STEM Competitions for K-12 Educators Educator competitions increase students’ interest and excitement for STEM
ORISE is hosting two educator contests for June. Scroll down for the lesson plan competition.
June Social Media Contest
Contest opens: Thursday, June 1, 2023.
Deadline: on or before 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, Friday, June 30th, 2023.
ATTENTION TEACHERS! Here at ORISE we love getting feedback from students and we would love to get feedback from our teachers! For this month’s social media competition, we want to know what kind of lesson plans you would like to see to fill our free lesson plan library! To enter the contest, follow ORISE on social media, fill out this (very short) survey, and comment your feedback on new focuses or types of lesson plans on our social media post!
Prizes:
THREE randomly selected winners will receive the following prizes:
Back to School Supplies Bundle:
- 10 Drawer Cart
- Post-it Flip Charts
- Flip Chart Markers
- Paper Mate Flair Pens
- Black and Multicolored Expo Markers
- And more!
Details:
- The contest closes at 11:59 p.m. EST on Friday, June 30th, 2023.
- 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.
Back-to-School Lesson Plan Competition
Opens: 8:00 A.M. Eastern Time, Thursday, June 1st, 2023
Deadline: on or before 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time, Monday, July 31st, 2023
Teachers! This summer, ORISE wants to see your best back-to-school STEM lesson plans. Teachers of any grade level or subject are invited to submit a STEM lesson plan that includes back-to-school activities. 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
Details:
Interested educators are invited to submit an original lesson plan to https://orausurvey.orau.org/n/BacktoSchool.aspx by 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time, Monday, July 31st, 2023.
- 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.
- Lesson plan may focus on any topic as long as the lesson plan incorporates an engaging back to school STEM related activity.
- 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
- Lesson plans will be scored using a rubric (.pdf, 127kb) and winners will be announced late August!
- 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/stem/k-12/curriculum-for-the-classroom.html.
July Social Media Contest
Contest opens: July 1, 2023.
Deadline: on or before 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday, July 31st.
This July we want to talk about technology. Technology has increasingly become an integral part of our day to day lives, including in the classroom! Throughout the month of July, we want to know how you incorporate technology into 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:
- LED Light Strips
- Timer
- Voice Amplifier
- Clicker/Laser pointer
Details:
- The contest closes at 11:59 p.m. EST on Monday, July 31, 2023.
- 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.
To view the current ORISE lesson plan library, visit https://orise.orau.gov/stem/k-12/curriculum-for-the-classroom.html.
Previous ORISE Educator Competitions and Winners
ATTENTION TEACHERS! Staying active is one of the key parts of living a healthy lifestyle, not only for you as educators, but for your students as well! As we are nearing the summer, ORISE wants to hear the different ways that you encourage your students to stay active and spend time outside!
Winners:
- Elizabeth E., Fontana USD, CA
- Lauren N., Mililani Uka Elementary, HI
- Wendy S., Powell High School, WY
Prizes:
THREE randomly selected winners will receive the following prizes:
Staying Active in the Great Outdoors Kit:
- Wise Owl Camping Hammock
- Canon Phone Mini Photo Printer Bundle
- Jumbo Insulated Cooler Bag
- Outdoor School Nature Guides
- ORISE Swag pack including an ORISE branded ceramic mug, tumbler, fanny pack, and more!
If you have any questions, please contact STEMEd@orau.org.
This March we would love to celebrate the lesser-known discoverers and trailblazers of the STEM fields. There are many remarkable experts who deserve recognition for their work yet are not widely included in K-12 education. Movies such as Hidden Figures or children’s books about Temple Grandin and Ray Montague demonstrate this. The Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) wants to see how you incorporate largely unknown experts in the STEM fields and their discoveries into your lesson plans. Teachers of any grade level or subject are invited to submit a STEM lesson plan that includes obscure contributors to a STEM field. THREE teachers who submit lesson plans will be selected to receive the prizes listed below!
