Inquiry in Action Science Lessons

Spark critical thinking among students with the Inquiry In Action science lesson sets from the Van Andel Institute, a Michigan-based group focused on promoting novel approaches to biomedical research and K–12 science education. The flexible, standards-based lesson sets contain five lessons on a single topic (e.g., matter, blizzards, earthquakes, and hurricanes). The lessons are designed to be completed in about 15–30 minutes. Each lesson features a video explaining the science behind an observed phenomena and a four-step lesson plan—Prepare, Engage, Explore, and Reflect—to complete a related activity. 

For example, the lesson What Are You Sinking?—part of the lesson set exploring the properties of matter—lets students investigate whether peeled and unpeeled oranges sink or float. Students discover how removing mass from an object can sometimes cause an object to sink while investigating ideas about buoyancy, water displacement, weight, and gravity. The lesson plan also includes information about the relevant Next Generation Science Standards for each grade level (K–2, 3–5, 6–8, and 9–12) and additional resources to support the activity.

Aww Snap! A Snapdragon Study

Smithsonian Science Education Center’s Aww Snap! A Snapdragon Study is a life science game and app best for grades 2–6. The game teaches students about field research and science. To play, students are asked to investigate why white snapdragons are covering a mountainside. Students observe bees closely and count how many times the bees visit the different colored snapdragon flowers. The game enables students to see how a field changes from month to month and from year to year. As students observe and collect data, interpret findings, and draw their own conclusions, they ultimately discover how science can be used to help answer questions in nature. The game, which features an in-game tutorial to teach players how to play, is available as a website for desktop computers or as an app for iPhones or iPads. 

The Wright Engineers: Inventing the Airplane
Inventing the airplane was not easy. Nor was it a feat of genius.  Wilbur and Orville Wright succeeded where so many others failed because they were engineers. The Wright Engineers: Inventing the Airplane puts the reader elbow-to-elbow with the brothers as they solve the many technical challenges that finally led to success. With determination and good engineering practice, the brothers defeated the obstacles one by one, inventing new technologies and discovering the basic science of flight. This illustrated book, available at no cost to public school libraries, can be used to educate and inspire students who are interested in aviation or engineering. To obtain a free copy, contact the author at brpjournalist@gmail.com.

Ocean Odyssey Grants

NOAA Ocean Exploration and the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation’s Ocean Odyssey Grants invest in projects and partners that are leading efforts to increase inclusion in and/or access to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education and workforce development opportunities for diverse youth in middle school, high school, undergraduate, and/or community college to learn about ocean science and/or exploration. Funding is available for schools; districts; institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations; for-profit institutions; and local and state entities from the United States, territories, and Freely Associated States supporting diverse students in these regions. Applicants must clearly demonstrate how their proposed project will directly or indirectly:

• Deepen student understanding of the ocean and Great Lakes,
• Increase awareness of ocean science and exploration careers, and
• Advance STEM skills applicable to ocean science.

The foundation anticipates funding 12–15 projects with awards of between $5,000–$10,000. Projects must be completed between December 2024 and July 31, 2025. Apply by September 30.

Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest

This nationwide competition empowers public school students in grades 6–12 to leverage STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) to develop innovative solutions that address pressing local issues in their communities. Public school teachers in grades 6–12 can apply to submit their students’ projects for a chance at winning their school $100,000 in Samsung tech products and classroom materials. Participating students routinely work with their communities and local leadership to identify significant societal challenges, then design STEM-based concepts that address topics as diverse as accessibility, mental health, school safety, urban waste, and the influence of climate change in exacerbating extreme environmental events. The competition format incorporates video-based storytelling, building support for a concept, and live pitch presentations emulating the real-life environment STEM students face in higher education and the STEM workspace.

The Solve for Tomorrow entry application asks teachers to answer three questions. At the entry stage, teachers submit an initial idea outlining how students would use STEM to address a critical need in their local community. Just by applying, teachers will receive free professional development opportunities from Samsung such as the Teacher Academy summer program and get free MindSpark professional development tools. At every level of the contest, teachers are eligible to win thousands of dollars in classroom resources.

Educators don’t have to be STEM teachers to apply: History, Arts,  and Physical Education teachers, coaches, and administrators from public schools are all welcome. Apply by November 7. Visit the website to learn more.

Toshiba America Foundation Grants
 
Teachers of grades 6–12 can apply online for a Toshiba America Foundation grant of greater than $5,000 to help bring an innovative project into their own classroom. If you have an innovative idea for improving STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) learning in your classroom, and if your idea involves project-based learning with measurable outcomes, apply by November 1.