Watch. Practice.

Learn almost anything for free.

With a library of over 3,000 videos covering everything from arithmetic to physics, finance, and history and 317 practice exercises, we’re on a mission to help you learn what you want, when you want, at your own pace.

http://www.khanacademy.org/

Join Barry University at this amazing concert. Our planet’s sustainability is  everyone’s concern. Because it is free admission, seating is first come first serve. Sandra Acevedo Barry’s Ecological and Sustainability Team (B.E.S.T.) 305-899-3864

GREAT contest for our students!!!  Two other schools from Miami were past participants, George T. Baker and Felix Varela.

Link:  http://web.mit.edu/inventeams/about.html

The program is currently accepting initial applications for 2012 InvenTeams; the deadline to submit is April 6, 2012. Applications must be completed online: http://web.mit.edu/inventeams/apply.html.

Introducing Students to the World of Invention
The InvenTeam initiative, created by the Lemelson-MIT Program, offers an unparalleled opportunity for high school students to cultivate their creativity and experience invention.

InvenTeams are teams of high school students, teachers, and mentors that receive grants up to $10,000 each to invent technological solutions to real world problems. Each InvenTeam chooses its own problem to solve.

Learning Beyond the Classroom
InvenTeam students rely on inquiry and hands-on problem solving as they apply lessons from science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) to develop invention prototypes. Interactive, self-directed learning coupled with STEM curricula are essential for experiencing invention.

Students learn to work in teams, while collaborating with intended users of their inventions. They partner with professionals in their communities to enrich their experiences. Most of all, students learn to move forward through challenges and celebrate “Eureka!” moments.

InvenTeams learn by doing.

Deadline March 12, 2012

Please share this link, http://www.stemchallenge.org/about/Default.aspx?Cat=HS with students who are interested in Game Design. It is a contest to make a game about any topic using any game creation tool. Limit of four (4) students per team.

What are the different Challenge Entry Streams?

Individual Entries:

· Written game design documents

· Games made with Gamestar Mechanic

· Games made with Gamemaker

· Games made with Kodu

· Games made with Scratch

· Games made with any tool (Open Platform)

· Educational games made with any tool (PBS KIDS Stream) (Learn More, PBS KIDS Stream Rules)

What are the prizes for each Entry Stream?

· Each individual winner and each member of a winning team will received an AMD-powered laptop computer with game design and educational software.

· Each winning entry will also earn an award of $2,000 for your school (or the non-profit organization of your choice)!

Crayola 2011/2012 Annual Children’s Art Exhibition
Although this year’s art exhibition has ended, please continue to use these thought starters to engage your students in creative exploration exercises or design your own inspirational discussions. Contest reopens in the fall.

Doodle 4 Google
Changes to Doodle 4 Google in 2011. Now, in addition to schools, parents and legal guardians can directly register their K-12 students in the contest and submit their doodles. Registration closes at 11:59:59 p.m. Pacific Time (PT) on March 2, 2011.

International Family Film Festival
The Freshi Film Camps and the Freshi Film Festival are programmed to address the needs of young filmmakers and screenwriters 8-18 with competitive categories, scholarships and awards organized by age group and content for both filmmakers and screenwriters. These programs happen in July with a submission deadline of June 1.

Young Composers Challenge
Open to young musicians (ages 13-18) in the Southeastern U.S. The Challenge is simple. First, you can take part in an extensive workshop with world-renowned composers. Then you will have all summer to write your own score. Finally in September, a panel of judges will choose the top three orchestral and ensemble pieces, and these will be performed by the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra at the Bob Carr Auditorium.

Youth Film Festival of the Northwest
June deadline each year. Check site for details. If you are in grades K-12 and live in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Alaska, or Utah, send us your drama, documentary, comedy, animated movie or media in some other style.

Language Arts

AWM Essay Contest: Biographies of Contemporary Women in Mathematics
To increase awareness of women’s ongoing contributions to the mathematical sciences, the Association for Women in Mathematics (AWM) sponsors an essay contest for biographies of contemporary women mathematicians and statisticians in academic, industrial, and government careers. Prizes awarded by age categories.

Balticon Young Writers’ Contest
Sci-Fi and Fantasy writing contest for teens living in Maryland. Deadline is March 1 every year. Contestants shall be no younger than 14 and no older than 18 years of age as of May 29 in the contest year and shall reside in, or attend school in Maryland.

Hexco Academic
The Hexco Academic products were first developed in 1984 to be used in studying for The Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee. These were soon followed by a range of products for preparing for UIL academic contests. [Not an A to Z affiliate, but I thought these products might be of interest to those visiting this page.]

