Cornell Lab of Ornithology Professional Development Webinars        

Cornell Lab's K–12 Education offers free webinars each month, open to all educators. These interactive webinars provide background content, highlight new and relevant educational resources, and allow discussion for successful implementation of such information and activities. Each webinar runs roughly 50 minutes with 10 minutes allocated for questions. Educators can receive letters of completion or Continuing Education Units. Upcoming webinars are (all times are Eastern)

• Feeding Our Feathered Friends, October 19, 6 p.m.
• Cooped Up Kids? Students Explore STEM Indoors and Out, November 16, 6 p.m.
• Science and Literacy With Children’s Books, December 14, 6 p.m.

                          
Personalizing and Localizing Climate Change Through the Power of Our Stories                        

Using personal connections and storytelling allows us to share our own climate stories, and can engage and inspire communities toward climate action. Join Climate Generation at 6 p.m. Central Time on October 20 to explore how to support and empower students in uncovering their climate stories and learn how writing, art, and personal connection are powerful tools for climate solutions.

Polar Bears International Tundra Connections Broadcasts

Join Polar Bears International (PBI) for its seasonal webcasts that can help you and your students learn more about the bears from PBI’s team of researchers. Webcasts for grades K–12 will be held during October 21–November 10 and will cover topics like adaptations and habits, locations of polar bears, protecting polar bears, technology for collecting data on polar bears, and policies affecting conservation work in the Arctic. 

Mole Day

Chemists observe Mole Day to celebrate Avogadro's number, also known as the Avogadro constant, which represents the number of particles in a mole: approximately 6.022 X 1023. In honor of the number, celebrations take place on 10/23 from 6:02 a.m. to 6:02 p.m. Find teacher resources on the website. This year's theme is "HaMOLEton."

In celebration of Mole Day, Flinn Scientific invites science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) educators to share their favorite way of teaching students about the size of a mole for a chance to win up to $500 in Visa gift cards. Contestants should share their best practices and tips for teaching students about this concept and how it relates to important chemistry concepts such as amount, mass, and concentration. To enter, educators create a short video of their favorite explanation, analogy, or demonstration showing how they teach students about the size of a mole. After uploading to YouTube, Vimeo, or TikTok with the hashtag #FlinnMoleDay, educators then share the video link on Flinn Scientific’s contest page. All videos must reference the SI unit known as a mole and highlight educators’ original concept, method, or reasoning.

Teachers will then vote on their favorite submissions by October 31. The first-place winner will receive two $250 Visa gift cards; the second-place winner,  one $250 Visa gift card; and the third-place winner, one $100 Visa gift card. All K–12 educators ages 21 and older should apply by October 23. Learn more at https://www.flinnsci.com/chemistry-week/mole-day-contest.  

The Pollination Project's Grants   

The nonprofit Pollination Project awards $1,000 seed grants to change makers every day of the year, emphasizing projects that expand compassion in the world. Issue areas funded include environmental stewardship, animal protection, social justice, community health and wellness, and social change-oriented arts and culture. In addition to the written application form, applicants are encouraged to create an informal, short (2- to 3-minute) video explaining their project. Applications are reviewed each week.

ORISE History in STEM Lesson Plan Competition       

Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) wants to see how you can incorporate history into one of your existing content-specific STEM lesson plans. All K–12 teachers are invited to create and submit a math or science lesson plan that includes history for a chance to win a mini-grant. Four teachers—two who submit a math lesson plan and two who submit a science lesson plan—will be selected to receive mini-grants of up to $1,000 to help buy equipment for their classrooms. (Deadline October 31) 

My NASA Data Product Review Panel 

My NASA Data (MND) is recruiting experienced and responsive teachers (elementary–high school) to serve on the Product Review Panel for the 2021–2022 academic year. This is an elite group of formal educators who will review and test MND resources and provide feedback for continuous improvement. For more information on the Product Review requirements, expectations, and other details, click here.  Interested candidates may access the online application here. Direct your questions to elizabeth.r.joyner@nasa.gov. Applications are due by November 1.

