The Florida Semiconductor Institute (FSI) invites K–12 educators across Florida to participate in the 2027 Chip in Florida: K–12 Semiconductor Education Challenge – a statewide initiative designed to introduce students to semiconductor technology while inspiring curiosity, creativity, innovation, and career exploration.
Through flexible, classroom-ready resources and authentic learning experiences, students explore how semiconductors power today’s technology and develop age-appropriate solutions to real-world challenges.
Chip in Florida is designed for educators across all grade levels, subject areas, and learning environments. Whether you’re teaching science, art, language arts, social studies, career and technical education, or another subject, the challenge provides a way to integrate semiconductor concepts while helping students develop critical thinking, creativity, communication, and problem-solving skills through real-world learning.
Key Dates:
- Challenge Opens: September 1, 2026
- UF Nanoscale Research Facility Virtual Tour: October 30, 2026
- Enter event from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Join on Zoom
- Teachers sign up here
- Submission Deadline: February 13, 2027
- UF Nanoscale Research Facility Virtual Tour (Enrichment Session): February 25, 2027
- High School Finalists Announced: Early March 2027
- Florida Semiconductor Student Innovation Showcase: March 30 – April 1, 2027, at the Florida Semiconductor Summit
- Statewide Recognition: May 2027 (Elementary & Middle School winners)
Why Participate?
Chip in Florida provides flexible, ready-to-use resources that integrate easily into existing instruction across grade levels and subject areas. Designed for educators in a variety of learning environments, the challenge helps students explore semiconductor concepts through engaging, real-world learning experiences. No prior semiconductor knowledge is required.
Impact Since Launch (2025–2026)
Since its launch, the Chip in Florida Challenge has continued to expand across the state, inspiring students through semiconductor education, innovation, and career exploration.
15,000+
students engaged
200+
educators participated
100+
schools represented
36
Florida school districts reached
9
homeschool organizations participated
+ Growing network of industry and education partners
Discover. Design. Transform.
Chip in Florida provides a developmental learning pathway that grows with students throughout their educational journey. Each grade band completes an age-appropriate challenge that encourages creativity, innovation, career exploration, and real-world problem solving.
Discover Track
Elementary School (Grades K–5)
Guiding Question: How can semiconductor technology help people in everyday life?
- Identify a simple everyday problem and imagine a semiconductor-powered solution that helps people at home, school, or in the community
- Explain how the invention helps others
- Introduce one semiconductor career that could help make the idea a reality
Formats may include drawings, posters, simple models, LEGO creations, or short videos (30–60 seconds).
Design Track
Middle School (Grades 6–8)
Guiding Question: How can semiconductor technology solve a real-world problem?
- Identify a real-world problem and explain how semiconductor technology helps solve it
- Design an innovative solution connected to one or more semiconductor careers
- Present the idea through a poster, slideshow, infographic, prototype (optional), or short video (1–3 minutes)
Students should explain how their solution works, why it matters, and which semiconductor careers would help bring it to life.
Transform Track
High School (Grades 9–12)
Guiding Question: How can semiconductor technology improve lives, strengthen communities, or shape the future?
- Develop an innovative semiconductor-based solution to a real-world problem using the Engineering Design Process
- Submit either an Innovation Proposal (Concept) or a Prototype (Working Model)
The Top Three High School Finalists will be invited to present their innovations at the Florida Semiconductor Student Innovation Showcase. See the High School Innovation Challenge Guide for complete requirements, submission guidelines, and judging criteria.
How It Works:
1
Register Your Classroom
Educators register to participate by completing the online registration form.
2
Access Lesson Plans
After registering, teachers will receive an email with access to the Challenge Toolkit.
3
Teach a Semiconductor Lesson
Teachers review the lesson list, select one or more lessons appropriate for their students, and implement the lesson(s) in their classroom.
4
Complete the Challenge
After lesson implementation, teachers complete the required challenge submission for their grade level.
5
Submit & Share
Educators submit student work on Instagram by using hastag #fsi or by emailing us at roseanne.perez@ufl.edu, following the published submission guidelines.
6
Celebrate
Outstanding classrooms, educators, and students will receive statewide recognition.
Recognition & Awards
Outstanding student submissions will receive statewide recognition for their creativity, innovation, and application of semiconductor concepts.
FSI Elementary Trailblazer Award
Recognizes an outstanding elementary school submission that demonstrates creativity, curiosity, and meaningful exploration of semiconductor concepts.
FSI Middle School Trailblazer Award
Recognizes an outstanding middle school submission that demonstrates innovation, problem solving, and application of semiconductor concepts to real-world challenges.
FSI Homeschool Trailblazer Award
Recognizes an outstanding homeschool submission that demonstrates creativity, innovation, and excellence in semiconductor education.
Florida Semiconductor Student Innovation Showcase
The Top Three High School teams will present their innovations at the Florida Semiconductor Summit. One team will be recognized as the 2027 Florida Semiconductor Student Innovation Showcase Champion.
Educator Recognition
Teachers of winning entries will receive a Certificate of Excellence in Semiconductor Education, recognizing their leadership and commitment to inspiring Florida’s future workforce.
Industry Partners
The Chip in Florida Challenge is made possible through the generous support of our industry, education, and workforce partners who are helping inspire Florida’s next generation of semiconductor innovators through classroom experiences, educator engagement, hands-on learning, and career awareness.
Ozobot
STEMfinity
LEGO Education
Kai’s Education
Roots Education
Interested in becoming a partner? Contact us to learn how your organization can support semiconductor education across Florida.
Register Today
Join educators across Florida in inspiring the next generation of semiconductor innovators.
Register your classroom today and help students discover, design, and transform the future through semiconductor education.
Thank you for your interest in the Chip In Florida Education Challenge. Please ensure that all information is entered correctly to receive the confirmation email.
FAQs
No. Chip in Florida is designed for educators of all experience levels.
The Chip in Florida Challenge is open to any Florida public, private, charter, homeschool, and after-school programs. Participation is free.
No. Teachers choose the resources that best fit their classroom and instructional goals.
After completing registration, educators will receive access to the Challenge Toolkit via email.
Yes. Teachers may determine the approach that best fits their classroom.
Yes. We encourage educators to explore previous Chip in Florida Challenges to view winning student submissions, classroom ideas, and implementation examples: 2026 Chip in Florida Challenge and 2025 Chip in Florida Challenge.
For any questions regarding the Chip In Florida Challenge, please contact: Dr. Roseanne Perez, workforce development program specialist at roseanne.perez@ufl.edu