Contests are a great tool in the classroom. Know of one not listed? Share in the comments below!

One Earth Award

Details: Address the pressing issue of human-caused climate change by entering work to any category in the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards and opting in to the One Earth Award.

Grade Level: 7–12th grade

Deadline: Deadlines vary regionally between December 2021 and January 2022

Award: $1,000 scholarships for four students.

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Young Filmmakers Contest

Details: Address the sustainability topic of climate, energy, food, transportation, waste, water, or wildlife & ecosystems and discuss what a potential solution.

Grade Level: 3rd grade–University

Deadline: January 5, 2022

Award: All winning films will premiere at the One Earth Film Festival in March 2022 as well as receive a cash prize.

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Redford Center Stories Challenge

Details: 90-second video contest responding to one of three environmental-justice-related prompts.

Grade Level: 5–12th grade

Deadline: March, 21, 2022

Award: Mentoring pathways that put students in direct relationship with filmmakers, environmental activists, creative youth development experts, and each other. 

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The 2022 Ocean Awareness Contest

Details: Art contest (visual art, poetry & spoken word, creative writing, film, performing arts, interactive, multimedia) for innovative pieces that challenge our expectations for what climate change messaging is. The theme is, "The Funny Thing About Climate Change."

Age Level: 11–18 years old

Deadline: June 13, 2022

Award: Cash awards of up to $1500 as well as special opportunities.

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Looking for a contest that you can enter as a class? NAAEE is proud to partner with Samsung Solve for Tomorrow to encourage the use of STEM education (science, technology, engineering, and math) in addressing local issues of national importance in a sustainable way. 

The Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest 

Details: Public school teachers from all 50 states and the District of Columbia can submit their activity plans that enable students to inspire real-world change to address critical issues such as mental health and social justice in their communities using problem-based learning. The application form requires teachers to outline their local challenge, as well as how students will use STEM to create a solution to address the problem.

 

Grade Level: 6–12th grade

 

Deadline: November 15, 2021

 

Award: At every level of the contest, teachers are eligible to win thousands of dollars in classroom resources. One Sustainability Innovation Award winner will be selected to receive a $10,000 environmental sustainability prize package.