USDA: Excellence in Teaching about Agriculture Award

Each year, the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture and the National Agriculture in the Classroom Consortium presents five exceptional teachers with the Excellence in Teaching Agriculture Award. This competitive program recognizes teachers for their successful efforts in teaching agricultural concepts in their curriculum. Maximum award: $500; up to $1,500 for travel-related expenses to the National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference. Eligibility: pre-K-12 teachers. Deadline: February 3, 2014.

Innovation Generation: Christopher Columbus Awards

The Christopher Columbus Awards program combines science and technology with community problem-solving. Students work in teams with the help of an adult coach to identify an issue they care about and, using science and technology, work with experts, conduct research, and put their ideas to the test to develop an innovative solution. Maximum award: $25,000 to bring the team's idea to the community, and an all-expense-paid trip to Walt Disney World to attend the program's National Championship Week. Eligibility: middle-school-age (sixth, seventh, and eighth grade) children; teams do not need to be affiliated with a school to enter. Deadline: February 3, 2014.

NASA: Exploration Design Challenge

The goal of the Exploration Design Challenge is for students to research and design ways to protect astronauts from space radiation. NASA and Lockheed Martin are developing the Orion spacecraft that will carry astronauts beyond low Earth orbit and onto an asteroid or Mars. Maximum award: All participants in this challenge, which include students from around the world, will have their names flown on board the Orion as honorary crew members. Eligibility: students K-12. Deadline: Deadline:March 14, 2014.

Source:  Public Education News Blast

Published by LEAP

Los Angeles Education Partnership (LAEP) is an education support organization that works as a collaborative partner in high-poverty communities.