SEATTLE (AP) — A Washington nonprofit organization is announcing $1.2 million in new grants to encourage better science, technology, engineering and math teaching.

The grants announced Wednesday by Washington STEM will help teachers in classrooms around the state. They range from money to help preschool kids learn about science and math at home, to bigger efforts to improve science and math teaching in the Tacoma, Renton, Highline and several smaller school districts.

Among the smaller projects getting money from Washington STEM are a hands-on renewable energy lab in the Brewster School District, and a plan to combine robotics with biotech learning in Ellensburg.

In Sunnyside, a teacher will be using iPads to help her first graders get comfortable with technology. Middle school students on Vashon Island will be solving real world math problems from the construction of their new high school.