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

February is here and so is Random Acts of Kindness Day! The Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) wants to challenge you and see how you incorporate kindness into your STEM lesson plans. We want to see how your lesson engages students in acts of kindness whether it be to one another or to their communities. An example of this would be to have students be kind by serving their community libraries or animal shelters! Get students pumped up for helping their communities and being compassionate to others. Teachers of any grade level or subject are invited to submit a STEM lesson plan that includes kindness. 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:

• Emily Fain-Lynch, Green Magnet Academy, TN
• Rachel Cahill Itle, Penn Mont Academy, PA
• Liliia Khmarskaia, JMB High School, MD

Prizes:

• Class set of 3D printer pens
• Storymatic cards
• Kindness stickers
• Kindness quote bracelets
• Felt letter board

Teachers! It’s not quite spring, but it’s still time to clean. Throughout the month of January, ORISE wants to know how you keep your classroom clean! What are quick and easy cleaning tips or strategies that you’ve found help keep your classroom clean? Even better, what are some ways you get students involved in helping clean your classroom?

Winners:

• Stacy Garofalo, P.O. 081, Robert J. Christen School, NY
• Kendra Edgell, Church Hill Middle School, TN
• Leslie Mohlman, Willowcreek Middle School, UT

Prizes:

THREE randomly selected teachers will receive the following prizes:

• iPad
• Plickers
• Cleaning Kit (medical gloves, foldable Swiffer, handheld vacuum)

There is a technological black out at your school! No computer, no projector, no copier—what now? National Cut Your Energy Day is this month and it is time to get back to the basics. ORISE wants to see your best lesson plan that requires little to no technology and includes saving energy in your classroom. Teachers of any grade level or subject are invited to submit an original STEM lesson plan that includes the topic of saving energy. THREE winners will receive mini-grants.

Winners:

• $1,500 mini-grant: Charles H., Sunbright School, TN
• $1,000 mini-grant: Brittany F., Jacksboro Elementary School, TN
• $500 mini-grant: Demvia M., New Mexico Military Institute, NM

Teachers! Need a pick me up this through this winter season? ORISE wants to help "keur" your winter teaching blues. Throughout the month of December, we want you to share your favorite strategies to keep yourself and your students engaged in the classroom as you return after winter break for a chance to win 1 of 3 “Keur-ing” the Winter Teaching Blues Kits!

Winners:

• Michelle C., Rockwood High School, TN
• Matthew L., Harrison High School, GA
• Rebecca R., Loudenslager Elementary School, NJ

Prizes:

THREE randomly selected winners will receive the following prizes:

“Keur-ing” the Winter Teaching Blues Kit:

• Keurig Machine, K-Cup Storage Drawer, and an ORISE ceramic mug!
• Rocketbook
• Document Camera
• Classroom Doorbell

Calling all teachers! As the holiday season approaches, the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) wants your help to provide STEM activity plans for students that can be completed at home during the holidays. Teachers of any grade level or subject are invited to submit a STEM activity plan that incorporates household items for an opportunity to win supplies to start or enhance your own classroom makerspace! THREE teachers will be awarded a fabulous classroom makerspace filled with maker tools and supplies!

Winners:

• Kole C., Lyons Middle School, KS
• Stacey N., St. Louis Priory School, MO
• Chelsea L., Elm Street Elementary School, GA

Prizes include:

• Ozobot Evo Coding Robots
• LEGO Mindstorms Robot Inventor
• Makerspace Tools and Supplies:
  • Construction paper, Origami paper, Cardboard sheets, glue, hot glue gun, exacto knives, wire cutters, modeling clay with tools, pipe cleaners, popsicle sticks, sequins, googly eyes, feathers, toy wheels, duct tape, ribbon, and so much more!

Isn’t it fascinating how STEM phenomena such as the Fibonacci sequence or tessellations can be seen in the world around us? ORISE wants to know how you incorporate STEM phenomena into your lesson plans! Teachers of any grade or subject are invited to create a math or science lesson plan that incorporates any STEM phenomena for the opportunity to win a mini-grant! THREE teachers will be chosen to win mini-grants up to $1,500 dollars!

Winners:

• 1^st Place: Samantha O., Harpeth Hall School, TN
• 2^nd Place: Nicole H., North Salisbury School, MD
• 3^rd Place: Sheri C., H. L. Richards High School, IL

Prizes:

• 1^st Place: $1,500.00
• 2^nd Place: $1,000.00
• 3^rd Place: $500.00

Teachers, are you ready to sing? It’s time to get your creative juices flowing and energy pumping because Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) wants to give you a chance to create a STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, math) song. This song must contain original lyrics and be connected to at least one state or national education standard. Teachers of any grade level or subject are invited to submit a music video with lyrics. THREE teachers will win an iPad and a pair of Raycon wireless earbuds!

Winners:

• Danielle A., Green Magnet Academy, TN
  • view Danielle's video
• Megan H., Victor Solheim Elementary, ND
  • view Megan's video
• Linda L., Wallenpaupack Area High School, PA
  • view Linda's video
• David A., O.A. Thorp, IL
  • view David's video

Prizes:

• 1 iPad
• 1 pair of Raycon wireless earbuds

Teachers! School is back in session and ORISE wants to help e-LAMINATE some of your back to school stress with our social media contest! Throughout the month of August, we want you to reflect on your teaching experience and tell us if you could go back and talk to yourself at the beginning of your teaching career, what advice would you give yourself? To enter the contest, follow ORISE on social media, fill out this (very short) survey, and comment your classroom tips/tricks on the post!

Winners:

• Anna Caruso, NY, P.S. 127 THE MCKINLEY PARK SCHOOL
• Anne Lavelle, OH, Beaumont School
• Heather Wallace, TN, Jellico Elementary School

Prizes:

THREE randomly selected winners received a laminator with laminating supplies!

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