For Your Information

On October 8, 2009, adults and children all over the world will read The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle during the fourth annual Read for the Record campaign. Visit www.readfortherecord.org for an event tool kit or to purchase a special edition of this year's book.

In the Bright Green Dream School Sustainability Challenge, K–12 students design an energy-efficient, sustainable classroom of the future. Ideas must be submitted by October 12, 2009, and can be any format, such as video, digital, or written. One winner will receive a $15,000 sustainable classroom upgrade for his or her school. Visit www.greenovationnation.com/dream for details.

More than 14 million American children are alone and unsupervised after school. But on October 22, 2009, thousands of Lights on Afterschool events across the country will show how afterschool programs help keep kids out of trouble, assist working parents, and encourage learning. You'll find an event planning kit, activities, logos, and more at www.afterschoolalliance.org.

Enter a drawing to win a book in the Lee & Low Book Giveaway Contest. Three lucky entrants will win a copy of John Lewis in the Lead, autographed by the book's subject. Just fill out the form at www.leeandlow.com/p/book_giveaway.mhtml. The entry deadline is October 31, 2009.

Since 1995, the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards have honored students in grades 5–12 for outstanding volunteer service in their communities. Prizes are awarded on the local, state, and national levels and range from certificates to a trip to Washington, DC, and cash prizes of up to $5,000. Apply online at http://spirit.prudential.com by November 2, 2009.

Need funds for your next field trip? Target will award 5,000 field trip grants of up to $800 each in February 2010. Trips must be taken before the end of the school year and may be used for visits to museums, community service or civics projects, or other activities away from school. Submit your application by November 3, 2009, at http://sites.target.com/site/en/company/page.jsp%3FcontentId%3DWCMP04-031880.

Did you know that recycling a three-foot stack of newspapers saves one tree? Spread this message and others on America Recycles Day. Held November 15, 2009, America Recycles Day is dedicated to encouraging Americans to recycle and buy recycled products. Log onto www.nrc-recycle.org/aboutard.aspx to learn how to organize an event in your school or community.

Feel a part of the global community by celebrating Geography Awareness Week from November 15–21, 2009. The week features school-based activities that draw attention to what geography is and why it's important. Log onto www.mywonderfulworld.org for a free weeklong guide of activities and ideas as well as a free monthly newsletter.

The Alan Shepard Technology in Education Award recognizes K–12 teachers who have developed outstanding technology education programs, especially in aerospace or aeronautics. One winner will receive $500 and a trip to the National Space Symposium in Colorado Springs in April 2010. The postmark deadline is January 16, 2010. Download an application at http://amfcse.org.

Students in grades 6 and up can enter the National History Day contest and win $5,000! The 2010 theme is Innovation in History: Impact and Change. Students research the theme and present an exhibit, documentary, performance, or paper. District and state contests begin in February 2010; the national contest is in June. Go to www.nationalhistoryday.org/programs1.htm for details.

Continuing your education? Horace Mann awards scholarships each year to 36 K–12 educators. Ranging from $500 to $5,000, awards are based on applicants' school and community activities and written essays. The deadline for applications will be early March 2010. Go to www.horacemann.com/resources/scholarships for information.

Students in grades 5–8 are invited to enter the Bubble Wrap Competition for Young Inventors by making an ingenious invention incorporating Bubble Wrap cushioning material. The grand prize winner gets a $10,000 U.S. savings bond and $5,000 for his school; the second place winner gets a $5,000 savings bond; and the third place winner gets a $3,000 savings bond. The entry deadline is March 3, 2010. Get the details at www.sealedair.com/bubble_home.htm.

State Farm Good Neighbor Service Learning Grants fund projects that combine service with academic learning and promote youth leadership. Both teachers and students are eligible. Grants of up to $1,000 must be used for a project taking place on National and Global Youth Service Day, celebrated in April 2010. The deadline hasn't been set, so check www.ysa.org/awards for updates.

Contest alert! Jan Brett's Snowy Treasury features four of her beloved classics: Gingerbread Baby, The Mitten, The Hat, and The Three Snow Bears. Incorporate this new book in your units about the weather or seasons. You could even win a FREE copy of the book for your school or library! To enter, identify the four countries featured in the book. The contest starts October 5. Visit www.janbrett.com for details!

Show veterans how much they are valued by participating in History's Take a Veteran to School Day campaign. The initiative links veterans of all ages with students in grades K–12. Get free teacher resources, including a how-to guide, and register for this learning-rich experience and the National Teach-In on Veterans History at www.veterans.com.

Holy guacamole! Blast off with Skippyjon Jones, Lost in Spice! Click here to request a free Skippyjon Jones activity kit. You'll find plenty of resources to help you use El Skippito's adventures in your classroom! The kit is available while supplies last. For other teacher's guides and activity kits, visit www.penguin.com/teachersandlibrarians.

Get help supplying your classroom with educational tools. My Class Essentials, a new program from Box Tops for Education, enables you to create a free online registry from more than 6,000 products. Parents can purchase items on your registry or donate to your account. Purchased items are shipped to your classroom, and your school earns a 2 percent cash donation (up to $20,000 each year) for every purchase. Learn more at www.btfe.com/myclassessentials.

Take a trip to the jelly bean factory! With this free DVD, students get an inside look at how Jelly Belly jelly beans are prepared, shaped, tested, finished, and shipped. You'll also get a teacher's guide, a poster, stickers, a bag of Jelly Belly jelly beans, and more. To request yours, sign up at www.vpw.com.

TeachersFirst is a free Web site for K–12 teachers that contains more than 10,000 online learning resources, all reviewed and approved by teachers. The site includes lesson plans, puzzles, quizzes, interactive sites, and other tools that cover all subject areas. Search by subject/grade level or keywords. About two dozen new resources are added each week. Find it all at www.teachersfirst.com.

What happens to the waste we produce? Can trash become energy? Get answers to these questions and others at www.ThinkGreen.com/classroom, a new K–12 resource from Waste Management and Discovery Education. The site offers free, grade-specific lesson plans, videos, interactive activities, worksheets, and puzzles to help students learn how to contribute to a cleaner, healthier environment.