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Win with Money

To celebrate National Financial Literacy Month, high school students across the country are invited to test their personal finance knowledge by taking The Financial Literacy Challenge. Students who score 100 percent on the online quiz are eligible to win prizes, including one $36,000 college scholarship for a high school senior. The scholarship is sponsored by Fifth Third Bank. Second- and third-prize scholarships of $5,000 and $2,500, respectively, will also be awarded to two high school seniors, along with three Windows tablets for underclassmen. Each prize-winner’s school will receive a set of Foundations in Personal Finance High School Edition curriculum for the classroom.

Deadline: April 24, 2015

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Plus: Teachers can register throughout the month of April to win an all-inclusive vacation for two, $500 gift cards for their classroom or the Foundations in Personal Finance High School Edition curriculum.

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Preserve the Importance of History

The Civil War Trust and History are sponsoring a series of essay contests for students in grades 4–12. Students compete in two divisions: Junior Division for grades 4–7 and Senior Division for grades 8–12. First-, second- and third-place winners in each division will receive cash awards and membership in the Civil War Trust. The essay theme is 1864–65: Bringing the War to a Close: The final days of the Civil War were filled with human drama. Old ways were dying and new horizons were imminent. Essays should incorporate ideas such as these with the importance of preservation and the study of history. Essays will be judged for creativity, persuasive quality, clarity and strength of message. (As an alternative, students may submit illustrations on postcards with a short note on the back addressing the theme of 1864–65: Bringing the War to a Close.) Each division will receive the same three prizes for both contests: first place, $1,000; second place, $750; third place, $250.

Deadline: May 1, 2015

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Fight Home Fires

The Paradigm Challenge is an annual competition developed by Project Paradigm and the American Red Cross to inspire youth to affect positive change in the world. The first annual challenge aims to generate new ideas to prevent injuries and fatalities from home fires—America’s number 1 disaster threat. Youth aged 7 to 18 (as of May 1, 2015) are invited to accept the challenge, build a team, become problem solvers, learn about home fires and help save lives. Project Paradigm will award cash prizes of up to $100,000 to the top 100 teams.

Deadline: May 1, 2015

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Hang Out with Science Superstars

The 2015 Google Science Fair is now open. This annual event asks 13- to 18-year-old students to carry out a test or experiment on a subject they’re passionate about and submit their projects online. This year submissions will be accepted in 14 languages from students all over the world. To help students develop project ideas, the Google Science Fair website provides an idea springboard, which asks students to complete the phrases “I love …,” “I’m good at …,” and “I want to explore ...” From students’ responses to these questions, the idea springboard generates a collection of videos and websites that may spark project ideas in their minds. Twenty finalists will be selected to go to Google’s headquarters to show their projects to the judges. One student or team will be presented with the grand prize, a $50,000 scholarship from Google. The finalists will also receive prizes from LEGO Education and subscriptions to Scientific American and National Geographic magazines. Seven new awards are being introduced this year, including one that will honor an inspirational educator and another that will recognize a project that addresses an environmental, resources or health challenge.

Deadline: May 18, 2015, at 11:59 p.m. (PT), for submissions

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Click Here to Access Idea Springboard

Plus: The Google Science Fair website includes a section for teachers with lesson plans that address how science changes the world and what good science looks like. These lesson plans are designed to guide students in the processes of inquiry and experiment design.

Click Here to Access Free Lesson Plans

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Recognize Successful Educational Technology Collaboration

CDW•G, in partnership with eSchool News, is sponsoring Collaboration Nation, an awards program that will recognize the nation’s finest examples of collaboration and successful educational technology projects. CDW•G will share the winning school and district’s keys to success and will award that school or district a grand prize of $50,000 to spend with CDW•G on products and services from partners such as HP, Lenovo and Meraki. From March 2 through June 30, 2015, schools and districts are invited to submit a nomination and short video on the Collaboration Nation website. The winning school or district’s nomination and video will demonstrate exemplary technology collaboration across departments and describe how the project had a measurable impact on teaching and learning.

