The National Coalition of Girls' Schools
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Competitions and Projects
 

  • The Intel International Science & Engineering Fair - is a competition for high school students all over the world where they compete for scholarship money, scientific equipment and trips, tuition grants, and the grand prize is a trip to the Nobel Prize Ceremonies.
     
  • F.I.R.S.T. Robotics Competition - The FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Competition poses a new engineering challenge each year for teams of high school students who are matched up with businesses and engineers. Their task is to brainstorm and then create robots that can assume the challenge.
     
  • FIRST LEGO League ages 9-14 (FLL) - a robotics program utilizing LEGO MINDSTORMS technology and adding kids' creativity. The program was formed from the partnership of FIRST and LEGO in 1998; FLL is now international with teams from more than 31 countries participating.
     
  • Botball - provides educators with knowledge, resources and equipment with which to foster an engaging and continuous hands-on learning environment for science, technology, engineering and math. Botball is part of a long-term approach towards improvement in the way STEM areas are taught, by exposing students to an inquiry-based, learn-by-doing activity.
     
  • BEST Robotics - a non-profit, volunteer organization whose mission is to inspire students to pursue careers in engineering, science, and technology through participation in a sports-like, science- and engineering-based robotics competition. Resources for teachers and students.
     
  • Future City Competition - middle school students create cities of tomorrow, first on computer and then in large tabletop models. Students present their models and defend their designs before a panel of judges - volunteer engineers from the community - at regional competitions. Sponsored in part by the National Engineers Week Foundation, a consortium of more than 100 professional and technical societies and major corporations.
     
  • JETS Challenge - Real-World Engineering Challenges for High School Students...JETS works to increase interest and awareness of engineering and technology-based careers - with student competitions, assessment tools, career guidance resources, an e-newsletter, and more - as well as resource materials for parents and counselors.
     
  • NASA Quest - Challenges are Web-based, interactive explorations designed to engage students in authentic scientific and engineering processes. The content of NASA Quest Challenges follows real NASA tasks with the goal of involving young people in developing tomorrow's solutions, while inspiring them towards careers in science and engineering. As students work in teams to mirror NASA career roles, agency experts are available to answer questions and to encourage a proper design process. The interaction with scientists occurs via Q&A, chats, interactive webcasts, and posted feedback on the Web site.
     
  • Odyssey of the Mind is an international educational program that provides creative problem-solving opportunities for students from kindergarten through college. Kids apply their creativity to solve problems that range from building mechanical devices to presenting their own interpretation of literary classics. They then bring their solutions to competition on the local, state, and world level. Thousands of teams from throughout the U.S. and from about 25 other countries participate in the program. (link to independent schools who use Odyssey)
     
  • The Siemens Competition in Math, Science & Technology recognizes remarkable talent early on, fostering individual growth for high school students who are willing to challenge themselves through science research. Through this competition, students have an opportunity to achieve national recognition for science research projects that they complete in high school.
     
  • The International Telementor program teams one child in grades 5-12 with one adult who acts an an E-mail pen pal, electronic coach, or "telementor" in math and science. Telementors answer technical questions and encourage students to talk about future careers. Created and developed by HP, the program is managed-with HP's support-by the Center for Science, Mathematics & Technology Education (CSMATE) in Fort Collins, Colorado. You can read a nice article about the program.
     
  • JASON Project - For middle-grade students, JASON's real-time, interdisciplinary science Expeditions offer a unique opportunity to participate in real, standards-based, multidisciplinary research directed by leading scientists. And, for educators, JASON provides the content and tools to effectively teach middle-grade science. The JASON Professional Development program offers accredited online professional development courses in science, math, and non-fiction literacy instruction as well as on-site workshops and coaching to help teachers become highly qualified and make the best use of JASON programs in the classroom.
     
  • West Point Bridge Building Competition - competition is a virtual design experience.
     
  • Energy Quest - science projects and energy activities.