Summer Planning: List of Educational Grants and Resources from Edutopia

Attention teachers – I came across a great list of educational resources on Edutopia today; and the best part is every resource is just for you! It is a list of grants, contests and awards, as well as classroom resources. You can find the comprehensive list here; however, I am including a few of my favorites from the list to get you started. Enjoy! tlb

Grants

Arts Education Grants from the NEA

Deadline: July 24, 2014

These yearly grants from the NEA support arts education in three areas. Grants are available for projects that support direct learning experiences for students, professional development for teachers, and that increase arts equity. Projects should provide enhanced learning opportunities for students in grades preK through 12.
Prize: Awards range from $10,000 to $100,000 depending on organization size.

Thank A Million Teachers: School Supplies and PD Grants

Deadline: June 30, 2014; October 30, 2014

State Farm is offering a huge pool of grants to thank teachers. Through the website ThankAMillionTeachers.com, thousands of students and parents have logged on to show their support for an inspiring educator. In turn, these educators become eligible to apply for a grant through the program. Teachers can elect to receive funding to purchase supplies through AdoptAClassroom.org or they can pursue a teaching certification offered by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.
Prize: Grants are available up to $2,500

Grants for STEM Programs from American Honda Foundation

Deadline: Rolling

Throughout the year, the American Honda Foundation accepts grant proposals for K-12 education. Recently, the foundation has focused their efforts on STEM projects and environmental education. A variety of projects are eligible, as long as they can be characterized as “imaginative, creative, youthful, forward-thinking, scientific, humanistic and innovative.”
Prize: Grants range from $20,000 to $75,000

Contests and Awards

NEW! Compete for a Green Thumb Challenge Grant

Deadline: Sept. 30, 2014

The Green Education Foundation and Gardener’s Supply Company are sponsoring this challenge for K-12 schools across the country. The challenge is calling for K-12 schools, classrooms and groups to document their existing student-run garden, through video, photos and/or artwork. The most inspiring gardens then receive funding for continued sustainability.

Prize: Several $500 grants are available to benefit the country’s most inspiring K-12 gardens.

NEW! Summer Reading Program from Barnes & Noble

Are you looking for a summer activity for your kids? Well, you might consider Barnes & Noble’s summer reading program. To participate, kids can download a free PDF Reading Journal online. Then, throughout they must read at least eight books and record them in their logs. After reading eight books, students can them return completed logs to a local B&N store and receive a free book.

Half Price Books’ Summer Reading Program

Deadline: Ongoing; Monthly Through August

Half Price Books is asking kids 14 and under to “feed their brains,” and participate in the HPB free summer reading program. Here’s the task: Kids 14 and under are encouraged to read 15 minutes per day for a month. Once a student has reached 300 minutes, they can turn in their downloadable reading log to receive a $5 Bookworms Buck HPB gift certificate. The top reader each month, in each age group, will also receive a $20 Top Reader Prize to use at any HPB location. The program is free to join.

First-Ever $1 Million Global Teacher Prize

Deadline: October 5, 2014

This year, educators the world over can vie for the recently established Global Teacher Prize, or the Nobel Prize of teaching. Educators in any country can nominate themselves. Students and parents can nominate inspiring educators as well. Nominees will be judged by a panel of global education experts based on a variety of criteria, including dedication to the professional, achievements and recognitions and ability to positively influence students. One teacher will be honored next spring with a $1 million cash prize.

Classroom Resources

The Ultimate Guide to Games in School

EdSurge has culled a list of articles, resources, and videos to help educators incorporate gaming into the classroom. The guide covers the latest research, as well as strategies and tips from practitioners, and there are plenty of useful reviews of ideal classroom games that support learning. This is a great primer for educators looking to incorporate gaming in the classroom, as well as for teachers who have already embraced the trend.

Classroom Resources from the National Parks

The National Park Service recently released new Back-to-School resources for educators across the U.S. There are curriculum resources, which allow students to explore parks from the comfort of the classroom, information about in-person field trips and online professional development resources for teachers. Currently, there are 53 free curriculum packets for almost every grade, and they explore topics like immigration at Ellis Island and the Civil War at Fort Scott.

Smithsonian Online Education Conference Series

Students and teachers: Interact with experts from the Smithsonian once a month during their hour-long online conferences, held on topics ranging from civil rights to astrophotography. The conference series includes special “virtual teachers’ lounge” sessions for teachers to engage with each other and discuss other Smithsonian learning resources.

STEM-Works

STEM–Works is a resource for teachers, parents, mentors, and anyone else wanting to get kids excited about science, technology, engineering, and math. The site offers links to virtual field trips, interactive lesson plans, and fun activities for all grade levels.

EarthCam

EarthCam has compiled live webcam footage from around the world, giving students the opportunity to travel the globe from their desks. The live streams include Times Square in New York City and San Juan, Puerto Rico, and they offer instant video from hundreds of interesting locations. Also, peer into the lives of exotic animals with live video feeds from zoos all over the world!

Better Money Habits

Bank of America has partnered with Sal Khan and the Khan Academy to provide a free online financial learning experience that’s self-paced, fact-based, and conversational. Resources include videos and features that can be customized.

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