Deadline: June 30, 2015

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Plus: Schools and districts are encouraged to be a part of the Collaboration Nation community on Facebook by sharing videos of collaboration successes. Each month (April, May and June) the school or district video that has the most shares on Facebook will win a $15,000 prize in products from Collaboration Nation partners such as HP, Lenovo or Meraki.

Click Here to Access Collaboration Nation Facebook Community

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Get Help for IT

LapCabby has been doing things differently in IT storage for more than 25 years. Born in the UK, LapCabby’s laptop, netbook, tablet and Chromebook carts are a big hit in schools worldwide—and they’re now available in the US and Canada. The cleverly designed carts give you everything you need in the classroom: storage, safety, simplicity—even charging and syncing.

Click Here to Visit Website

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Explore the Common Core

Developed by Common Sense Graphite, Common Core Explorer helps users find the best digital products for their curriculum by using intuitive filters that quickly guide them through the Common Core State Standards for Language Arts and Mathematics (with Science coming soon) and surface products that align with the standards. Common Sense Graphite's education experts have examined each product to determine which standards are best supported. Users get started by licking on their desired subject are and grade level. Then they choose from the list of standards presented. Once they have zeroed in on the standard they want to address, they toggle the arrow to display all the apps, games and websites that best support that standard. They will be able to browse the ratings, prices, platforms and other pertinent information about the products right from the list. They can click through to read the in-depth reviews.

Click Here to Access–Aligned Product Reviews

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Apply Knowledge by Interacting with Texts

From the nonprofit Classroom, Inc., After the Storm: The Daily Byte addresses the call for innovative, highly engaging, rigorous literacy learning games designed to address middle-level Common Core reading and writing standards. After the Storm consists of five units; each unit is four class periods and represents a full day’s work. In total the game includes 20 hours of gameplay and optional project-based activities. The learning game reinforces a wide range of 21st century and workplace skills, including collaboration and interpersonal skills; critical thinking and decision making; leadership; organization; problem solving; verbal communication and presentation; and written communication. Integrated into the game experience, the assessments route to support activities or challenge tasks based on student performance while reporting into a teacher dashboard. The dashboard provides access to easy-to-read reports, showing class and individual student progress. Materials are available to help educators use After the Storm and incorporate blended learning strategies into a variety of settings. The Quick Start Guide includes instructions for logging in, basic game navigation and other tips so teachers can immediately begin working with After the Storm.

Click Here to Log In to Free Game

Click Here to Access Free Educator Tools

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Write "Up" to Children

The Paris Review has debuted its new quarterly sister magazine, The Paris Review for Young Readers, featuring interviews, fiction, poetry, advice, quizzes, puzzles and more, for readers aged 8 to 12. Among its poetry and fiction are old classics and new favorites—plus some puzzles, quizzes and advice columns inspired by literature. This debut issue includes a portfolio of drawings from Richard Scarry’s lost years and, at the center of it all, an interview with Eric Carle, the author of The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

Click Here to View Contents and Selected Features

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Find Funds for Favorite Projects

You may have some students on free lunch, but not enough to qualify for Title I status. Although many grants target underserved populations, you still can find grants and other funding to help pay for what your school needs and what you want for your classroom. On April 16, 2015, from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. (ET), the GetEdFunding community on edWeb.net will host a free webinar titled “Is There Grant Money If You Are Not a Title I School?” In this webinar, sponsored by CDW•G, the presenter will help attendees get started with proven strategies for securing funding. The presentation will include ideas for creating projects for subsets of students that address specific subject areas, such as STEM, or for general education issues, such as literacy. The presentation will also offer suggestions for funding activities or projects—for example, Collaboration Nation—as well as suggestions for getting some of the $2 billion committed by companies for classrooms as part of the federal ConnectED initiative. Attendees will also learn how to use the GetEdFunding website to help find appropriate grants and competitions. The presenter will field questions from attendees after the presentation. The webinar will be recorded and archived in the GetEdFunding community for members to access after the event.

