
"Creating Effective Citizens...One Student At A Time."


OKLAHOMA GEOGRAPHY GRANTS
It is time again to submit grant requests to the Oklahoma
Geography Education Fund. The purpose of the Fund, which
was organized in 1990, is to encourage, increase, and
improve the teaching of geography in Oklahoma, especially
at the elementary and secondary school levels. The Fund
expects to award up to $80,000 in grants in 2006, and invites proposals
from individual schools, school districts, educational organizations,
parent groups, and others with appropriate federal tax-exempt
status or the equivalent. Grant requests can be for smaller amounts,
but typically have been awarded in the $500 to $20,000 range. Projects
supported in the past have included single classroom activities and
districtwide initiatives. Because of the continuing focus
on geography with the assessment of geography in the
Social Studies criterion-referenced test at fifth grade and
the Geography criterion-referenced test at the seventh grade, we strongly
encourage you to consider responding to the request for proposals from
the National Geographic Society Education Foundation. Visit their Web site
for more information at http://www.nationalgeographic.com/foundation/apply.html
Applying for these grants is a
fairly simple two-stage process. The Fund asks first for a
brief letter of inquiry (not to exceed two pages) outlining
a project idea and giving a sense of the proposed budget. If the
review committee feels the idea supports the Fund’s priorities, you will
be asked for a more detailed project description and budget. We
are certain you and your faculty can think of a variety of ways to use a grant
from the Fund to excite young people about geography, promote community
awareness of geography education, help prepare teachers for geography
instruction based on the Priority Academic Student Skills (PASS),
and much more. Please feel free to contact Charles Sterling, program
analyst for the Fund, for feedback on your ideas and for contacts who
are familiar with geography education in Oklahoma. You can reach Mr. Sterling
at (202) 775-6702.

No
Money For Fieldtrips?
Bring One to Your Classroom!
History Alive!
- Give your students an
“up-close” look at history with live, costumed presentations of people from
the past. The
interactive format makes learning fun and meaningful.
Benjamin Franklin, Georgia O’Keeffe, “Alfalfa Bill” Murray–these
and many more are available to visit your classroom!
TRACKS Traveling Exhibits - Explore topics from Oklahoma history to the role of women in
government. Easily displayed in your school lobby or library; many include
teacher guides. Bring the museum experience to your school--and don’t forget
TRACKS in your Oklahoma centennial plans!
The Oklahoma Humanities Council (OHC)
offers low-cost, quality programming for Oklahoma schoolteachers.
For information on these programs and other educational opportunities,
contact OHC at (405) 235-0280.
Let
OHC help give your students a lasting appreciation of the humanities.

National Geographic Society
Teacher Grants

The mission of the National Geographic Society's Education
Foundation is
to prepare children to embrace a diverse world, succeed in a global
economy, and steward the planet 's resources. Teacher grants are given
directly to educators to facilitate their work in the classroom, school,
district, and community. Applications are accepted in the spring from any
current teacher or administrator in an accredited K-12 school within the
United States or Canada.
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/education/teacher_community/get_grant.html

Curriculum Awards
Social Studies Programs of Excellence- Recognizes and honors outstanding
social studies programs currently being implemented in the U.S. and encourages
development of innovative and effective programs. Programs must be nominated by
state councils. The recommended state level submission deadline is April 30.
Research Awards
Exemplary Research in Social Studies- Acknowledges and encourages
scholarly inquiry into significant issues and possibilities for social studies
education. Research must be published and have a social education focus.
Deadline: June 1.
Jean Dresden Grambs Distinguished Career Research
in Social Studies:
Recognizes professionals who have made extensive
contributions to knowledge in significant areas of social studies education
through meritorious research. Deadline: June 1.

Christa McAuliffe Reach for the
Stars Award

All teachers are invited to apply for the $1,500.00 award
for
that special project they always wanted to do.
http://www.socialstudies.org/awards/grants.shtml
The Fund for the Advancement of Social Studies Education was created
in 1984 by the Board of Directors of National Council for the Social
Studies. The purpose of the fund is to support research and classroom
application projects which improve social studies education, foster
enlightened citizenship, and promote civic competence.
In 1986 the Christa McAuliffe Reach for the Stars Award was established to help
classroom
teachers "reach for the stars" and achieve a dream that under ordinary
circumstances would not be fulfilled. Last year, only one teacher applied for this prestigious national award.


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