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INTRODUCING PUBLIC HEALTH LABORATORY SCIENCE IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL CLASSROOM

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The purpose of this contest is to encourage teachers and educators to use the material provided on our Educators pages   in their classroom to inform and educate middle school students about the role and importance of public health laboratories and public health science.  The creators of That's Sick  are interested in learning what materials you use, how you use them in the classroom and what impact the lesson had on your students and/or your curriculum.

CONTEST RULES

  1. The contest is open to teachers and educators of middle school-age students (grades 6 – 8).
  2. Go to the That's Sick Educators page  to find easy-to-use educational materials to introduce the concepts of public health laboratory science and the role of US local, state, and federal public health laboratories to middle school students.
  3. Use one or more of the materials for a lesson, discussion, project, or assignment in your classroom.  
  4. Write a short (300 words maximum) statement or make a short (3 minutes maximum) video describing what materials you used, how you used the material and the reaction/feedback from your students.
  5. Written entries and video (audio) must be in English.  Authors and speakers must be identified on the entry form.
  6. Entries must be the original work of the person or persons submitting them.
  7. Entries must be submitted by midnight EST on November 10, 2016.  Winners will be notified by December 16, 2016 via email.
  8. A grand prize and a runner-up prize will be awarded (one each for narrative and video entries.  The grand prizes are valued at approximately $200 and include a $50 gift card to be used by the teacher for classroom supplies or a class celebration, 3 science experiments kits appropriate for classroom use (Glogerm, gram stain, and nutrient agar), and 3 educational DVDs on public health science-related topics.  The runner-up prizes are valued at approximately $80 and include a Glogerm kit and 2 educational DVDs on public health science-related topics.
  9. By submitting an entry, you affirm you are the sole creator of the entry, that it is original, and that it does not infringe upon any rights of others. You also grant the Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) the right to use your entry in any manner APHL deems appropriate. If your entry is chosen as a finalist or winner you agree that APHL may publish your name(s), school, and photograph in connection with the contest. Submission of an entry indicates acceptance of all contest rules.


For answers to frequently asked questions – and some helpful hints — see the contest FAQs below.

    ENTRY FORM
    If home school, please indicate and enter educator name and address.
    By submitting an entry to this contest, you affirm you are the sole creator of the entry, that it is original, and that it does not infringe upon any rights of others. You also grant the Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) the right to use your entry in any manner APHL deems appropriate. If your entry is chosen as a finalist or winner you agree that APHL may publish your name(s), school, and photograph in connection with the contest. Submission of an entry indicates acceptance of all contest rules.

FAQS FOR CONTEST ENTRIES

Who is eligible to enter the contest?
  • The contest is open to middle school teachers and educators.  We define middle school as grades 6, 7 and 8.  Entries must be submitted by teachers or educators (not students).  The students may be part of a single class or a school-based science club.  
Do I have to be a science teacher to enter?
  • No.  Any teacher or educator of middle school students can enter the contest.  Home school teachers are eligible.
Do my students have to be part of a life science class to enter?
  • No.  Any teacher/educator who uses the materials on the website may enter.
Do my students all have to be in the same class?
  • No. For example, a teacher or educator leading a school-based science club is eligible to enter.
Are home school teachers and educators eligible?
  • Yes.
What information should be included in the entry?
  • Please include how you found the www.thatssick.org website, what material(s) you selected for your class lesson/project, how you presented the material, and the impact the lesson or project had on your students and/or your curriculum.  You may also mention what other material on the site you may use in the future.
Are teachers/educators outside of the United States eligible to enter?  
  • No.  This contest is open only to teachers and educators in the 50 US states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands.  
Who are the contest judges and how will entries be judged?  
  • Entries will be reviewed and ranked by members of APHL’s Emerging Leader Program (ELP); members represent US local, state, and federal public health laboratories.  Successful entries demonstrate a successful discussion or lesson plan, inspired student involvement, and/or novel use of the materials. Winning entries will be at the sole discretion of the ELP member judges.
What is the minimum/maximum number of student participants for each entry?
  • There is no minimum or maximum number for students per entry.
Can a team of students or teachers submit an entry? 
  • No. Only teachers/educators can submit.
Can a teacher/educator enter more than once?
  • Yes, but each entry must be for use of different materials from the thatssick.org website.
Will I receive confirmation of receipt of my entry?
  • Yes.
Will you tell me what rating my entry received from the judges?
  • No, we don’t have the resources to give individual feedback. 
What are the prizes?
  • Two grand prizes (one each for narrative and video entries) are valued at approximately $200 and include a $50 gift card to be used by the teacher for classroom supplies or a class celebration, 3 science experiments kits appropriate for classroom use (Glogerm, gram stain, and nutrient agar), and 3 educational DVDs on public health science-related topics.  Two runner-up prizes (one each for narrative and video entries) are valued at approximately $80 and include a Glogerm kit and 2 educational DVDs on public health science-related topics.
How and when will the prize be awarded?
  • Entries must be submitted by midnight EST on November 10, 2016.  Winners will be notified by December 16, 2016 via email. Prizes will be mailed to the teacher/educator at the address provided on the original contest entry.
Are there separate awards for written entries and video entries?
  • Yes, separate awards but same.
Who do I contact if I still have questions?