Grant Wrangler

The National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) and Vernier Software & Technology have chosen seven individuals to receive the 2008 NSTA/Vernier Technology Award. Winners range from elementary school teachers to college instructors and were chosen based on their creative data-collection lessons and programs in their classrooms.

NSTA and Vernier offered seven awards in four categories, including one for elementary, two middle level, three high school, and one college level. Successful applicants received $1,000 in cash, $1,000 in Vernier products, and up to $1,000 toward expenses to attend the 2008 NSTA National Convention in Boston, MA, during March 2008.

For the elementary school category, Allison Needham, a fifth-grade teacher at J.B. Watkins Elementary School in Midlothian, VA, was chosen for her activity in her sound unit “Music Maker,” in which students design a musical instrument that can play three distinct notes.

Winning the middle school category, Mary Cook, an eighth-grade science teacher at Roosevelt Middle School in Glendale, CA, designed the “Demonstrating Newton’s Laws” activity where students research and design a small cart to demonstrate Newton’s first, second and third laws of motion.

One of three winners of the high school category, Rebecca Runnels Morrison, a science teacher at Runnels High School in Baton Rouge, LA, created “Amusement Park Instructional Videos,” where students use graphing calculators and accelerometers to investigate the rides at a popular amusement park.

To read more about the other winning projects, visit the Vernier web site. If you are considering applying for 2009 NSTA/Vernier Technology Award, click here to learn about entry guidelines.

Posted by: Catrina J. Brewton

This year, State Farm is not only giving grants to schools, but giving students a voice in the grant decision process. This is a great way for students to understand the grantee selection process while gaining experience that can improve their chances when applying for future grants, scholarships, or even college. When you have a certain amount to give away, how do you decide? What criteria do you use?

State Farm is giving $3,000-5,000 scholarships to students between the ages of 17-20 who are chosen to participate in their Youth Advisory Board, a committee which is comprised of 30 young adults across the United States and Canada who wish to make a positive impact on communities. The board will create and oversee a $5 million service-learning program to address key community issues while overseeing site selections, providing technical assistance to the site grantees, and assisting with communications and outreach.

Selected students will serve as Associate Members in 2008, with the option to become a Board Member in 2009. Associate Members will receive a $3,000 post-secondary school scholarship, and Board Members will receive a $5,000 scholarship.

The application deadline is April 18, 2008. Selected applicants will be notified by the end of May 2008. To learn more about the State Farm Youth Advisory Board and to obtain an application, visit: www.statefarm.com, www.ysa.org, and www.nylc.org. To read more about service-learning, visit www.service-learningpartnership.org.

Posted by: Catrina Brewton

Friday, April 18, 2008, Noon – 1:30pm EST

Join me as I headline at the next Heller Reports Roundtable discussion. The web seminar is for companies that want to learn how to help schools and districts identify available funding sources. From public and private grants to federal programs, you’ll learn the different sources of funding available to schools and ways to position your products so schools can use those funds to purchase from your organization.

Featuring:
Charles Blaschke, President, Education TURNKEY Systems, Inc.
Karen Greenwood Henke, President, Nimble Press
Adam Thibault, Policy Director, Strong American Schools

Be part of the discussion - Register today! $249 per connection.

Think back: What was your least-favorite subject in middle school? Art? History? Geography?

Mine was science, a subject for which I never developed an affinity or appreciation. However, my attitude might have been different if I had been given a more hands-on approach to learning specific concepts. Although reading from a textbook was informative, it didn’t inspire my creativity.

Fortunately, today, Discovery Education is offering students the opportunity to combine creativity with scientific learning. Discovery Communications first launched the Young Scientist Challenge in 1999 to increase student enthusiasm and performance. Since then, over 540,000 middle school students have participated in the challenge, and nine have been honored as “America’s Top Young Scientist of the Year.” And now, for the first time, the competition has expanded to include 5-8th grade students and K-12 science teachers.

Student participants are challenged to create a short video about a specific scientific concept, selected from a list of concepts that relate to the 2008 YSC theme, “The Science of Space.” The video should convey the entrant’s aptitude for science and comfort while discussing its concepts.

The Teacher Challenge is open to members of the Discovery Educator Network (DEN), an online community that is free and simple to join. The Challenge invites DEN members to create a video that communicates one of five scientific concepts proposed by YSC judges.

Ten student finalists will receive an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C. for the competition finals, which will consist of a series of individual and team challenges. America’s Top Young Scientist will win a $50,000 savings bond (worth $25,000). Other finalists will receive secondary prizes.

Judges will also select five teachers to receive an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C. to attend the competition finals. Teacher finalists will compete in a series of challenges, and at the end of the competition, judges will award the top teacher with a special prize and the title of DEN’s Science Teacher of the Year.

The Discovery Educator Network (DEN) is an online community comprised of 30,000 educators eager to integrate technology into their classroom curriculum, resources, and learning. For more information or to join the DEN, visit http://community.discoveryeducation.com.

To enter The Young Scientist Challenge or The Teacher Challenge, students and teachers must submit a video entry online at www.discoveryeducation.com/youngscientist. The competition deadline is June 15, 2008.

Posted by Catrina Brewton

Last October, I contacted some friends in San Diego to find out how they were doing when the wild fires raged through the county. I learned that technology played a key role in the school district’s ability to communicate with families and continue learning despite a county-wide evacuation.

I got to thinking about what role technology plays when the unexpected happens. I came up with 10 lessons learned in speaking with Bob Gravina of Poway Unified, Sheryl Abshire of Calcasieu Parish Schools, Tom Petry of Collier County School District, Dick Cvitanich of Lake Pend Oreille School District, and Tom Strasburger of PublicSchoolWORKS. Read Surviving Disaster in the March issue of Technology & Learning.

Question: “I am looking for funding for my daughter because she is trying to attend a fine arts boarding school. She is going into the 7th grade and has been having trouble finding any kind of support or help. Are there currently any opportunities that might suit her?” - Submitted by: Tina Petriella

Answer: Grant Wrangler lists many opportunities for artistic students to win money. Your daughter may wish to enter a Student Photo Contest or apply for a Children’s Scholarship Fund Scholarship, which gives money to children from low-income families to attend the charter school of their choosing. If neither of these works for you, try the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), a foundation that offers grants to both individuals and arts organizations.

Posted by Catrina Brewton

Did you know that each year, discarded cell phones account for almost 65,000 tons of toxic waste*? On average, I replace my cell phone every three years, but most of my friends and relatives replace theirs yearly. Although newer and more-compact designs are pleasing to the eye, every discarded cell phone can pollute up to 132,000 liters of water*. The good news, however, is that you can now safely recycle your mobile while also helping to raise money for your school, church, or after-school club.

The EcoPhones’ Recycling Fundraiser enables anyone affiliated with a nonprofit to earn money by donating unwanted electronics. EcoPhones provides up to $300 for used cell phones and up to $5 for used ink jet cartridges. Other acceptable items include DVD movies, portable DVD players, MP3 players, X-boxes, Sony Playstations, Wii systems, videogames, digital cameras, digital picture frames, and more. Participants are paid for every item – even those that are damaged and broken. Shipping is also free.

The EcoPhones’ Recycling Fundraiser has attracted over 22,000 organizations and has helped to safely recycle over 50 tons of electronic waste. To learn more about EcoPhones and how to raise money for your organization, visit http://www.green-recycling-fundraiser.org. When you register, you’ll receive free color posters, price lists, pre-paid shipping labels, and other items to begin your fundraising efforts.

*Charity Guide Cell Phone Recycling: Donate Your Old Mobile Phone

Posted by Catrina Brewton