Looking for funds to make an innovative technology project possible? Seeking recognition for outstanding teachers or students in your district? Here's a sampling of some great opportunities.
The Zoom-ed Classroom Contest, sponsored by eZedia Inc., offers K-12 teachers an opportunity to win a new Apple eMac for their school; in addition, all entrants receive eZedia gear. To enter, submit a CD containing a curriculum-based project from one of the following areas: language arts, science, social studies, mathematics, or art, along with required entry forms and releases. The project must reflect grade-appropriate use of eZediaMX capabilities and features. More information is available at http://www.ezedia.com/education/classroom/contests/classroom_contest_2003.html. Entry deadline is May 1.
CDW-G and Discovery Channel School are sponsoring the Win a Wireless Lab Sweepstakes. Open to any U.S. resident over the age of 18 who works for a public or private K-12 school, the grand prize winner will receive a 20-station wireless laptop lab with cart, set up, and training. Additional prizes include HP projectors, D-Link networking devices, HP ink-jet printers, and products from Discovery Channel School. No purchase is required; go to http://school.discovery.com/cdwg to fill out an entry form. Deadline for entries is May 15.
To commemorate the 25th anniversary of chlorofluorocarbon-free aerosol products in the United States, the Consumer Aerosol Products Council is sponsoring the CAPCO Science Class Challenge. Full-time public or private school teachers of grades 4-9 are eligible to enter. Forty teachers will win cash prizes ranging from $500-$5,000 and a pizza party for their class. To enter, visit http://www.nocfcs.org and complete the required activity and online questionnaire. Deadline for entries is May 21.
The White House and National Science Foundation are sponsoring the 21st annual Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. Awardees receive a special citation signed by the President of the United States, a $10,000 award, and a paid trip for two to Washington, D.C., to attend a weeklong series of recognition events. Further information is available online at http://www.paemst.org. Nomination and application forms are due May 3.
The Lemelson-MIT Program invites high school science, math, and technology teachers to form teams with their students and an industry mentor for the purpose of inventing something of use to the school or community. Up to 15 InvenTeams will be selected to receive grants of $10,000 to be used to develop their proposed invention. For additional information, visit http://web.mit.edu/invent/www/InvenTeam. Deadline for applications is May 7.
Tellabs Foundation offers grant opportunities to support projects focused on local and national programs for engineering, science, mathematics, and technology. Initial letters of inquiry are reviewed during quarterly board meetings, and full applications are by invitation only. Grants are generally $10,000 and above. To learn more about the foundation and application procedures, visit http://www.tellabs.com/about/foundation.shtml. The next application deadline for letters of inquiry is June 5.
Tip of the Month
When writing a grant proposal, use appendices wisely. Proposal appendices allow you to add important supporting documentation that doesn't fit into the proposal narrative; however, it's important to add just those materials that directly support the application. Remember, most grant readers work on a strict timeline. Review the Request for Proposals to determine the kinds of supporting documentation readers will expect to see. Program of the Month
Keeping up with new grant opportunities offered through the federal government can be a full-time job! The Grants.gov Web site is designed to help you find, apply for, and manage government grants through one easy-to-find location. Well-designed and easy to navigate, the site also offers a tutorial for less experienced Internet users. In addition to searching the grant database yourself, you can sign up for e-mail notifications of new grant postings in your areas of interest. Visit http://www.grants.gov for more information.
Visit http://www.techlearning.com to search through the extensive database of grants and contests.
