Articles & Collections

Great Finds: Contests, Freebies, and Grants for Summer 2012

Rainforest trips and a YouTube channel just for you; science fair projects, book clubs, and detective contests for kids.

Digital Curricula
This educational website boasts more than 3,000 learning activities! ABCmouse.com’s advisers provide outstanding online curricula for early learners. Plus, public school teachers can use the site for free.

Get Kids Moving!
The NFL launched NFL Play 60 to encourage young fans to be active for at least 60 minutes a day, and you can help through in-school, after-school, and team-based programs. Check out these great Play 60 ideas to start getting students involved today.

No-Cost Math Resources
Looking for lesson plans, webcasts, homework assignments, and algebra, geometry, data analysis, or numbers and operations practice tests? Look no further! The federal government has compiled classroom resources from more than 150 math websites.

Kid-Approved Craft Ideas
Visit Tate Create online to find activities for your students that have been tested by kids who have visited London’s Tate galleries. Make a Punchinello mask, a pop art hat, soap carvings, and more!

Look Into a Tide Pool
Help early learners with this listen-and-read book, just one selection from Scholastic’s library of 54 nonfiction read-along audiobooks. Kids will discover what tide pools are, what kinds of animals live in them, and new vocabulary words, from anemone to tentacle.

Science Fair Central
Find free resources at Discovery Education to get your students ready for the school science fair: project ideas and samples, presentation do’s and don’ts, and the tools you need to help them learn. As an added bonus, the content is aligned to state standards.

Canon Digital Equation
Share how you use technology to engage students in your classroom and you’ll be entered to
win a Canon camera.
Deadline: June 7

Tech Detectives Sweepstakes
Encourage students to explore the science behind information technology developments and examine how tech affects their daily lives. You’ll find STEM-focused lessons and an exciting sweepstakes for your class!
Deadline: May 21

Summer’s 39 Clues
Get kids excited about reading by starting a summer book club! Use these free materials, videos, and activity ideas to help your students find their inner Cahills.

YouTube for Teachers
A new channel just for you! Join the global classroom and bring lessons to life with more than 450,000 free educational videos on topics ranging from science experiments to world events.

Go Green With Captain Planet
Inspire your class to participate in environmental projects in their school and you may be eligible for a Captain Planet Foundation grant.
Deadlines: May 31; Sept­ember 30; January 15, 2013

Adventure Essay Contest
People to People Ambassador Programs is sponsoring a creative writing contest for grades 5–8. The prize? An overseas trip to learn about different cultures firsthand!
Deadline: December 3

Hands-On Costa Rica
Enjoy five days of hands-on learning on this teachers-only Discovery Student Adventures Professional Development trip. The trip includes 12 exciting destinations, free travel, education credit, and a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Trips will take place in November 2012 and February 2013.

Book Bonanza
First Book provides educators with free books for children in need. Take a look today to see if you’re eligible. Every child should be given access to books and learning resources.

Help Your Class Get Published
Studentreasures gives every student the opportunity to become a published author! Your class can do a group project or write and illustrate its own book. Motivate kids to improve their writing skills with this fun project!

Reading to Win
Keep students sharp over summer break with the Scholastic Summer Challenge. Enter for a chance to win a classroom library, a $250 gift certificate to the Scholastic Teacher Store, and more!
Deadline: June 30

MTH Classroom Adventures
Magic Tree House marks its 20th anniversary with a program that offers a comprehensive set of free educational tools to teachers and students! 

Space Race
The Humans in Space Youth Art Competition encourages kids to take a fresh look at the stars.
Deadline: October 21

“Angela” Award
Nominate one of your top girl scientists (grades 5–8) for this NSTA award. The winner will be honored at the organization’s national conference and will receive a $1,000 U.S. or Canadian savings bond.
Deadline: November 30

Fun Activities, Starring Junie B. Jones
What kid doesn’t love Junie B. Jones? Perfect for summertime fun, Junie B.’s site has a multitude of free activities like coloring pages, matching games, bookmarks, word searches, and more! Your students will jump at the chance to read this summer thanks to this one-of-a-kind character.