[InvenTeams] was a chance for me to relate my engineering experience from the classroom to a real-life situation, figuring out along the way that you need to modify things, because everything doesn't work out the way you want it to.
Joe Darby, Saginaw Career Complex InvenTeam student (2005)
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Grant Details
Grant size: Up to $10,000 each
Grant period: October through June (corresponding with the academic year)
Grants available: Up to 15
Who can apply: High school science, mathematics and technology teachers—or
teams of teachers—at public, private and vocational schools; intra- and inter-school
collaborations are welcome to apply. Team diversity and inclusiveness with school activities and classes is encouraged. For example, a team could include members who are also involved with other activities such as Future Business Leaders of America or an intra-vocational program.
Team size: Teams range in size from a small extracurricular club of five members
to entire classes of 30 or more students; there are no team size requirements.
Use of funds: Grant funding is intended for research, materials, and learning
experiences related to developing the team's invention; it may not be expended on capital equipment or professional services.
Stipends: In recognition of their dedication, teachers who facilitate extracurricular
invention projects can designate up to $2,000 of their grant towards a teacher's stipend.
Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are available.
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Initital applications for the 2009 InvenTeams are closed. Applications for 2010 InvenTeams will be available in October 2008.
Applying for an InvenTeams grant is a two-step process. The initial application is
available online each fall and due in the spring (for grants awarded the following
academic year). Up to 35 Excite Award recipients are selected from these
applications, notified in the spring, and asked to complete a final application
due in the following September. Read more about application guidelines.
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Bayfield High School InvenTeam (2006)
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Given this timeline, teachers often begin the application process without knowing
who will participate in InvenTeams. While student input is not required for the
initial application, it is certainly encouraged, and it is required for the
final application. Teachers can hold after school meetings to recruit interested
students and get their input on the initial application. Download one of the
following posters to customize meeting information and post around your school
to attract students:
Poster 1
Poster 2
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Thomas Jefferson High School
for Science and Technology InvenTeam (2006)
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InvenTeams projects have spanned many fields from assistive devices to environmental
technologies and consumer goods. Applicants are encouraged to consider the problems
or needs of the world's poorest people (those earning $2/day) when brainstorming
project ideas. Many applicants have combined their InvenTeams grants with other
educational opportunities, such as Project Lead the Way, and have applied skills
obtained from programs such as FIRST Robotics.
Read about former InvenTeams and their invention projects.
2009 InvenTeams Calendar
- Excite Award recipients notified: May 9, 2008
- 2009 final application deadline: September 12, 2008
- 2009 InvenTeams announced: early October, 2008
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Ardsley High School InvenTeam (2007)
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