE WINNER: Emily McDonald, TN, Red Bank High School

Prize: $1,500 mini-grant

Teachers, the year is fresh and new and we want to know someone who inspired you last year or someone who has continued to inspire you through the years. Throughout the month of January we want to know your answer to the question: Who is a STEM role model to you and why? 

Prizes: New Year, New Tune Gift Pack to get organized for this year that will include:

  • A Rocketbook Fusion
  • Bento Box Lunch Set
  • ORISE Tumbler
  • Echo Dot
  • LED Light Strip w/ Remote

Winners:

  • Allison Hardy, Hillwood High School, TN
  • Elaine Tilley, Monroe and Loudon Counties, TN
  • Srividhya Sundaram, Joseph Kushner Hebrew Academy, NJ

Music is an amazing way to help student understand patterns, learn languages, and even reduce anxiety or stress. The Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) wants to see how you can incorporate music into a STEM lesson plan to help build a better understanding of a subject. All K-12 teachers are invited to create and submit a math or science lesson plan that incorporates music for a chance to win a mini-grant! 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: Megan Simmons, Green Magnet Academy, TN
  • 2 nd Place: Melinda Rhyne, Sulphur Spring School, TN
  • 3 rd Place:  Ashlie Arkwright, School for the Creative and Performing Arts at Bluegrass, KY

 

Teachers, December 2 nd is Special Education Day, a day to recognize huge leaps for special education laws! Differentiation is such a vital part in giving equal opportunities to all students, regardless of their ability levels! Throughout the month of December, we want to know what are ways that you support different learning styles and incorporate differentiation in your classroom?

Winners:

  • Cheryl Hullihen, NJ, Absegami High School
  • Susie Buckner, TN, Lenoir City Intermediate  Middle School
  • Jennifer Hobbs, TX, Molina High School

Makerspaces are fantastic for giving students the autonomy to be real-world problem solvers, developing their own solutions and then testing and improving them. Here’s an opportunity for you to win supplies to start your own classroom makerspace! The kit includes three 3D printers, a LEGO Robot Inventor Set, and three Sphero coding robots in addition to lots of great maker tools and supplies.

To win this awesome kit, ORISE wants to see how you incorporate empathy for others into a content-specific lesson plan. Empathy is the ability to understand another person’s point of view. Teachers of any grade level or subject are invited to submit a STEM lesson plan that incorporates empathy. Three K-12 teachers will win a fabulous classroom makerspace filled with maker tools and supplies!

Winners:

  • Jennifer McIntyre, TN, Goodlettsville Middle School
  • Aaron Burke, NY, South Avenue Elementary
  • Sharon Parks, TN, Midway Middle School

Prizes:

  • Three QIDI Tech I Mate 3D printer
  • LEGO Inventor Set
  • Three Sphero Coding Robots
  • Makerspace Tools and Supplies:
    • Construction paper, Origami paper, Cardboard sheets, glue, hot glue gun, exacto knifes, modeling clay with tools, pipe cleaners, popsicle sticks, sequins, googly eyes, feathers, toy wheels, duct tape, ribbon, etc..

Teachers, history is being made every second of every day, and there are so many fun ways to tie it to STEM! The Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) wants to see how you can incorporate history into one of your existing content specific STEM lesson plans. All K-12 teachers are invited to create and submit a math or science lesson plan that includes history for a chance to win a mini-grant! FOUR teachers, two who submit a math lesson plan and two who submit a science lesson plan, will be selected to receive mini-grants up to $1,000 to help buy equipment for their classroom!

Congratulations to the winners:

Math:

  • Lisa Rhinehart, AL, Duran North
  • David Black, UT, New Haven School

Science:

  • Alex Dzurick, MO, Rohan Woods School
  • Gretchen Gibson, WV, Morgantown High School

Teachers, throughout the month of August, we want to know with unlimited funding, how you would update your classroom! 

Congratulations to the winners:

  • Tim Sheley, OK, White Bead School
  • Kristen Wilder, CT, Gov. William Pitkin School
  • Laurelle Riola-Catbagan, HI, Eleele Elementary School

Teachers, June is National Great Outdoor month, and we want to celebrate with you! ORISE wants to see how you incorporate the outdoors into one of your existing content specific lesson plans. Teachers of any grade level or subject are invited to submit a STEM lesson plan that utilizes the outdoors. THREE teachers will be selected to win a mini-grant for their classroom up to $1,500! May the forest be with you!

