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The American Prospect  magazine, in partnership with Omidyar Network, announces the first annual American Prospect Essay Contest.  Many Americans are considering how to create a more inclusive economy. This competition will give high school students the opportunity to read and reflect on one of four renowned books exploring how the economy works in terms of poverty, race, markets, and democracy. The students’ essays will explore where the economy falls short and what we might do about it. Prizes total $30,000: First place for juniors and seniors is $10,000; second place $5,000; third place $2,500. First place for freshmen and sophomores is $5,000; second place $2,500; third place $1,000. Forty honorable mentions will be awarded at $100 each. The  Prospect  will publish the winning essays at  Prospect.org  and feature a selection in the print edition.  The deadline for submissions is  March 31, 2020 . F or further information, go to...

As you plan for fall, consider building in having your students participate in the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest !  It can be a great way to implement any of the following into your classroom: teamwork, project based learning, STEM integration, community collaboration, leadership skills, public speaking...and more. From the site - "The contest challenges students in grades 6-12 to show how STEM can be applied to help improve their local communities. 250 state finalists will be selected to submit an activity plan." Applications are due Sept 6-Nov 13.

From the Michigan Department of Natural Resources -  Help design the 2020 wild turkey patch K-12 students, here’s a chance to make your mark by submitting the winning design for the 2020 wild turkey patch! All entries must be received by Dec. 31, 2018. Original, hand-completed designs should include an eastern wild turkey or components of a turkey (e.g., feathers, tracks). Drawings may be done in any medium (pencil, oil, pen and ink, chalk, crayon, etc.) and be color or black and white. If color, no more than 13 colors may be used. All entries must be submitted on 8.5-inch-by-11-inch paper, and submitted without mat, glass, frame or cover sheet (spray chalk with fixative). Each patch design entry must include the following phrases or elements: "Wild Turkey Management Cooperator" "2020" The DNR logo (or simply create a circular placeholder for the logo) The web URL " mi.gov/turkey " First-, second- and third-place winners will receive...

What: Map Michigan Contest! 2019 Who:  High School (grades 9-12) and Middle School (grades 4-8) students When:   Entry form due by March 22; submission deadline is May 15 Prizes:  10 - $100 prizes for each level Learn more at  https://bit.ly/2zsTv16ArcGIS  Synopsis From MDE Memo #172-18 : Details for the ArcGIS Online United States Competition 2019 in which students create and share maps about their home states are now available. "The competition is open to students in both middle and high school who can analyze, interpret, and present data via an ArcGIS online presentation, web application, or story map.  To participate, a school must complete an entry form by March 22, 2019. A school may submit up to five projects to the competition website.  Submissions must be received no later than May 15, 2019." Software is freely available for K-12 instructional use from Esri.  To learn more about how to access this free software go to http...

It's time for the Write Michigan Short Story Contest! ELA Teachers - encourage your students to submit their short stories -  From the Write Michigan website : One short story per author Maximum story length: 3,000 words Entry fee: $10 for ages 18 and older ( free for ages 17 and younger ) Contest open to Michigan residents only Complete contest guidelines available in English and en Español Deadline is November 30!

Another opportunity to showcase your students' creative abilities!  Google just opened this year's Doodle 4 Google Contest -  From Google - It’s time to put your students' imaginations to work, because the Doodle 4 Google contest is now open. This year’s contest is open to K-12 students until March 2, 2018  with the theme “What inspires you?" We’ll feature the winning doodle on the Google homepage! Prizes include college scholarships, a behind the scenes experience with the Google Doodle team, and a $50,000 Google for Education technology package for the winner’s school. Submit your doodles  here . Some additional Information - Link to teacher guides (which include lesson plans) and a poster Link to the FAQ

What: Writing Contest Theme: "How did an author's work change your view of the world or yourself?" Who: Students Grades 4-12 Deadline: December 2, 2016 - Grades 9-12                 January 9, 2017 - Grades 7 &8, Grades 4-6 Websites:   Letters About Literature site , Guidelines  (pdf), Teaching Guidelines (pdf) from Cathy Lancaster, Youth Services Librarian, LM As Nathaniel Hawthorne so elegantly wrote in  The Scarlet Letter , "She had not known the weight until she felt the freedom." I read it in the ninth grade and while many in my class moaned and groaned, and quite frankly hated it, I was absorbed into the world of Salem, Massachusetts in 1642. Absorbed into the plight of Hester Prynne and her daughter Pearl. It was an awakening to examine how the world has, or has not, changed in our treatment of women in the centuries since. Now the details of the plot and much of the book itself have faded from my memory, b...

For math teachers in Calhoun County - (Not an educator in Calhoun County, Michigan? There are local contests at various locations; you can visit the website to view a schedule) Sumdog's math contest for Calhoun County starts Friday February 26, 2016 and will run until the following Thursday . Cost: It's free to take part and there are plenty of prizes to be won! Levels: Suggested grades K-8 When: Students can play online either at school or at home using the website or the app! In order to join in the fun, teachers can enter their class here: http://www.sumdog.com/enter_ contest For any questions, contact info@sumdog.com

MACUL is partnering with Rushton Hurley to support a student video contest. This is an opportunity to have students create learning videos that can be shared with other students. What a great way to assess if a student understands a concept or lesson that also provides a worldwide audience for their work. We are asking students to explain something one might encounter in school in 90 seconds or less, with another 60 seconds for credits showing that students used copyright-friendly content from media libraries identified in the rules. The goals are to help students: learn to use planning and revision to create compelling, fun learning videos understand, properly use, and site Creative Commons-licensed material as part of their work. create videos that could help other students learn topics that might prove challenging All the details are at  http://bit.ly/MACULvideo    Deadline is  February 26th .  

From the site Drive Smart Now : START MAKING A DIFFERENCE TODAY:  CREATE A DIGITAL SHORT TO HELP COMBAT DISTRACTED DRIVING You can help save lives. Accept the challenge and create a digital short to convince your peers not to drive distracted. Scholarships and grants will be awarded to students and teachers.  From MACUL's Big Deal Media: " The Wireless Foundation has launched the second year of its Drive Smart: No Distractions, No Excuses Teen Digital Short Contest . The competition challenges students aged 13–18 to create a digital short to persuade their peers not to drive while distracted.... The Wireless Foundation partnered with By Kids For Kids (BKFK) to create the Drive Smart campaign. The program’s website provides teachers, parents, students, and community leaders with free downloadable activities and information on the dangers of driving while distracted." Deadline: December 15, 2015 Prizes: Grand Prize: $5,000 scholarship (teacher/men...

Discovery Education in partnership with American Heroes Channel and the National Military Families Association present the My Hero Is Contest.  Join Discovery Education, American Heroes Channel, and the National Military Families Association in honoring our military members and families by recognizing their service and bravery through the My Hero Is Contest .  Get your students involved by using our free resources and classroom activities around Veterans Day. Then, have them honor a current or veteran military hero or military family member in their lives by creating and submitting 30-second tribute videos. The school with the largest number of videos submitted will receive a special school assembly honoring local veteran heroes.  To support Veterans Day and your students in creating tribute videos, we are providing a number of classroom resources including a Veterans Day classroom activity, videos, and tip sheets on stor...