Grants, awards & freebies

Enhance science and math lessons: The Toshiba America Foundation requests applications from teachers who are passionate about making science and mathematics more engaging for their students. Teachers of grades 6-12 can apply for grants.

Math and science fellowships in NY: The Math for America NY Fellowship in Mathematics and Science is for New York City public secondary school math and science teachers who have completed their fourth year of teaching by the start of the fellowship. Applications are being accepted for 2013.

Seeking volunteer programs: Repair the World and J-Serve seek applications for micro-grants for creative, volunteer-focused programs supporting education and child development. Individuals can apply for grants ranging from $500 to $1,000. Sample programs might include starting a book drive and then creating flashcards based on key vocabulary for the books that were received, packing them together as a kit for local elementary school students; rallying friends and community to start a peer-to-peer mentoring program; or working with a local preschool to create playground graphics on the blacktop to teach letters, numbers, colors, etc., to their students.

Spring training: The Cullman Center Institute for Teachers is accepting applications for its popular daylong Spring Seminars at the New York Public Library’s landmark building on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan.

Potential for 30G: Lexus and Scholastic request entries for the second part of their sixth annual Lexus Eco Challenge, which encourages students to learn about the environment and take action to improve it. Winning teams for the second challenge, the Air/Climate Challenge, will receive $10,000 in scholarships and grants to be shared among the students, teacher and school. The top high school and middle school entries will compete in the final challenge against the best in the first segment, the Land/Water Challenge, which has already taken place.

Promoting school wellness: Want to enhance the wellness at your school? In 2012-13, the School Wellness Council Grant Program will award $2,500 grants plus resources, tools and incentives to 125 schools to create a School Wellness Council or further develop the work of an existing council. Grantee schools will receive technical assistance through mentoring and networking events.

Study for math teachers: The National Council for the Teachers of Mathematics Course Work Scholarships are geared to improving teachers’ understanding of mathematics by completing course work. Maximum award: $2,000. Eligibility: Individual classroom teachers or small groups of teachers currently teaching mathematics at grade pre-K–5 levels who are also (as of Oct. 15) full individual or e-members of NCTM or teach in a school with a current (as of Oct. 15) NCTM Pre-K–8 school membership.

National Italian-American Foundation grants: The National Italian-American Foundation seeks applications for its Italian Language Grants and its Culture and Heritage Grant Awards. Funds: Grants range from $1,000 to $10,000.

Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, Mass., has received a three-year, $375,000 award from the National Science Foundation to run a summer program that gives middle school teachers the opportunity to participate in biomedical engineering research and create new classroom units for their students.