Despription: The Lexus Eco Challenge is a nationwide environmental education program and contest that empowers teens to create a better world. Through the program, students can participate in initial environmental challenges.

Eligibility: Middle and High School students.

Funding: Finalists from this challenge will receive $10,000 and be eligible to participate in the final challenge, in which they can receive up to $30,000.

Deadline: Visit website for grant deadlines as dates vary.

More Info/Contact: Visit: http://www.scholastic.com/lexus

Despription: Kids In Need Teacher Grants provide K-12 educators with funding to provide innovative learning opportunities for their students. The Kids In Need Foundation helps to engage students in the learning process by supporting our most creative and important educational resource - our nation's teachers. The Teacher Grants are funded by the retail and education credit union sponsors.

Eligibility: All K-12 educators in the U.S.

Funding: Teacher Grant awards range from $100 to $500 each and are used to finance creative classroom projects. The number of grants awarded varies from year to year, depending on the amount of the funds being requested. Typically, 200-300 grants are awarded each year.

Deadline: September 30, 2009

More Info/Contact: Visit: http://www.kidsinneed.net/grants/index.php

Despription: The ING Unsung Heroes Awards Program, along with Scholarship America, rewards individuals on the basis of their innovative teaching methods, creative educational projects, and ability to make a positive influence on the children they teach. The awards are given to K-12 educators pioneering new methods and techniques that improve student learning.

Eligibility: All K-12 education professionals who are employed by an accredited K-12 public or private school and are full-time educators, teachers, principals, paraprofessionals, or classified staff who improve student learning are eligible to apply.

Funding: One hundred educators will receive $2,000 each. Of the 100 finalists, three will be selected for additional financial awards. First place will receive $25,000; second place will receive $10,000; and the third place winner will receive $5,000. At least one award will be given in each of the 50 states, provided one or more qualified applications are received from each state

Deadline: April 30, 2009

More Info/Contact: Visit: http://www.ing-usa.com/us/aboutING/CorporateCitizenship/Education/INGUnsungHeroes/index.htm

Description: Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation, International Paper and National Geographic Explorer! Magazine have teamed up to create an outdoor classroom grant program. The program focus is to engage students in hands-on natural science experiences and allow enrichment opportunities across the core curriculum.This school year, the program will award grants up to $2,000 to at least 100 schools. In some cases, grants for up to $20,000 can be awarded to schools or school districts with major outdoor classroom projects.

Eligibility: All K-12 public schools in the United States are welcome to apply.

Funding: Up to $2,000/$20,000 major

Deadline: N/A

More Info/Contact: http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=pg&p=AboutLowes/outdoor/index.html

Description: EInstruction makes real-time, interactive, wireless response pads for classrooms called Classroom Performance Systems (CPS). They are making their technology available through gratns to schools and they are having a huge impact in classrooms around the world.

Eligibility: Educators, whether already a CPS user or just learning about it.

Funding: 36 CPS sets, 9 per quarter to 3 elementary, middle and high schools. The award will consist of 32 CPS Chalkboard and content containing thousands of CPS questions from Prentice Hall and Scott Foresman to supplement the winner's teaching subject.

Deadline: Open.

More Info/Contact:Visit EInstruction's Engaging Kids to Learn.

Description: The Captain Planet Foundation awards grants to support innovative, hands-on environmental education projects for children and youths that will help them build problem-solving skills and environmental awareness.

Support goes to innovative programs that empower children and youths around the world to work individually and collectively to solve environmental problems in their neighborhoods and communities. Projects must: promote understanding of environmental issues; involve young people, aged 6 to 18, and help them develop planning and problem-solving skills, take a hands-on approach; promote group interaction and cooperation; include adult supervision; and commit to follow up with the foundation.

Deadline: Dec. 31, March 31, June 30 and Sept. 30.

Funding: Grants are currently limited to $500 or less.

Eligibility: Tax-exempt organizations, including most schools and nonprofit organizations, are eligible.

More Info/Contact: Captain Planet Foundation, One CNN Center, Suite 1090, Atlanta, GA 30303, 404-827-41330; e-mail, captain.planet.foundation@turner.com; or visit Captain Planet Foundation.

Description: Toyota Motor Sales USA, in conjunction with the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), is inviting applications for environmental education and physical science projects.

Many states have a local Toyota TAPESTRY state contact, see a list under "Ambassadors" at the web site or submit a question to an ambassador under "Ask The Expert" link. There are three categories of grants: Environmental Science Education, Physical Science Applications, and Literacy and Science Education.

Eligibility: Elementary, middle, and high school teachers who teach some science in the classroom.

Funding: 50 one-year grants of up to $10,000 each and 20 mini-grants of $2,500 each.

Deadline: This is an annual grant. Please check the web site for specific deadline information.

More Info/Contact: Toyota TAPESTRY Grants for Teachers, 1840 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22201-3000; phone, 800-807-9852; e-mail, tapestry@nsta.org; Web Site Toyota Tapestry Grants for Teachers.