Grant Resources
3Com Urban Challenge--The Urban Challenge program grants $100,000 worth
of 3Com technology to U.S. cities to incorporate new uses for information
technology into the fabric of their communities. Schools can use the grant
to tailor a networking solution that meets their community's needs. Deadline:
Grants are awarded on a rolling basis. For more information, go to www.3com.com/solutions/en_US/government/programs/urbanchallenge_americorps.html.
Adopt-a-Classroom Grants--Teachers who register at the Adopt-a-Classroom Web
site can be adopted by an individual, a business, or a foundation. Once adopted,
teachers will receive $500 worth of credit to purchase items that enrich the
learning environment, including classroom technology. Every donor receives
information about the classroom it has adopted, including an itemized list
of what teachers bought so donors can see the impact of their contributions.
For more information, go to www.adoptaclassroom.com.
ClassLink Grants--Sponsored by cell phone manufacturer Nokia and a consortium
of cell phone service providers (organized by the Cellular Telecommunications
Industry Association), this program gives cell phones and free calling time
to classroom instructors. The program is designed to create additional in-class
learning opportunities by enabling students to call subject matter experts
during school time, and also to provide instructors with emergency access
to telephones to ensure their safety and the safety of their students. To
date, more than 30,000 cell phones and 12 million hours of free phone time
have been donated. Among the innovative uses of the system has been a project
in a private school in Florida that allows each teacher to place his or her
homework assignment on wireless voice mail daily, so that parents can call
in and confirm their children's homework assignments. Grants are made by individual
local wireless providers. To find out if your provider is participating in
the program, go to www.wirelessfoundation.org/ClassLink/index.cfm.
Coca-Cola Foundation Grants--The Coca-Cola Foundation supports innovative
classroom teaching and learning in K-12 schools. The foundation looks favorably
on programs that are small and well-targeted. Funds also can be used for tuition
for training that will result in new instructional techniques in the classroom.
The monetary size of the awards varies, but grants of $5,000 to $25,000 are
typical. Deadline: Quarterly. For more information go to http://www2.coca-cola.com/citizenship/foundation_grantlisting.html.
Education Spotlight Program--PLUS Vision of America, a maker of ultraportable,
affordable projection technology, have announced a new program called Education
Spotlight. Through the program, PLUS will donate three projectors and an electronic
copyboard to a selected school each quarter, reflecting a commitment to increase
the effective use of multimedia learning in K-12 education. Applicants are
asked to give a unique example of how the projectors will be used when applying
for the award. Recipients are chosen based on the creativity of their response,
and PLUS Vision will share innovative applications with other educators on
its Web site. For more information, go to www.lightware.com/site/spotlight.html.
Inspiration Awards--The College Board sponsors these awards to recognize schools
that have overcome challenges to inspire traditionally underserved students
to attend college. The application requires two recommendations, one from
a community-based organization and one from a local business. Funds: Three
awards of $25,000 each. The deadline for 2004 has passed. Information about
the 2005 Inspiration Awards will be available Sept. 2004. For more information,
go to www.collegeboard.org/inspirationawards.
Inspired Teacher Scholarships--Inspiration Software's fourth annual Inspired
Teacher Scholarships for Visual Learning are designed to encourage educators
in their ongoing technology professional development. Inspiration Software
will grant 30 scholarships of $750 each to educators who champion visual learning
and the meaningful use of technology in the classroom. Grant recipients are
compensated for attendance at a technology conference, graduate course, or
training event where visual learning is highlighted. The deadline has passed.
Applications for 2005 will be available Sept. 2004. For more information,
go to www.inspiration.com/prodev/index.cfm?fuseaction=scholarship.
Lemelson-MIT InvenTeams--High school science, math, and technology teachers
can apply for a grant of up to $10,000 to create a problem-solving invention.
Application deadline: May 7, 2004. For more information, go to www.inventeams.org.
Martha Holden Jennings Foundation--The foundation funds elementary and secondary
school projects for students and teachers through its grants to educators
program, which enables teachers and administrators to undertake excellent
classroom or school projects. A distribution committee makes funding recommendations
to the board of directors and meets monthly, except in July and December.
Geographic area: Ohio. Submit requests by the 20th of the month preceding
the month in which they are to be considered. Grants may be up to $3,000.
For more information, go to www.mhjf.org.
Millipore Foundation--A high-technology bioscience organization, Millipore
supports activities in education and research, social development, public
policy, and community and employee relations. Priorities for K-12 education
grants are projects that focus on math, science, and technology and emphasize
minority and inner-city students. Grants typically range from $2,500 to $5,000.
Geographic area: Metropolitan Boston. There is no deadline. For more information,
contact Charleen Johnson, Executive Director, 290 Concord Road, Billerica,
Mass. 01821; Phone: 978/715-1268; Fax: 978/715-1385; e-mail: Charleen_Johnson@millipore.com.