Prizes:

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

Teachers, the summer Olympics begins July 23 and we want to celebrate with you! Throughout the month of July we want to know your answer to this question: what are ways you can incorporate the summer Olympics or sports into your lesson plans? To enter the contest, follow @ORISEconnect on social media, fill out this (very short) survey, and comment your answer on the post!

Prizes:

THREE randomly selected teachers will receive a complete back to school classroom supplies pack and a portable projector!

Teachers! School may be out, but summer social media contests are just beginning! Throughout the month of June, we want to know over the summer, what are things you can incorporate into or remove from your life to help with teaching fatigue or burnout?

Winners:

  • Marcy Burns, Main Street Intermediate, Norwalk, Ohio
  • Jen Mernick, Ottoson Middle School, Waltham, Massachusetts
  • Jennifer Garcia, Westmore Oaks, West Sacramento, California

Calling all teachers! As the school year is coming to an end, ORISE wants your help to provide STEM activity plans for students that can be completed at home during the summer while you’re relaxing in the comfort of your brand new ENO Doublenest Hammock. THREE teachers will be awarded a complete summer kit for their excellent at-home activity plan.

Winners:

  • Sierra Cook, Dalewood Middle School, Chattanooga, TN
    Activity plan: Greenhouse Effect in Action
  • Kimberly Brasel, Dyllis Springs Elementary, Oak Ridge, TN
    Activity plan: Power of the Sun
  • Melissa Poland, Petros Joyner Elementary School, Wartburg, TN
    Activity plan: Discover Density!

Teachers, April is Celebrate Diversity Month, and we want to celebrate with you! Throughout the month of April, we want to know in your classroom, how do you promote the importance of contributions to STEM from people of diverse backgrounds? To enter the contest, follow ORISE on social media @ORISEconnect, fill out this (very short) survey, and comment your answer on the post!

Winners:

  • Marlene Mcgarrity, Christa McAuliffe School, Brooklyn, NY
  • Beth Cantrell, Smithville Elementary, Smithville, TN
  • Kayla Richardson, Science Hall Elementary, San Marcos, TX

♬ Butterfly in the sky

I can go twice as high

Take a look

It's in a (STEM) book

A reading (STEM) rainbow ♬

Well, you don't have to take my word for it, but I have a feeling that song might be stuck in your head for the rest of the day. ORISE wants to see how you can incorporate STEM and literacy into one of your existing content specific lesson plans. 

Winners:

  • Claudine James, Malvern Middle School Malvern, AR
    Lesson Plan: Up from the Sea

  • Megan Mccall, Bayside Academy, Mobile, AL
    Lesson Plan: Pulling Physics from from Calling All Minds

  • Rich Mckinney, Vine Middle Magnet School, Knoxville, Tn
    Lesson Plan: Cape of Storms...or Cape of Good Hope?

The mental health crisis is at an all-time high here in the United States. At a time when isolation and stress seem like normal, everyday things, it is more important than ever to take care of our mental health. As I’m sure you’ve heard before, it takes 21 days to form a habit. ORISE wants you to follow a stress prevention technique for 21 days and document your journey. At the end of the 21 days, submit a video or podcast about your journey and the importance of taking care of your mental health. Teachers of any grade level or subject area are invited to join the challenge. The three winning teachers will receive a Fitbit and a TheraBox subscription to help continue their mental health journeys. Think you’re up for the challenge?

Winners:

What better way to celebrate the New Year than with a new social media contest! Throughout the month of January, ORISE wants to know your best at-home STEM activities that students can complete from the comfort of their homes. 

Winners:

  • Linda Bugg, Bess T. Shepherd Elementary, Chattanooga, TN
  • Claudia Bouchard, New London High School, Waterford, CT

Graphing is where I draw the line. *Ba Dum Tss* We hope not, because ORISE is asking you to whip out those ol’ excel sheets and graphing calculators for this month’s lesson plan competition!

Winners:

  • 1st place: Celeste Ferrson, Hubert O. Sibley Elementary, Miami, FL
    Lesson plan: Pizza Fraction Pie Graph
  • 2nd place: Chunhong Lin, Benjamin Tasker Middle School, Bowie, MD
    Lesson plan: Straw Rocket
  • 3rd place: Harlee Morphis, Blackman Middle School, Murfreesboro, TN
    Lesson plan: Wildebeest vs. Devils Weed – Human Impact and Invasive Species