Discovery and 3M are hosting their Young Scientist Challenge again this year. This contest is open to U.S. students in grades five through eight. The challenge for students is to create a short video in which they identify an everyday problem relative to their lives and present their solutions using using concepts from science, technology, engineering, and math. The grand prize for this contest is $25,000 and many smaller prizes including trips to Costa Rica are also to be awarded. Contest FAQs are available here. The entry deadline is April 22.

Applications for Education
Even if your students aren’t going to enter this contest, you might want to take a look at the supporting lesson plans. The lesson plans are intended to get students thinking about the role of science in their daily lives.