Free stuff.

Each month we tell you about teacher contests, freebies, and grants, plus goodies just for you. Start at www.scholastic.com/instructor to access all the sites here!

Cool Contests

Save Those Nature Hike Snapshots

Students under 13 can enter their best nature photos in Ranger Rick magazine's photo contest.

DEADLINE: Rolling; next deadline October 31, 2006

HERE'S HOW: Click on "Photo Zone" then "Ranger Rick Photo Contest" at www.nwf.org/rangerrick.

Say Goodbye to Drab Walls

Enter Expo's "Win a Classroom Makeover" sweepstakes and spend the rest of the year in a dream classroom!

DEADLINE: December 31, 2006

HERE'S HOW: Go to www.expomarkers.com.

Help Kids Dream Big

Invite them to write essays about their "amazing" futures and submit their work to the Amazing Kids! eZine contest.

DEADLINE: September 15, 2006

HERE'S HOW: Go to www.amazing-kids.org/futurecontest06.html.

Bring a NASCAR Star to Your School

Sign up for Office Depot's "Great Tools for Your School Sweeps" and you could win $65,000 worth of new technology and supplies and a visit from NASCAR driver Carl Edwards.

DEADLINE: September 30, 2006

HERE'S HOW: Give your school's 5% Back to Schools ID number at any Office Depot checkout. For more information, go to www.school.com.

Quilt for Peace

Create a class quilt square for a chance to represent your school on an international peace quilt.

DEADLINE: September 30, 2006

HERE'S HOW: Go online to www.worldpeace.org/peacepalscontests.html and click on "International Peace Art Competition and Exhibition."

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Use "Green" Cleaning Products in the Classroom

Your school could win up to $5,000 in the New American Dream's "Green Schools Sweepstakes."

DEADLINE: September 21, 2006

HERE'S HOW: Go online to www.newdream.org.

Classroom Resources

Remember 9/11

For the fifth anniversary of September 11, 2001, BrainPOP will offer a movie about the tragic day and its significance.

HERE'S HOW: Go online to www.brainpop.com.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Find Craft Ideas

Check out Crayola's Web site for an arsenal of free lessons and activities.

HERE'S HOW: Visit http://crayola.com/educators.

Plan Your Science Lessons

TryScience offers tons of science experiments and activities for teachers and students!

HERE'S HOW: Go to www.tryscience.org.

Start Your Own Blog

Stay in touch with families for free.

HERE'S HOW: Go online to www.edublogs.org.

Connect With the Troops

Download free scrapbook templates and participate in the "World's Largest Scrapbook" in support of U.S. soldiers.

HERE'S HOW: Go online to www.connectwiththetroops.com.

Great Grants

Fund a Field Trip

Think big--Target's picking up the tab for the coolest field trips ever.

DEADLINE: November 1, 2006

HERE'S HOW: Go online to www.target.com/teachers.

Show Off Your Science Labs

The Vernier/NSTA Technology Awards recognize innovative uses of data-collection technology.

DEADLINE: October 15, 2006

HERE'S HOW: Go online to http://vernier.com/grants.

Imagine the Coolest Project Ever

Then find funding for it through the SHOPA Kids in Need Foundation.

DEADLINE: September 30, 2006.

HERE'S HOW: Go to www.shopa.org/shopa_foundation/teacher_programs.php.

Get Garden Supplies

Apply for a Healthy Sprouts Award to win a $200 gardening gift certificate.

DEADLINE: October 15, 2006

HERE'S HOW: Go online to www.kidsgardening.com/healthysprouts1.asp.

Buy Manipulatives and Microscopes

The Toshiba America foundation funds inquiry-based math and science projects.

DEADLINE: October 15, 2006

HERE'S HOW: Go to www.toshiba.com/taf.

Just For Our Readers

To enter one of our exclusive sweepstakes, send us a postcard with your name, address, telephone number, and e-mail by October 15 to Instructor September Sweepstakes, P.O. Box 713, New York, NY 10013. Please specify the letter code of the giveaway. Full rules at www.scholastic.com/instructor.

A) The Case Against Homework

Catch a sneak peek of this provocative new book on page 43--and then win it.

B) New Kids' Books

Win all the new books we recommended (and loved) on pages 25 and 26.

C) Fluency and Comprehension Reading Kit

This kit from Learning Resources will help you get the most from reading rods.

D) Books By You

A writing software program featuring actor/author John Lithgow as teacher.

E) Guide to Building Fluency

Win an invaluable resource just for your grade from publisher Evan-Moor.

PHOTOS: TOP, [c] WILL & DENI MCINTYRE/GETTY IMAGES; BOTTOM, [c] BRIAN SUMMERS/CANOPY PHOTOGRAPHY/VEER