American Radio Relay League's Education and Technology Program (ETP) Grant                               

These grants offers financial support to those teachers who are currently using or would like to use amateur radio in their classrooms as an instructional tool and who need financial assistance for specific purposes. ETP School Station Grants provide $1,500 worth of equipment for teachers who plan to use amateur radio as part of an enrichment or in-class project. ETP Progress Grants of $500 are awarded to teachers currently using amateur radio in the classroom to purchase license manuals, instructional guides, and other supplies or to do station upkeep and maintenance. Awardees are also expected to seek funding from their local community to help sustain their program. (Deadline November 1)

George C. Pimentel Award in Chemical Education    

This award, sponsored by Cengage Publishing and the American Chemical Society’s Division of Chemical Education, recognizes outstanding contributions to chemical education. Nominees must have made outstanding contributions to chemical education considered in its broadest meaning, including the dissemination of reliable information about chemistry to prospective chemists, members of the profession, students in other fields, and the general public; the integration of chemistry into our educational system; and the training of professional chemists. The award consists of $5,000 and a certificate; up to $2,500 for travel expenses to the meeting at which the award will be presented will be reimbursed. (Deadline November 1)

Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation Educational Grants                                                               
The foundation funds schools; educational and skills training projects; environmental and wildlife protection activities; community-based nonprofit organizations; museums; cultural, performing, and visual arts programs; hospitals; and programs for youth, seniors, and persons with disabilities. Applications are accepted from across the United States. Average award amounts are $1,000–$20,000. (Deadline November 10)

Conservation in the Classroom Virtual Event: Helping Wildlife in a Changing Climate

Species worldwide are being affected by changes in weather and climate, including heat waves, drought, and flooding. Learn what's causing these changes; how animals like one-horned rhinos, African penguins, and tigers are impacted; and what World Wildlife Fund and partners are doing to protect these species. During this livestream on October 27 at 1:30 p.m. Eastern Time, students in grades 4–8 will be able to ask their questions and learn what it takes to help wildlife in a changing climate. 

Population Education’s World of 7 Billion Student Video Contest

The contest engages students with global challenges through video making. The challenge is to create a short video connecting world population growth to one of three global challenges: Agriculture and Food, Ocean Health, or Urbanization. Videos should include content on how population growth affects the selected issue and why it’s important, along with at least one sustainable solution. Many teachers assign the contest as a small-group project, using the provided lesson plan, background readings, and scaffolded Video Project Organizer to optimize learning.

The contest is open to students worldwide in grades 6–12, and winners receive up to $1,200 in cash prizes. Free curriculum resources matched to the Next Generation Science Standards are available to participating teachers. Entries are due by February 22, 2022.

ARRL’s Victor C. Clark Youth Incentive Program    

The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) Foundation established this program to provide support for the development of Amateur Radio among high school–age (or younger) youth. The program makes mini-grants available to groups that demonstrate serious intent to promote participation in Amateur Radio by youth and enrich the experience of radio amateurs ages 18 and younger. Groups qualifying for mini-grants will include, but not be limited to, high school radio clubs, youth groups, and general-interest radio clubs that sponsor subgroups of young people or otherwise make a special effort to get them involved in club activities. Mini-grants of up to $1,000 per grant will be made for such projects as securing equipment for antennas for club stations, purchasing training materials, and supporting local service projects that bring favorable public exposure. Preference will be given to projects for which matching funds are raised locally. 

Toshiba America Foundation Science and Math Improvement Grants                                      

Do you have an innovative idea for improving STEM learning in your classroom? Does your idea involve project-based learning with measurable outcomes? What do you need to make learning STEM subjects fun for your students? Apply for these grants to bring your project to life! Grades 6–12 grant requests for $5,000 or more are due by November 1.

James Bryant Conant Award in High School Chemistry Teaching          
   
The award recognizes, encourages, and stimulates outstanding teachers of high school chemistry in the United States, its possessions or territories, at the national level. The nominee must be actively engaged in the teaching of chemistry in a high school. The award consists of $5,000 and a certificate. Up to $2,500 for travel expenses to the meeting at which the award will be presented will be reimbursed. A certificate will also be provided to the recipient's institution. (Deadline November 1)  

NEACT-IMSA Chemistry Workshop: Inquiry—The Catalyst for Engaging Students in Chemistry
 
Looking for ways to incorporate quick, engaging, inquiry-based activities and labs in your chemistry classroom? Inquiry-based investigations play a critical role in learning and can be used from introduction to application of scientific concepts. In this workshop on October 23 at 8:30 a.m. Central Time, participants will explore how to rethink the chemistry class experience with efficient inquiry in mind. This workshop consists of a one-hour live Zoom session and a separate assignment and reflection to be completed within 30 days. A total of three professional development credit hours will be awarded. 

Find more events and opportunities at https://old.nsta.org/publications/calendar