The Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) has organized two competitions that are currently taking place.

The first competition is the June Social Media Contest, with a deadline of June 30. ORISE is interested in knowing the types of lesson plans you would like to see in their free lesson plan library. To participate in the contest, simply follow ORISE on social media, complete a short survey, and provide your feedback on new focuses or types of lesson plans by commenting on ORISE’s social media post. Three winners will be randomly selected and awarded the Back-to-School Supplies Bundle, which includes items such as a 10 Drawer Cart, Post-it Flip Charts, Flip Chart Markers, Paper Mate Flair Pens, Black and Multicolored Expo Markers, and more.

The second competition is the Back-to-School Lesson Plan Competition, with a deadline of July 31. ORISE is inviting teachers from any grade level or subject to submit their best back-to-school STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) lesson plans. The lesson plan should incorporate back-to-school activities. Three teachers who submit their lesson plans will be chosen to receive mini-grants ranging from $500 to $1,500, which can be used to purchase equipment for their classrooms. The first prize winner will receive a $1,500 mini-grant, the second prize winner will receive a $1,000 mini-grant, and the third prize winner will receive a $500 mini-grant. Lesson plans should be submitted HERE.