Click Here to Join GetEdFunding Community

Click Here to Register for Free Webinar

Click Here to Visit CDW•G Website

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[Re]Energize Your Classroom Through Multimedia Stories

The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) require teachers of all disciplines to integrate writing and technology into their curriculum. To help educators address those standards, on April 20, 2015, from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. (ET), the Creating Multimedia Stories for Learning community on edWeb.net will host a free webinar titled “Celebrate Student Authors! Inspiring Common Core Writing with Technology.” In this webinar, sponsored by Shutterfly, the presenter will share strategies for using Shutterfly’s free Photo Story app for the iPad to inspire enthusiastic, confident student authors while also addressing the Common Core State Standards. The presentation will include the requirements for implementing technology that are specified in CCSS. The presenter will suggest strategies for integrating technology, writing, listening and speaking standards; present a timeline for creating ebooks with students; offer techniques for differentiating instruction to support diverse learners; and provide ideas for celebrating student writers in the classroom. The presenter will also field questions from attendees during this live interactive session. The webinar will be recorded and archived in the Creating Multimedia Stories community for members to access after the event.

Click Here to Join Creating Multimedia Stories for Learning Community

Click Here to Register for Free Webinar

Click Here to Visit Shutterfly Website

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Transform Your Teaching with Technology

Educators can help students become more actively engaged in projects by making technology tools a seamless part of the learning process. On April 23, 2015, from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. (ET), the Amazing Resources for Educators community on edWeb.net will host a free webinar titled “Differentiating Instruction with Technology: A Framework for Success.” In this webinar, sponsored by Quill.com, the presenter will describe ways to differentiate instruction in the K–12 classroom using technology. Attendees will hear about integrating various types of technology—computers, smartphones and tablets, digital cameras, social media platforms and networks, software applications and the Internet—into daily classroom practices. The presenter will focus on ways that participants can use these technologies to transform their teaching and meet the unique needs of every learner in their classroom. The webinar will be recorded and archived in the Amazing Resources community for members to access after the event.

Click Here to Join Amazing Resources for Educators Community

Click Here to Register for Free Webinar

Click Here to Visit Quill Website

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Showcase School Library Programs That Transform Learning

School Library Month (SLM) is the American Association of School Librarians’ (AASL) celebration of school librarians and their programs. Every April school librarians are encouraged to create activities to help their school and local community celebrate the essential role that strong school library programs play in transforming learning. As part of the celebration, AASL will present weekly webinars during April. Check the School Library Month website for titles, dates and times and be sure to return often, as new webinars will be added. Also watch for the School Library Ambassadors program and a calendar of tips based on quotations from authors.

Click Here to Visit Website

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Use Math Vocabulary to Explain Thinking

The Common Core State Standards stress the importance of having children use mathematics vocabulary in written and spoken explanations of their thinking. MathTerms is a free illustrated glossary of mathematics terms in English and Spanish. The app includes almost 1,000 entries for middle school and high school mathematical concepts. Over the past five years, millions of students have had access to this glossary and its colorful, annotated illustrations. It is now available as an iPad application.

Click Here to Visit iTunes App Store

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Stream Books from an Epic Library

Epic! offers classroom teachers and school librarians in the United States and Canada free, forever, single subscription access to its iPad/iPhone app, an ever-growing library of high-quality children’s books from some of the world’s leading publishers. Epic! calls itself the first “All-You-Can-Read” ebook library for children aged 12 and under. It currently offers thousands of digital titles from 40 publishing partners, including HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster, National Geographic and Kids Can Press. The growing digital collection includes many recent and award-winning books and represents a mix of fiction and nonfiction. New titles are added each week. Among the popular fiction and series titles available are Olivia, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, The Berenstain Bears, The Chronicles of Narnia, Ramona, A Series of Unfortunate Events, Flat Stanley, Scaredy Squirrel and Big Nate. Epic! also offers a wealth of high-quality, attractive nonfiction, graphic novels and audio-enabled “read-to-me” picture books. All of the books are vetted by a team of publishing professionals, educators and children’s literature specialists as well as a Newbery Award–winning author. Users can search for titles or browse the collection by book category (picture books, chapter books, early readers, fact books or comic books) and filter by age group (4 & under, 5–7, 8–10, 11–12). Classroom teachers and school librarians may take advantage of the free offer by first registering on the Epic! for Educators website and entering their school credentials. Following registration, teachers will get a username and password. They should then go to the iTunes App Store and download the free app.

