MIT INVENTEAMS  High school teachers throughout the country can now apply for a prestigious Lemelson-MIT InvenTeams grant for next school year at www.inventeams.org. As many as 15 schools nationwide will be awarded grants up to $10,000 each to create a problem-solving invention. Science, math and technology teachers from public, private, charter and vocational high schools can apply for a grant to develop an invention as an in-class or extracurricular project. The first of two applications is due May 7. In the fall, up to 35 finalists will be invited to complete a second application, which will include details about the proposed invention, the team’s plan for completing the work, and a budget estimate. A panel of Massachusetts Institute of Technology faculty and alumni, professional inventors and engineers, and Lemelson-MIT Program staff will review the applications. The 15 grant recipients will be announced in October. Students will work on the inventions during the 2004-05 school year.

TREES EXPLAINED  A Web site designed for children in grades 3 through 5 who have little or no opportunity to visit the woods has been unveiled by University of Illinois Extension. “A Walk in the Woods” can be found on its Urban Programs Resources network site, www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/woods/index.html. The site, which is part of the Schools On-Line section, is divided into several parts, including a virtual walk in the woods that features narration. Students also can click on various icons and learn about the animals and plants they might see. Another part contains tips on getting ready for a walk in the woods, including precautions and trail etiquette. A teachers’ guide is included on the site to enhance classroom use.

EARTH DAY HELP  April 22 is Earth Day, and the National Environmental Education and Training Foundation has launched a new free Web site that can help teachers mark the even in their classrooms. ClassroomEarth, www.classroomearth.org features descriptive information on how educators can obtain the best and most usable environmental education programs available today. It is the foundation’s effort to assemble a “best of the best” collection of environmental education programs and resources for K-12 teachers, parents and students. Included are program descriptions, reviews and useful information on how to obtain materials and training.

BARD TOUR 2004  The National Endowment for the Arts is launching what is billed as the largest tour of Shakespeare in American history. “Shakespeare in American Communities” will bring professional productions and related educational activities to 100 small and mid-sized communities in all 50 states. The outreach effort, which is co-sponsored by the Sallie Mae Fund and Arts Midwest, also offers several resources for educators, including a teacher’s guide, timeline and tips on organizing recitation contests. For more information, including a schedule of performances, visit www.shakespeareinamericancommunities.org.

LIBRARY CELEBRATION  One event worth celebrating in times of widespread budget cuts is American School Library Media Month. This event, which is timed to coincide with the April 18-24 National Library Week, offers communities an opportunity to recognize the indispensable contribution that school libraries and media centers make to the education mission of their buildings. Additional information, including a suggested proclamation for local school boards, is featured in the “Events and Conferences” section of the American Library Association Web site, www.ala.org.

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