Get A $500 Grant For Your Creative Classroom Project

Fashion retailers LOFT has partnered with the Kids In Need Foundation to provide grants of up to $500 for K-12 teachers in the United States.  They're looking to fund creative, imaginative projects.  Here are the details:

The LOFT Loves Teachers program is providing grant funding to teachers through a dynamic partnership with the Kids In Need Foundation. LOFT will provide over 100 grants, totaling $50,000, so that educators may purchase supplies needed to conduct innovative projects in their classrooms. All certified K-12 teachers in the U.S. are eligible to apply for a grant valued at up to $500.

The LOFT Loves Teachers program is dedicated to recognizing educators and the valuable contributions they make every day. By showing valid school identification educators receive a 15% discount on all LOFT purchases. The LOFT Loves Teachers community offers access to special offers and style tips to outfit teachers in stylish yet functional looks for the classroom. Above all, LOFT Loves Teachers strives to identify ways to positively impact the educational process that teachers give shape to every day.

The application deadline for grant requests is September 30, 2010. For more information on the LOFT Loves Teachers program and to register for a grant please visit our Facebook Fanpage at www.facebook.com/LOFT and click on the LOFT Teachers tab.

In addition, here's a direct link to the application.  Good luck!

Upcoming Graphic Novel Explains the Origin of Life on Earth

Last month, I recommended the graphic novel BANG! The Universe Verse: Book 1 for anyone trying to teach kids about the Big Bang, physics and more.  In the meantime, author James Dunbar launched a project on fundraising site Kickstarter to support the creation of Book 2.  I'm happy to report he already hit his original goal of $1,000 to make that happen, but he's now set the bar higher: if he can raise $5,000, he'll make Book 2 freely available online just as he did with Book 1.

He's nearly there ($3,900 as of this writing), so I'm urging all of my readers to help.  Depending on how much you pledge, there are some great rewards available:

If anyone pledges $15 or more they will receive a signed and numbered, limited first-edition copy of "It's Alive! The Universe Verse: Book 2," about the origin of life on Earth, as soon as it comes out.  For just $5 they'll receive a PDF of the book, and anyone who pledges just $1 or more will get to follow the making of the book, including a sneak-peek of the manuscript and the preliminary sketches.

Dunbar has a lot more in store for us if he raises $5,000:

The more money I raise the quicker I'll be able to finish illustrating Book 2 and the better it will be.  And the sooner I'll be able to illustrate Book 3, publicize actively, develop accompanying lesson plans, test with teachers, apply for grants, and collaborate with programmers, animators, musicians, writers, artists, and so on until I've made the most inspiring and engaging science-education resource I can imagine (probably a super-interactive digital version & a beautiful, hard-cover, pop-up paper one).  The dream is to bring scientific literacy and curiosity to as many children as possible and I'd really appreciate your help!

Click through the link above to learn more about his Kickstarter project (and perhaps contribute).  You can read my original review here, and get more information about Dunbar and his project here.

Get Everything You Need to Start a Garden at School with Welch's Harvest Grants

Check out this great grant opportunity for the green-thumbed teacher:

As a family farmer owned company that is proud to grow and nurture grapes, Welch’s is here to help teach the value of sustainable agriculture and healthy eating. Hands-on experiences with planting, tending, and growing gardens provide a dynamic setting for learning and benefit kids of all ages.

This year, in partnership with Scholastic, Welch’s will support school garden programs through Welch’s Harvest Grants. We are pleased to invite you to submit an application for your opportunity to win a valuable garden for your school.

Entries will be judged by experts at the National Gardening Association, and two schools in every state will be selected to receive a Welch’s Harvest Grant. Winning schools will receive a customized indoor or outdoor garden package filled with a variety of tools, seeds, educational materials, and more. Deadline for submission is February 6, 2010, so we encourage you to start working on your grant application today.

The contest is open to all K-8 schools (public, private, homeschool).  Visit scholastic.com/harvest for the grant application, the rules and all the details.  I was told the application should only take about 10 minutes and be pretty straightforward.  100 schools will be able to start a class/school garden, which is a great learning tool for a variety of subjects.

Interested in the idea of starting a school garden, with or without a grant?  Check out Sustainable Table's school garden and food projects resource page, with links to help you get started.