I Love Costa Rica’s Rain Forest! Young Travel Writers and Artists Contest
Children from 5K through 5th Grade are invited to submit original stories and artwork. Contest Deadline Extended to November 30, 2009. $100 Will Be Awarded by Smart Poodle Publishing to the First Place Winners in Each Category.

Scripts Howard National Spelling Bee
Each sponsor organizes a spelling bee program in its community. The champion of the sponsor’s final spelling bee advances to the national finals in June. Sponsorship is available to daily and weekly newspapers.

Write On! Writing Challenge
Create a children’s book. Winning entries used in a published book. Theme is about environmental concerns.

Writing Contests – Creative Communications
Both Poetry and essay contests. Three contests annually. Contests in the US and Canada.

Math

American Mathematics Competitions
The AMC seek to increase interest in mathematics and to develop problem solving ability through a series of friendly mathematics contests for junior (grades 8 and below) and senior high school students (grades 9 through 12). Registration in November and February.

Crazy for Math Contest
Officially starts May 1. Describe how you use math in any activity you love to do — a sport, game, craft, hobby or anything else. Send in a description of the activity and how you use math. You can also include a drawing or diagram. All finalists receive a copy of Googol Power’s award winning CD “Multiplication Vacation.”

International Mathematical Olympiad
This prestigious event will bring to the USA 500 of the most talented high school age mathematicians from more than 80 countries. The Olympiad will be held in Greece in July.

MathCounts
A national math coaching and competition program that promotes middle school mathematics achievement through grassroots involvement in every U.S. state and territory. See also MathCounts changes Eligibility Rules for Homeschoolers, August 2010.

Math Olympiads
Two divisions for 4-6th graders and 7-8th graders. Only schools or homeschool associations, not individuals, may participate. A homeschool association, to us, is a group of homeschool students from the same geographic area. Students not enrolled in a public or private school.

Online Math League
Offers fun, challenging math contests to schools and individuals in Grades 2-12. Registration discounted for individual homeschoolers.

Online Math Madness
Unlike many math competitions, you don’t have to travel across the state or country to compete with other students; you can compete against students across the world without ever leaving your own home! Intended for those working at a high school level in math. More fun than “heavy” competition.

Physical Education

The President’s Challenge
As a homeschool you are eligible to participate and receive awards for the President’s Challenge Physical Fitness Program. There are a few tips and suggestions that we will try to answer and urge you to consider before you get started. Here’s a page on howhomeschoolers may participate.

Problem Solving

Construction Challenge
Teenagers compete and solve infrastructure, design, and service tech Challenges using teamwork, creativity, and problem solving. All team members must be enrolled in middle school (grades 6-8) or high school (grades 9-12) or the equivalent at technical or vocational schools or homeschool students at the equivalent education level or ages. Regionals in February. Finals in May.

Destination Imagination
We invite you to stretch your mind and share your brainstorms on the web.

eCYBERMISSION
A free, web-based science, math and technology competition for students in grades 6 through 9. The competition encourages and rewards students from a diverse range of proficiency levels, interests and backgrounds. Registration ends in early December.

Odyssey of the Mind
An international educational program that provides creative problem-solving opportunities for students from kindergarten through college. A homeschool-friendly competition.
See Interview with Susan Smylie Odyssey of the Mind Coach

Science

Robotics Competitions
AN A TO Z RESOURCE
On our Robots 4 Kids page. Links to robot contests.

Science Fair Help
AN A TO Z RESOURCE
Looking for help with that science fair project? You’ve come to the right place!

3M Young Scientist Challenge
We’re looking for a few great students and teachers to inspire us with their enthusiasm for science, so show us what you’ve got! Create a short (1-2 min.) video about one of this year’s scientific topics and YOU could win a trip to Washington, DC to compete in the YSC finals.

Action For Nature International – Young Eco-Hero Awards
Have you been working to preserve the world around you? Have you been teaching others how to protect the environment? Have you been doing an environmental research project? Not so much a contest as an honor.

Canon Envirothon
Delve into the topic of introduced species in general, and within your own communities.

Chemistry Olympiad
Each nation sends a team of its four brightest chemistry students.

ExploraVision
Teams of students select a technology, research how it works and why it was invented, and then project how that technology may change in the future. K-12. Sign up now. Projects due in April.

Engineer Girl Contest
Every year, the EngineerGirl website sponsors a contest dealing with engineering and its impact on our world.

Google Science Fair
Home schooled students between the ages of 13 � 18 are also eligible. An eligible minor must have his/her parent�s or legal guardian�s permission to enter this Competition. Sign up to be notified when next year’s contest is open.