Winners:
- Tiarra Baker, Farragut High School, TN
- Jamahl Peavey, Arlington High School, MA
- Abby Cornelius, Blue Valley North High School, KS
Prizes:
- iPad
- Apple pencil
- iPad accessories
- Sphero SPRK
- Sphero storage case
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:
- 1st Place: Samantha O., Harpeth Hall School, TN
- 2nd Place: Nicole H., North Salisbury School, MD
- 3rd Place: Sheri C., H. L. Richards High School, IL
Prizes:
- 1st Place: $1,500.00
- 2nd Place: $1,000.00
- 3rd 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
- Megan H., Victor Solheim Elementary, ND
- Linda L., Wallenpaupack Area High School, PA
- David A., O.A. Thorp, IL
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.
Teachers! Summer is here and what better time to learn more about the world! The Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) wants to see how you incorporate different cultures from around the world into your lesson plans. Teachers of any grade level or subject are invited to submit a STEM lesson plan that includes diverse cultures. 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:
- Rebecca Van Duker, OR, Jacksonville Elementary School
- Melissa Poland, Petros Joyner School, TN
- Patricia Lawrimore, Riverwood International Charter School, GA
Prizes:
- 1st place: $1,500 mini-grant
- 2nd place: $1,000 mini-grant
- 3rd place: $500 mini-grant
If you have any questions, please contact STEMEd@orau.org.
Teachers! School is starting soon and ORISE wants to help you get started and organized for the next year with our social media contest! Throughout the month of July, we want to know your most effective routines or strategies which help you to manage your time throughout the school year.
Prizes:
THREE randomly selected winners will receive a time management kit containing a:
- Fitbit Inspire 2 with a free 1 year Fitbit premium trial
- Lesson Planner
- Sunrise Alarm Clock
If you have any questions, please contact STEMEd@orau.org.
Teachers! School may be out for the summer but ORISE wants to help you jump start your back-to-school supplies list for next year with our social media contest! Throughout the month of June, we want to know your most effective classroom management strategies.
Winners:
Sydney Smallwood, Sweetwater High school, Sweetwater, TN
Annelise Holcomb, Bethlehem Lutheran School, Saginaw, MI
Jessica Bales, Andersonville Elementary School, Andersonville, TN
Prizes: THREE randomly selected winners received a school supplies kit to help restock their classroom!
If you have any questions, please contact STEMEd@orau.org.
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
- 5 WINNERS can choose a piece of equipment for your classroom up to $750
- 7 WINNERS can choose a piece of equipment for your classroom up to $500
- 15 WINNERS can choose a piece of equipment for your classroom up to $250
Winners:
$1000 Prize Level:
- Mario de La Barrera, Hampden Elementary School, PA ( winning video)
- Shirley McDonald, Ringgold Middle School - Catoosa County Public Schools, TN ( winning video)
- Amy Truemper, Bednarcik Junior High School, IL ( winning video)
$750 Prize Level:
- Beth Cantrell, Smithville Elementary School, TN
- Lorrie Irwin, South Clinton and North Clinton Elementary, TN
- Rebecca Layton, Karns Middle School, TN
- Marcela, St. Onge, Stone Memorial High School, TN
- Kristen Wilder, Gov. William Pitkin Elementary School, CT
$500 Prize Level:
- Robert Bice, Model High School, GA
- Shannon Burnett, Lewiston Elementary School, GA
- Barry Farris, Columbia Academy, TN
- Haley Gentry, Jefferson County High School, TN
- Jeff Leider, Craig High School, WI
- Laurelle Riola-Catbagan, Eleele Elementary School, HI
- Jocelyn Virtudes, Blair G. Ewing Alt Center, MD
$250 Prize Level:
- Alicia Adkins, Heritage High School, TN
- Erica Anderson, Hillsboro High School, TN
- Amber Ankrom, Walkersville Middle School, WV
- Cheryl Burchett, Central High School, TN
- Charles Canestaro, Cortland High School, NY
- Sergio Estrada, Riverside High School, TX
- Fredia Hilton, Elizabethton High School, TN
- Kristy Hutson, Oak Ridge High School, TN
- Luke McKinley, Martin Luther King, OH
- Carol Ochsner, Monroe High School, WI
- Andrea Roberson, Columbia Academy, TN
- Jaclyn Simpson, Columbia Academy, TN
- Sydney Smallwood, Sweetwater High School, TN
- Michelle Strickland, Trigg County High School, KY
- Denise Wright, Ocean Bay Middle, SC