Science Journal for Kids

Science Journal for Kids is a website featuring kid-friendly adaptations of scientific papers. The site has hundreds of papers designed to make scientific research discoveries more accessible to general audiences—including K–12 students. Each paper includes supplementary resources to help teachers incorporate the content into the classroom, such as assessment questions (with teacher keys), topic videos, and other materials (e.g., slideshows, labs, online quizzes, and recommended websites). The papers address a range of science disciplines and grade levels, covering questions relating to biodiversity and conservation, energy and climate, water resources, pollution, social sciences, and more. For example, elementary and middle levels can explore new science discoveries through papers such as “Why are people more likely to get sick when it’s cold?” and “Why do sharks sleep?,” while high school levels can investigate research related to papers such as “How does dark energy affect galaxies?” and “What can we learn about dinosaur skin using lasers?”

Reading and Writing in the Disciplines

This online course is designed to help middle and high school educators integrate discipline literacy into content-based lessons. Developed by Annenberg Foundation, and applicable for teachers from core disciplines including science, math, English, and history/social studies, the eight-unit course is divided into two parts. The first part is intended for teachers in all disciplines and provides an overview of disciplinary literacy, essential concepts related to proficient reading, writing, communication, and general instructional and assessment practices that promote literacy development. Part two of the course focuses on the literacy demands specific to each discipline and the strategies needed to prepare students to be literate participants in that discipline. Teachers select their discipline and then complete the relevant units. The course units feature a large selection of videos that highlight literacy practices in classrooms across the disciplines and show real-world examples of professionals relying on strong communication skills in their work. The videos are integrated throughout the course units and include before, during, and after questions to encourage educators to reflect meaningfully on the course content.

Evolution in Paradise

Tropical birds of paradise are the inspiration for this three-activity lesson plan exploring life science concepts such as evolution natural through sexual selection and behavioral adaptations and heritability. Developed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology for middle and high school levels (grades 6–12), the lesson plan’s activities incorporate actual video footage from science researchers working as part of the BirdsofParadiseProject.org and feature hands-on experiences and lively discussions about life science content throughout. Science in Paradise, the first activity, shows students what it is like to be a science researcher while introducing the topic of evolutionary biology through the example of the bird of paradise. Sexual Selection, the second activity, delves further into evolutionary biology as students watch videos and complete sorting exercises to learn about the natural processes by which traits evolve (become more or less common) depending on an individual’s ability to mate with more or better partners. Heritable Behaviors, the third activity, explores how animal behaviors can be determined by genes, learned, or a combination of both. The lesson plan contains everything needed to complete each activity separately: Each activity includes background information for teachers, a materials list, steps for conducting the classroom experience, extension ideas, learning standards information, and relevant student handouts.

Lots of Compassion Grant

Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day and KidsGardening created the Lots of Compassion Grant program to support local leaders looking to transform vacant lots into gardens to help grow compassion in their community. In 2025, 10 grantees will receive $20,000 each to transform a vacant lot into a garden. A total of $200,000 will be awarded annually. Nonprofit organizations, school districts, universities, religious organizations, or other tax-exempt organizations in the United States and U.S. territories may apply. Groups and individuals are also eligible to apply by partnering with a fiscal sponsor who has achieved tax-exempt status. (Deadline June 16)

K4C Microgrant Program
 
The K4C Microgrant Program provides microgrants in varying amounts up to $1,000 to young citizen leaders. Students ages 18 and younger may apply for funds between $250 and $1,000 to complete service projects in their communities throughout the United States. If applying on behalf of an entire class or student group, you should designate a maximum of three student leaders to be the main points of contact for the project. The next application deadline is July 1. Those who apply after the deadline will be considered for the next rolling deadline.

CCS High School Chemical Safety Grant

The American Chemical Society (ACS) Committee on Chemical Safety’s grant promotes chemical safety excellence in secondary education in one of the following areas:

Integrating chemical safety into curriculum (e.g., incorporating risk management, RAMP [Recognize hazards, Assess risks, Minimize risks, and Prepare for emergencies] into lab activities, teaching risk assessment to students and creating a culture of safety in the classroom);

Advocating for safe chemical practices (e.g., developing and implementing peer professional development for teachers and administration, obtaining Chemical Hygiene Officer training); or

Improving chemical safety infrastructure (e.g., improvements in chemical storage, inventory management, ordering, or waste disposal).

Science teachers can request up to $3,000 to fund actions or opportunities that will improve chemical safety in their teaching environment. Applicants must be middle or high school science educators who use and/or manage chemicals and teach in a U.S. or U.S. territory school. Individuals or small educator teams (up to four people) meeting the eligibility requirements can apply. (Deadline August 15) Grants may be used for

• Attending an approved (ACS, NSTA, American Association of Chemistry Teachers) safety workshop;
• Personal Protective Equipment or informational materials for the laboratory;
• Safety-oriented professional learning;
• Chemical Hygiene Officer (CHO) training;
• Inventory and ordering management program;
• Compensation for safety consultants; or
• Substitute teacher pay.