Intel Science Talent Search
The nation’s most prestigious science research competition for high school seniors. Evan O’Dorney, homeschooler of Danville, CA, won in 2011.

National Young Astronomer Award.
Designed to recognize the outstanding achievements by high school aged astronomers throughout the United States.

Science Olympiad
Homeschool teams have done quite well in this science competition in the past. Regionals were held in February. Contact in the fall to enter your team.

US Physics Olympiad Team
Promotes academic excellence through preparation for and participation in the International Physics Olympiad.

Social Science

FDR- A Presidency Revealed Eligibility – 3/11/05
AN A TO Z ARTICLE
The History Channel has decided to open the scholarship challenge to all homeschoolers (even in states where homeschooling is not considered “private” school) in addition to students enrolled in a private and/or public high school.

Doors to Diplomacy
The U. S. Department of State sponsors this educational challenge to encourage middle school and high school students around the world to produce web projects that teach others about the importance of international affairs and diplomacy.

Future City Competition
Now in its eighth year, asks middle school students from around the nation to create first on computer and then in large, three-dimensional models of their visions of the city of tomorrow. Check in September.

Kids Philosophy Slam
Designed to make philosophy accessible and fun for kids of all ages and abilities, to promote a philosophical dialogue between kids and adults, and to promote a greater awareness of philosophy and education in everyday life. Over $5,000 in prizes are available to students & schools. Home school entries and international participation are encouraged.

Let’s Get Real
An academic competition and an opportunity for teams of students to gain experience working on real business challenges.

LifeSmarts
A consumer education competition that tests teens in grades 9-12 about personal finance, health and safety, the environment, technology, and consumer rights and responsibilities.

Model United Nations
While not strictly a contest, teams of student delegates, after studying their assigned country’s policies, will win and lose in the debates over the various issues.

National Geographic Bee
Homeschools with students in grades four through eight are eligible for this entertaining and challenging test of geographic knowledge. Join homeschoolers and other contest winners at the GeoBeeCentral message board.

National Geographic Bee Contest Eligibility – 3/21/05
AN A TO Z ARTICLE
We have heard from a number of people concerned about National Geographic’s treatment of home-schooled children in our annual geography Bee competition because of an incident that recently occurred in New Hampshire.

National History Day
Show your creativity by making history come alive in an exhibit, documentary, paper, or performance. By producing one of these projects, you have opportunities to win awards and scholarships, as well as learn about your history.

National Peace Essay Contest
A well-established contest with very specific guidelines and rules. Entries from home-schooled students are also accepted. Students must be in grades nine through twelve at the Contest deadline.

The 2012 QuestBridge College Prep Scholarship for Juniors helps high-achieving low-income students become successful applicants to the nation’s best colleges.

Juniors in high school from low-income families (typically earning less than $60,000 per year) should fill out the brief online form for more information.

Through a single application, students can access multiple opportunities, including: full scholarships to college summer programs at schools like Harvard, Stanford, and Yale; invitations to our College Admissions Conferences at Northwestern, Princeton, and Stanford; individualized college admissions counseling, and more. 

The online application is available on our website, www.questbridge.org, and is due on March 27, 2012. It is completely free to apply. For further information, please contact questions@questbridge.org.

Miami Science Museum

Saturday, February 25
Join the Miami Science Museum as we celebrate the Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day! The American Society of Civil Engineers, the Cuban American Association for Civil Engineers, Engineers Without Borders, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the National Society of Black Engineers, and the Society of Women Engineers have all joined forces with MiaSci to make this a memorable day of fun engineering activities, career awareness, and talks for young and old alike.

Grab your daughter, granddaughter, niece, or cousin to show them how creative and collaborative engineering is and how engineering and science entrepreneurship are changing our world. This event is free for K-12 Students 18 and under (high school students, please bring your school IDs)!

The morning begins with a Science, Technology & Engineering Entrepreneurship Career Panel, consisting of successful science entrepreneurs sharing their stories of and keys to success. This will be followed by an afternoon of hands-on activities and speakers.

