Calling all Build A Better Future Scholarship applicants! We are just a few days away from our submission deadline for scholarship applications. You’ve worked hard on your projects, made great impacts in your communities, and now it’s time to turn it over to us!
Before you hit that final “submit” button, here’s a few reminders for you:
Make sure you have gathered all the necessary contact information that is required on the application. This includes names, phone numbers, AND email addresses!
Take a few minutes to proofread your application. Does it all make sense? Are there any spelling or other grammatical errors to be fixed? Is contact information entered correctly?
You must have A MINIMUM of 5 photos relating to your project– possible photo submissions could include photos of prototypes, photos of you interacting with those involved with your project, photos of final products, etc. You are welcome to submit more than 5 photos.
You must include a 2-5 minute video that meets the following criteria:
Include examples of your work in action (photos, video clips, etc.)
Include a few words directly from you regarding your project (can be a voice-over)
Include 1-3 brief interviews with people you are working with
You must address the following questions:
What would you improve with more time?
What new skills or concepts have you acquired?
What have you learned about yourself based on the experience?
CHECK YOUR SHARE SETTINGS! Double (maybe even triple or quadruple) check that your photos and video(s) are viewable by outside sources. We cannot admire your amazing work if your share settings are set to private. Failure to properly upload your photos and videos will likely lead to disqualification. Don’t let that happen to you!
Lastly, take a minute and breathe. Reflect on your hard work and what you’ve learned. Pat yourself on the back and congratulate yourself on a job well done!
You can find more information, including submission links, by clicking here.
We are excited to read through applications, and can hardly wait to see all of the amazing projects that have been done!
**All applications are due no later than Monday, April 13 at 11:59 MST.**
Spring Break season is upon us, the weather is starting to get warmer, and the end of the school year is creeping up. School breaks are essential for students and teachers alike. The break from the rigors of school work gives everyone a chance to rest, relax, and mentally get ready for the next chunk of the school year. While the breaks are nice, it sometimes leaves parents trying to find ways to keep their kids engaged and entertained. Below is a list of fun, engaging, and educational activities for kids of all ages!
Using sidewalk chalk, make an obstacle or challenge course on the sidewalk or driveway. Include different movements (spinning, jumping, hopping, etc.) to keep kids paying attention to what comes next!
Head to your local library and check out a few books to read together.
Create a “Spring Break Challenge”– kids must complete 8/10 tasks to receive their reward (that can be whatever you choose). Give them two tasks they must do– tasks that are essential life skills– then provide them a list of other options to pick from. Tasks can include things like write a letter then correctly address it and mail it, learn to sew a pillow, learn how to mow the lawn, make a treat for someone you know is lonely, do a sibling’s chore without being asked, make a meal for the family, and so on.
Take a walk around the neighborhood and take pictures of anything interesting you see. Go home and learn more about the things you took pictures of.
Have kids draw up plans for their dream backyard.
Have each child learn how to do one new thing, then have them teach another family member how to do it.
Using a muffin tin and water, freeze small plastic animals or figures. Have the kids imagine they are scientists on a rescue mission to save the animals. Let them experiment with different ways to melt the ice– using syringes, medicine droppers, scoops of water, and so on.
Go outside at different times of the day and observe the different lengths and positions of shadows. Learn why this changes throughout the day.
Let kids use their imaginations and creative thinking to create an obstacle course out of everyday things. Let them think through things as they come across problems.
For older kids, give them each $5, and send them around the store to purchase something for a family member. This gives them a chance to think of someone else, and helps them pay attention to costs of items compared to what they have available to them.
Breaks can feel overwhelming at times, but there are plenty of low cost or free activities to keep your kids engaged, entertained, and active during times away from school. Try some of these activities and let us know what you think!
We are a mere 10 days away from the deadline for our Build A Better Future Scholarship applications! We are eager to read submissions, and have enjoyed reading those that have come in already. As we get closer to the submission deadline, I’ve been sharing some application tips and reminders so your final submission can be as perfect as possible. You can see the last few reminders here, here, and here.
Today’s tip is to make sure you proofread your application before you hit that ‘submit’ button. Read over your application several times. Have someone else look it over– sometimes a fresh pair of eyes will catch errors that you might miss.
Make sure you are checking your application for the following things:
Spelling errors
Capitalization errors
Missed punctuation or unnecessary punctuation
Flow- be sure your paragraphs flow well, make sense, and are cohesive
Correct grammar
Email addresses and phone numbers are entered correctly
All photo and video links or uploads are viewable by outside sources
Answer the questions and prompts thoroughly, but make sure you don’t go over the allotted word count
Sentence structure– fix any run on sentences or incomplete sentences
Take the time to make your application reflect your hard work. Don’t rush through it. Will a misplaced comma or period disqualify you? No. Will a couple of misspelled words eliminate you from the running? No. But– applications that are polished and proofread do stand out, and we do notice the extra effort you’ve put in to make your submission as perfect as it can be. You’ve done so much work on your project already, so don’t skimp on the application!
As a reminder, final submissions are due no later than Monday, April 13, 2026 at 11:59 pm, MST.
Young teacher with books and metal key on blue background
For some teenagers, reading is a struggle, and is often the last thing on their to-do list. Kids who once used to love reading have suddenly started seeing books as a burden. Perhaps this happens because of social pressure to see reading as a “nerdy” thing, or maybe they just have less time to read because of busier schedules. Another reason– perhaps the main reason– could be because they simply cannot find a book that interests them. Finding a book or a genre that pulls them in can get tricky. As teachers, we can help our students find engaging, fun to read books to hopefully spark an interest for reading.
A few weeks ago, I wrote about dystopian novels for teens. If you need suggestions for that genre, you can click here. Today, I’ll share some great historical fiction novels.