Click Here to Visit Website

Click Here to Visit iTunes App Store

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Express Interests Through Computer Code

Google has partnered with Boys & Girls Clubs of America to introduce a program called CS First to elementary and middle school students across the country. The program is designed to teach youth how to express themselves and their interests through computer code. CS First essentially functions as a free computer club. It provides young girls and boys access to computer science materials. Each CS First club is based on a real-world theme and offers about 10 hours of lessons and activities. The different club themes aim to attract and engage students of varying backgrounds and interests. All materials are targeted at students in grades 4–8 (or between the ages of 9 and 14) and are free and easy to use.

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Relate Abstract Concepts to the Real World

MIT’s BLOSSOMS video lessons are enriching students’ learning experiences in high school classrooms from Brooklyn to Beirut to Bangalore. The Video Library contains more than 100 mathematics and science lessons, all freely available to teachers as streaming video and Internet downloads or as DVDs and videotapes. They can search BLOSSOMS by Common Core State Standards and Next Generation Science Standards. Every lesson is a complete resource that includes video segments, a teacher’s guide, downloadable handouts and a list of additional online resources relevant to the topic. Each 50-minute lesson builds on math and science fundamentals by relating abstract concepts to the real world. The lessons intersperse video instruction with planned exercises that engage students in problem solving and critical thinking, helping students to build the kind of instinctive knowledge that comes from hands-on experience. While MIT faculty members and partnering educators in Jordan and Pakistan created the first BLOSSOMS lessons, today educators from around the world create and submit BLOSSOMS modules. Join the international online community to learn more about the videos and to engage with educators worldwide who are looking for ways to enrich their students’ classroom experiences and share their ideas.

Click Here to Visit Website

Click Here to Access Free Video Library

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Dig into Science—From the Ground Up

The Nutrients for Life Foundation and Discovery Education will host a live virtual field trip for students nationwide on April 23, 2015, at 1 p.m. (ET). Live From the Farm: Technology, Soil Science and More will engage middle school students in STEM topics through a real-world look at the innovative technologies and scientific practices used during the harvest and planting seasons. To support educators beyond the virtual field trip, the website From the Ground Up: The Science of Soil offers free digital resources that provide a deeper understanding of the role soil science plays in everyday life and the importance of soil nutrients in agriculture. The resources include interactive lesson plans, digital explorations, bilingual family activities and agricultural career profiles.

Click Here to Register for Field Trip and Access Free Resources

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View the Digital Restoration of a Lost Heritage

Researchers from several international organizations are responding to the destruction of artifacts in the Iraqi city of Mosul at the hands of ISIS by using high-tech modeling technology to build highly detailed digital copies of the priceless items. Dubbed Project Mosul, the effort relies on 4-D imaging technology to create 3-D models of artifacts, such as the Lion of Mosul, for virtual museums. The result of this virtualization process is already showcased on the project’s website, where 3-D models of artifacts are made available. With only a dozen pictures taken from different angles, the team is able to create a faithful copy of the original artifact.

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Learn Anything, Be Anyone

For creative youth who want to get their hands dirty, check out DIY, a website where students can find things to build, instructions for how to build them and ways to share their creations with others. The projects are aligned to 100 skills to try, including Animator, Backyard Farmer, Minecrafter, Fashion Designer and Illustrator. The projects feature various challenges to complete and badges to earn and display.

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See the Mona Lisa Up Close

Students can learn about art at the Louvre without having to travel to Paris. The Louvre’s Elements of Art online feature was designed to provide an in-depth look at art-related concepts through an approach based on visual demonstration. The videos explore a range of topics by comparing artworks of different kinds, from different periods. The Louvre’s Closer Look interactive multimedia modules let students see the details of an artwork through a magnifying glass, while commentaries and animations give them its historical and artistic background.

Click Here to Access Elements of Art Feature

Click Here to Access Closer Look Modules

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