Agenda:
10:00-11:00 Science, Technology & Engineering Entrepreneurship Career Panel
12:00-4:00 Hands-on Engineering Activities and Demos in our Galleries
Activities include: Build Candy Structures, Paper Airplane Competitions, Water Rockets, Create a phonograph, Snap Circuits, Blocks and Ramps, Build a Rube Goldberg Contraption, and more!
12:30-1:00 Introduce a Girl to Engineering Talk, presented by Brenda Westhorp, President of Westhorp & Associates, Inc.
1:00-1:30 Engineers Without Borders: Tichia Water Supply Project Presentation
2:30-3:00 Engineering, Industry Societies and Volunteerism, presented by Maria Porrata, President of the Cuban American Associaton of Civil Engineers and the Miami-Dade American Society of Civil Engineers
3:00 Presentation by the UM American Society of Civil Engineers

Support for this event has been generously provided by DDA Engineers and Ross Engineering.

Time: 10:00 – 4:00
Location: Museum of Science
Phone Contact: Karlisa Callwood 305-646-4233
Email Contact: kcallwood@miamisci.org

Join the upcoming chess tournament at Miami Dade College for high school students on Saturday, March 17, 2012.

This is a great opportunity  to shine!  There is no registration fee and prizes include trophies, scholarships, t-shirts and more.

To register now or view pictures from previous tournaments, click on the link.  www.mdc.edu/highschoolchess

Hope to see you at the tournament, good luck to all!

http://www6.miami.edu/provost/oae/STIRprogram.html
Click on the links below for more information and application:

Students Training in Research Program

The Students Training in Research Program (STIR) is a seven-week, non- residential, research program for underrepresented students who have displayed interest in laboratory research and academic promise in the sciences.

STIR is open to students who have successfully completed their sophomore year of high school and will be entering the 11th grade upon completion of the summer. The program provides 25 selected participants the opportunity to work side-by-side with University of Miami Miller School of Medicine research scientists during seven weeks in the summer. Participants will be exposed to a practical laboratory research opportunity that is both exciting and educationally challenging. STIR participants will:

•Learn and apply laboratory skills taught within the first week of the program

•Develop skills and abilities to perform scientific research

•Develop and improve their public speaking and presentation skills

•Incorporate ethical issues and the social consequences of laboratory research

•Develop one-on-one relationships with assigned mentors

The STIR program will run from June 18, 2012 and conclude on August 3, 2012. Applications are due April 23, 2012. Please feel free to contact the Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs directly with any questions at 305-243-6551.

MIAMI-DADE COMMUNITY ACTION AND HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT IS OFFERING SCHOLARSHIPS TO COLLEGE BOUND STUDENTS

The Community Action and Human Services Department and the Community Advisory Committees are providing scholarships to assist low-income students attend college.

(MIAMI, February 3, 2012) – The Miami-Dade Community Action Agency and Human Services Department (CAHSD) and the Community Advisory Committees (CAC) are accepting applications from February 3, 2012 through March 16, 2012 for educational scholarships in the amount of $1,500 each.

Candidates must reside within the boundaries of the sixteen target areas represented by a CAC. The CAC target areas include the communities of Little Havana, Allapattah, Brownsville, Coconut Grove, Culmer, Edison/Little River, Florida City, Goulds, Hialeah, Liberty City, Naranja, Opa-Locka, Perrine, South Beach, South Miami and Wynwood.

Criteria for selection:

• The age criterion for eligible candidates is 16-25
• Applicants must be currently enrolled in a college or vocational institution or will be attending a college or vocational institution in the Fall of 2012
• Applicants must have achieved at least a “C” average
• The amount of community hours the applicant has performed will be considered
• The initiative and responsibility exhibited by the applicant by working during their junior and senior high school years and the input from the school faculty will be considered
• Applicants will be required to submit an essay
• Applicant’s family income must fall within 125% of the Community Service Block Grant (CSBG) Poverty Income Guidelines

Individuals interested in applying for the scholarship may obtain an application at any of the Community Service Centers, or by downloading the application from the Miami-Dade County web portal at: www.miamidade.gov/cahs/citizen_participation.asp.  Applicants will be notified upon approval of the awards.

For more information about the scholarship application or the programs and services of the Miami-Dade Community Action and Human Services Department please call (786) 469-4600 or visit us on the web at www.miamidade.gov/cahs.

Who:              The Community Action and Human Services Department and the Community Advisory Committees

What:             Scholarship Applications for the 2012 school year

When:            Beginning Friday, February 3, 2012 thru Friday March 16, 2012, 5:00 p.m. EST

Where:           Miami-Dade Community Service Centers and by downloading the applications from Miami-Dade County web portal: www.miamidade.gov/cahs/citizen_participation.asp

Why:              To provide monetary assistance to low-income students pursuing a college education or vocational certification. 

# # #

It is the policy of Miami Dade County to comply with all of the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act.  The facility is accessible.  For sign language interpreters, assistive listening devices or materials in accessible format, please contact David Allison at (786) 469-4682.