Historical fiction books are books that place fictional characters in real historical events, places, and times. This genre can be really engaging for students who are very into history. There are historical fiction novels written about nearly every big historical event, so there is something for everyone in this genre! Keep reading to learn about a few of them.
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor
Set in Mississippi in the 1930s, Roll of Thunder follows Cassie Logan and her family, who are African-American, as they navigate segregation, racial injustices, and the Great Depression. This book does a wonderful job of painting a picture of what it would have been like for African-American families during the 1930s. Kids of any race can connect with Cassie, who is a spunky, determined little girl.
An excellent read for ages 10+
Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
Between Shades takes place in 1941 during WWII in Lithuania and Siberia. Lina is a 15 year old girl who is taken by Soviet officers, along with her family, to a Siberian work camp. Lina is devastated when they are taken to the camp and she is separated from her father. During her time there, Lina uses her art to secretly document her experiences at the camp. This story focuses on resilience, perseverance, and survival, and teaches powerful lessons about the strength of the human spirit.
Recommended for ages 12+
Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson
Isabel is a young slave girl, along with her sister Ruth. When their owner dies, they are sold to a Loyalist couple who mistreats them. Isabel longs for freedom for herself and her sister. Hoping to secure that freedom, Isabel becomes a spy for Patriot forces, enduring horrific mistreatment. Bravery, resilience, and determination are highlighted throughout the novel as Isabel fights for her freedom. The story is powerful and moving, reminding readers that sometimes we must push ourselves beyond what is comfortable to remove the chains that bind us.
Recommended for ages 13+. Chains is the first book in the Seeds of American trilogy.
Mississippi Trial, 1955by Chris Crowe
This heart-wrenching story follows Hiram Hillburn, a 16 year old white boy who travels to Mississippi to visit his grandpa for the summer. While there, he meets a 14 year old black boy named Emmett Till, who also happens to be visiting family for the summer. Hiram and Emmett become friends as they realize they have a lot in common. Soon, Hiram discovers just how ugly racism is when Emmett is abducted and murdered. His body is found in the river a few days later. Hiram extends his stay so that he can be present for the trial and to offer any help he can in finding justice for Emmett. While this story can be hard to read because of the graphic content, it shares a powerful perspective on the events surrounding Emmett’s death. Hiram must make a decision between keeping the peace with his grandpa or standing up for what is right.
For students who are interested in this story, Getting Away With Murder by Chris Crowe is a non-fiction book that pairs really well with it.
Recommended for ages 14+
Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse
Written in poems, Out of the Dust follows Billie Jo Kelby, a young girl living in Oklahoma in the 1930s. Billie Jo must face the realities of the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression. A fire kills her mother, and leaves Billie Jo’s hands badly scarred. She must navigate the harsh realities of life during this difficult historical time all while grieving the loss of her mother, dealing with her father’s emotional battles, and learning to play the piano again after the fire. The book is set up like a journal, with each entry being a free verse poem. Teenagers can connect with Billie Jo as she navigates the difficulties of being a teenager and facing hard things.
Recommended for ages 12+
This is just a small sampling of the amazing historical fiction books that are out there, but hopefully it can provide you with some suggestions to give to a student who is needing a little help finding a book they can get into.
Last week, I shared some fun ways to use Easter eggs in your classroom. Today I have one more idea you can use!
If you have students who are learning consonant-vowel-consonant (CVC) words, this activity would be perfect for your kiddos. Using the downloadable file below, students can practice reading and recognizing various CVC words.
There are two pages to the file: the first is the student worksheet, and the second is the teacher page. Teachers, cut out the word strips on the second page, and put each strip into an Easter egg. Give each student a set of eggs with the word strips in them. As they open each egg, they can read the word strip, then glue it on the worksheet under the corresponding picture.
This download is for personal or classroom use only. Do not resell, repost, or claim as your own.
It’s time for this week’s scholarship tip! Can you believe we are a little more than two weeks away from the application deadline?! Now is the time to make sure you’ve got all the little details worked out, including collecting the necessary contact information we ask for on the application. We not only need your contact information, but also that of a few other important people. Prior to sitting down to fill out your application, make sure you have gathered the following information:
Your name and email address
The name and phone number of your current high school
The name of your high school’s registrar or secretary AND their email address
The name of your mentor, as well as their title (teacher, counselor, etc.), phone number AND email address
Your mentor must be someone who is directly involved with your project. That will look different for every project, but is typically a teacher, counselor, club advisor, religious leader, community member, and so forth. It should be someone who has helped you directly with the progress of your project. Usually a mentor is someone who is there to bounce ideas off of, guide you, provide resources and knowledge, and so on.
Please make sure that all names are spelled correctly and that phone numbers and email addresses are accurate. We ask for your high school and registrar’s information so that we can verify you are indeed a graduating senior. We ask you to provide your mentor’s contact information so that we can check the validity of your project and learn more about you and the project from their perspective.
We are so excited to learn all about the amazing projects you have been working on and the incredible ways you have impacted your community!
Continuing with fun Easter themed activities for your classroom, today we’ll use jelly beans as a learning tool. The best part of using jelly beans is that your students can eat them when they are done with them! A fun, engaging learning activity and a treat?! Sounds like my kind of fun!
This activity would be best for first or second grade on up. Give each student a small bag of jelly beans. Using the download below, have them sort their beans by color, count how many of each color they have, then create a graph showing their results.
Jelly bean math is a low-prep activity, which makes it very teacher friendly, and is fun, engaging, and educational, which makes it great for everyone involved!
Download the worksheets below and try it out with your class! Happy sorting and graphing!
**This download is free, and is for personal or classroom use only. Do not resell, repost, or claim as your own.**