Robert H. Michel Civic Education Grants--The Dirksen Congressional Center
is offering a total of $35,000 in 2004 for projects that improve the quality
of civics instruction. Areas of interest include designing lesson plans, creating
student activities, and applying instructional technology in the classroom.
Teachers in grades 4 through 12 are eligible to apply. Applicants should begin
by sending a short letter or e-mail that outlines their project; promising
candidates will be asked to submit more detailed information. Deadline: May
1. For more information, go to http://www.dirksencenter.org/grantmichelciviced.htm.
SMARTer Kids Connections--The SMARTer Kids Foundation, the philanthropic branch
of SMART Technologies Inc., will be accepting applications in November 2004
for its 2004-2006 Connections program, a collaborative learning program for
students in grades 5 and 6 in the United States and Canada. Connections equips
upper-elementary classes with leading-edge technology, provides teacher training,
and promotes collaborative learning projects among schools. The program culminates
with teachers and selected students meeting in Calgary for a week of friendship,
adventure, and learning. All Connections schools will receive a SMART Board
580 interactive whiteboard, floor stand, software, and an NEC VT440 projector.
These products will be integrated into the curriculum to support the Connections
program, and they become the property of the Connections schools to keep upon
completion of the program. For more information, go to www.smarterkids.org/k12/connections/index.asp.
Techs4Schools--Since 1995, privately funded Tech Corps has provided no-cost
assistance to help schools connected to the Internet maintain their technology
systems. Last year, Compaq Computer Corp. provided $500,000 to expand Tech
Corps' activities through the Techs4Schools Online Mentoring Program, which
provides free, online volunteer assistance to educators and school technology
coordinators. For more information, go to http://techs4schools.techcorps.org.
Washington Mutual Teacher Certification Scholarships--Washington Mutual Foundation,
supported by the financial services company, provides scholarships through
the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards to assist teachers
in pursuing National Board certification. Scholarships will be made on a first-come,
first-served basis. Scholarships will cover up to 50 percent of the NBPTS
$2,300 certification fee. There are four deadlines each year. The next one
for 2003 is December 31. For more information, go to http://www.nbpts.org/candidates/availscholar.cfm.
new instruments. There is no application deadline, and applications are reviewed
three times a year. For more information, go to www.mhopus.org.
MATH
Digi-Block Inc., a maker of plastic blocks that help children visualize math
concepts--seeks applications to receive materials and training to encourage
innovative use of Digi-Blocks with students in grades K-4. Teachers and teacher
groups in elementary schools and school districts interested in implementing
the Digi-Block Learning Systems into their math curriculum are eligible. The
maximum grant is $5,000 in Digi-Block products. The deadline for 2004 has
passed. For more information, go to www.digi-block.com (click on "digi-Block
Grant" in the left-hand column).
Lemelson-MIT InvenTeams--High school science, math, and technology teachers
can apply for a grant of up to $10,000 to create a problem-solving invention.
Application deadline: May 7, 2004. For more information, go to www.inventeams.org.
Toshiba America Foundation Grants--The Toshiba America Foundation seeks to
support projects designed by classroom teachers to improve K-12 science and
mathematics education. As many as 75 grants of up to $1,000 each will be awarded
to K-6 classrooms, and many more, some as high as $25,000, will be awarded
to grades 7-12. Application Deadlines: October 1 for K-6 programs; year-round
for 7-12 projects under $5,000; and February 1 and August 1 for 7-12 projects
over $5,000. For more information, go to www.toshiba.com/about/taf/grant.html.
Washington Statistical Society--The Washington Statistical Society presents
the Curtis Jacobs Memorial Prize to encourage middle and high school students
in the Washington, D.C., metro area to gain an understanding of the uses of
surveys. Awardees will receive a $200 U.S. Savings Bond, plaque, and a one-year
free membership to the American Statistical Association for the student's
school. Application deadline: June 1, 2004. For more information e-mail Kellie.willis@ey.com
or go to http://www.science.gmu.edu/~wss/jacobs.html. (Updated Nov. 2003)
Resources
Chiappetta, Eugene, Science Instruction in the Middle and Secondary Schools,
New Jersey, Merrill Prentice Hall, 2002, p.144
Padilla, Michael, Grade 8 Science Textbook, Needham Massachusetts, 2002.
Prentice-Hall
Reiff, Pat; Siefert, Janet, Astrobiology Lectures during Spring 2004 @ Rice
University
www.nfie.org
www.discovery.com
www.google.com
www.nasa.com
www.spacelink.com
www.asjeeves.com
www.fundforschools.com
www.voyagesthroughtime.com