Conduct online research to find award opportunities for sixth-grade students. The National Education Association's website posts timely and relevant award announcements. Browse the site often, and determine if any opportunities correlate with your teaching objectives and students' interests. In addition to awards for classrooms and individuals, grant opportunities are also announced on the NEA website. Peruse the National Middle School Association's website for award opportunities, and visit your state's department of education's website.
Look for award opportunities or middle-school competitions in your local newspaper or media outlets. Local businesses or organizations will post announcements appropriate for sixth-grade students in the paper, or these award opportunities might be broadcasts on TV or radio. Although these announcements might not be in-depth news stories, they might consist of brief nuggets of information. Many businesses utilize the media to more effectively get the word out to a large number of people and youth.
Create a classroom competition or incentive plan, and find appropriate awards for the students. For example, if you want your sixth-grade students' behavior to improve, then create a behavior modification plan. For example, you could have students vote for who they think was the most behaved classmate for the week. Each week, you could give the winner an award, such as a gift certificate or bonus points. If your budget is tight, ask local stores to donate items or gift cards.