Future Prize for Middle School
How might we empower students to solve some of the world’s biggest challenges?
Students increasingly need to be creative, curious, empathetic, and resilient in our rapidly changing world. Future Prize introduces middle school students (grades 6 to 8) to a methodology and a mindset using innovative problem-solving methods that foster critical thinking and compassion.
Co-hosted by CIS Ontario and the Future Design School, this opportunity package includes the Future Prize Challenge – a one-day inter-school event – a design thinking workshop where students and teachers work together in an action-packed day of creating technology-based solutions to pressing real-world problems, in addition to developing an exciting final “pitch” to a panel of expert judges.
Preparation for the Future Prize culminating event involves a professional development opportunity for educators to learn the ins and outs of design-thinking methodology. Then, each educator returns to school and forms a “mini-club” quartet with three students. After a month of researching an issue and conducting interviews with real potential users of an app-based solution, all mini-clubs congregate for the culminating Future Prize Challenge day.
Student teams (3 students and one teacher per team) will:
- Learn about challenges in their local community.
- Build empathy for people impacted by those challenges.
- Develop creative ideas to solve the problem.
- Create a prototype of their solution.
- Pitch their idea to a panel of judges.
- Foster their creativity, pursue their curiosity and feel empowered to reshape the world around them.
Teachers will:
- Receive hands-on professional development on how to apply design thinking tools and methods to enhance student learning - teachers learn by doing while participating on a team with students!
- Gain access to curriculum resources to support students through the process.
- Access curated content from around the world about education challenges
- Take students on a field trip that meets Ontario and MYP curriculum expectations.
- Develop skills in creating hands-on, project-based, personalized learning experiences.
Prior to registering your school team please make note of the dates, times and locations of the Future Prize Faculty Prep Days and Future Prize Challenge Day. This information is found below.
Professional Learning – Future Prize Faculty Prep Days 2025
The 2025 Future Prize Faculty Prep Days occur on:
- January 15, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., in-person, hosted by The Sterling Hall School, and
- online via Zoom on January 22, 2025, from 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Future Prize Challenge Day 2025
Join us for the Future Prize Challenge for Middle School on Friday, February 7, 2025 at Upper Canada College Preparatory School, Weston Hall.
Target Audience: Grades 6-8
Teams of 3 students + one teacher coach
Time: 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Registration Fees: $640 per team
Includes the professional learning for Future Prize team teachers AND one day of competition for a team of 3 students in grades 6-8 ONLY and 1 teacher. Lunch and refreshments at the in-person Professional Learning Day and the Challenge Day are also included.
Each school may submit up to two teams. If space allows, additional teams may be added. Teachers work alongside students as part of a team, so one teacher coach per team is REQUIRED.
Registration sold out very quickly in previous years so don't delay!
Learn about the Future Prize Challenge Day, watch the video below:
Future Design School – The Future of Education Report
What does the Future of Education hold? The Future of Education Report from Future Design School uncovers the defining opportunities shaping K-12 education.
Access your free digital copy here.
