Orange County Register

A half dozen local schools have won money from the Toshiba America Foundation Science and Math Improvement Grants, and so, conceivably, can more teachers in Orange County.

Approximately $500,000 is available. Toshiba just sent me a reminder that K-6th grade teachers should start thinking about potential science and math projects now if they want to meet the October 1 deadline. Grades 7 to 12 have more leeway and can apply for up to $5,000 grants any time of the year. Requests of more than $5,000 are reviewed twice a year and due on Feb. 1 or Aug. 1. The application guidelines are HERE.

Since 1990, the Toshiba America Foundation has handed out $500,000 each year to teachers nationwide who propose cool projects that encourage students to get excited about math and science. The TAF has doled out more than $8.1 million since its inception.

Past winners include UC Irvine graduate program, which got $20,000 to set up a program where graduate students serve as resident scientists in the 7th to 12th grade biology and life science classrooms in 12 of OC’s neediest schools. The money will be used to help teachers and resident scientists design projects, labs and lessons to help students understand the scientific research process.

At Plaza Vista School in Irvine, students won a $4,920 grant to learn how to build and program robots. Some students will even get to design, build, and test rover vehicles in a simulated Martian environment. They will use these robots to conduct meteorological, hydrologic, and geologic experiments.

Other OC winners in the past year include:
Laguna Beach High School, $3,000
MIND Institute in Costa Mesa, $15,000
Orange County Department of Education in Costa Mesa, $5,000

K-6 grade winners in 2007 ($1,000 each):
A.E. Arnold Elementary School in Cypress
Francis Scott Key Elementary School in Anaheim
Jim Thorpe Fundamental School in Santa Ana
St. Barbara School in Santa Ana

More details about the program are at www.taf.toshiba.com or call 212-596-0620.

Related post: Money available for geeky students and educators (Aug. 2007)

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