Poetry and Essay Contest for Kids Grades K – 12

The purpose of our poetry and essay contest is to bring recognition to student writers. Winners share thousands in cash and prizes. In addition to the winning entries, other entries of high merit are accepted to be published in our hard-bound anthology.

With the publication being regionally based, students are competing against their peers in both age and location. Within the guidelines of accepting less than 50% of the poems and essays that are entered in each contest, the contest is selective so that it is an honor to be accepted, yet not so exclusive that it is discouraging to enter. Unlike many other organizations who sponsor writing contests, there is no entry fee and no required purchase in order to become published. We take pride in the fact that our staff is comprised of teachers, professors and writers.

Who can enter?
Students in grades K-12 in the United States and Canada

Why should a student enter?
Thousands in cash and prizes awarded to students and teachers in each contest.

Student awards
Top Ten winners in each grade division (K-3; 4-6; 7-9; 10-12 for poetry, 3-6; 7-9; 10-12 for essay) will receive a $50 savings bond, special recognition in the book, and a free copy of the anthology that is created from the contest.

Teacher awards
Teachers with 5 or more students who returned proofsheets for publication will receive a free copy of the anthology that includes their student writers.

We have three poetry contests a year with the following deadlines.

Spring contest: entries must be postmarked by April 05, 2011.
Summer contest: entries must be postmarked by August 16, 2011.
Fall contest: entries must be postmarked by Dec 6, 2011.
Poetry rules: 
1. Poems must be the original work of the student
2.  Poems can be on any appropriate topic (no pro-violence, drugs, etc)
3.  Poems must be in English
4.  Poems must not be over 21 lines of text

We have three essay contests a year with the following deadlines.

Spring contest: entries must be postmarked by.Feb 15, 2011
Summer contest: entries must be postmarked by.July 19, 2011
Fall contest: entries must be postmarked by.Oct 18, 2011

Essay Rules:
1.  Essays must be the original work of the student
2.  Essays can be on any appropriate topic (no pro-violence, drugs, etc)
3.  Essays must be in English
4.  Essays must not be over 250 words or 300 total words not counting articles such as “a, an, the, etc”.

Visit this site for entry forms:

http://www.poeticpower.com/contest.php

Walnut Creek Students’ Poetry Contest and Workshops

Student Poetry Contest

“If I Could, I Would…”

Train my pets to be superheroes

Save the ocean

Turn my high school into a musical

The Walnut Creek Library Foundation celebrates poetry with our third annual student poetry contest, encouraging young writers to stretch their imaginations and dream big. The contest is open to students at Walnut Creek schools.

The deadline for submissions is March 11, 2011.

• The contest is free and all participants will receive a poetry contestant certificate.
• All entries must be submitted with a contest entry form. Download the brochure and entry form on their website. First, second, third place and honorable mention prizes will be awarded in four categories: K-3, 4-5, 6-8 and 9-12.
• Finalists will be judged by students in the St. Mary’s Master of Fine Arts Program.
• First, second, and third place winners will have the opportunity to read their poems at the Poetry Celebration on April 16 at the library.

New in 2011 – Poetry Workshops

Cheryl Dumesnil, poet and teacher, will offer free poetry workshops to students on Saturday, January 29 at the Walnut Creek Library. Registration opens on January 5, 2011. In order to ensure opportunity for students throughout Walnut Creek to attend, the number of participants per school may be limited.

Grades K-3 10:15 -11:00 AM        Grades 4-5 11:15-12:15 PM         

Grades 6-8 1:00-2:15 PM              Grades 9-12 2:30-3:45 PM

Workshops in the Oak View Room at the Walnut Creek Library, registration is REQUIRED. Please call 925.935.5395 to register.

Poetry Celebration and Reading!

On Saturday, April 16, there will be a reading, celebration and award ceremony at Walnut Creek Library in the Oak View Room at 11:00. We hope you join us to celebrate poetry and our world!

 www.WCLibrary.org    Download application here

2010 Poetry Contest for Kids! Grades K – 12

2010 writing contest

The 2010 Neuroscience for Kids POETRY WRITING CONTEST is OPEN and entry forms are now available.

Here are the rules of the contest:

• Only one entry per person. Please type or print your poems so we can read them.
• Use the official entry form (copies of the form are acceptable) to write a poem about the nervous system in the style for your age group (see below).

Entry Form (PDF File) OR Entry Form (WORD File)

• Please type or print your poems so we can read them. All poems, limericks and haiku must have at least THREE lines and CANNOT be longer than TEN lines. Material that is shorter than three lines or longer than ten lines will not be read.
• All material must have a neuroscience theme such as brain anatomy (a part of the brain), brain function (memory, language, emotions, movement, the senses, etc.), drug abuse or brain health (helmets, brain disorders, etc.). Be creative! Use your brain!
• Entries will be divided into four age groups:

If you are in Kindergarten to Grade 2, your poem can be in any style; it doesn’t even have to rhyme.

If you are in Grade 3 to Grade 5, your poem must rhyme. You can rhyme the last words on lines one and two; the last words on lines three and four, etc. or you can choose your own pattern.

If you are in Grade 6 to Grade 8, your poem must be in the form of a haiku. A haiku has only THREE lines. Also, haiku MUST use the following pattern: 5 syllables in the first line; 7 syllables in the second line; 5 syllables in the third line.

Example Haiku:
Three pounds of jelly
wobbling around in my skull
and it can do math.

If you are in Grade 9 to Grade 12, your poem must be in the form of a limerick. A limerick has 5 lines; lines one, two and five rhyme with each other and have the same number of syllables; lines three and four rhyme with each other and have the same number of syllables.

Example Limerick
The brain is important, that’s true,
For all things a person will do,
From reading to writing,
To skiing to biting,
It makes up the person who’s you.

• To enter the contest, mail your completed entry form with your poem to:

Dr. Eric H. Chudler
Dept. of Bioengineering; UWEB E/O
BOX 355061
1705 NE Pacific Street
University of Washington
Seattle, WA 98195-5061

• Entries must be received by February 1, 2010 and cannot be returned.
• People and their families associated with the Neuroscience for Kids web site are not eligible to enter the contest. Kids from ALL countries are welcome to participate.
• The staff of Neuroscience for Kids and other individuals will judge poems on the basis of originality, scientific accuracy and overall style.
• At least one winner from each group will be selected. Winners will be announced by March 1 and will be notified by e-mail or regular mail. The winner agrees to allow Neuroscience for Kids to publish his/her name (first name and last initial only) and poem on the Neuroscience for Kids web site. Winner addresses and e-mail addresses will NOT be published.
• All materials received will become the property of Neuroscience for Kids and will not be returned. Neuroscience for Kids will not be responsible for entries that are damaged or lost in the mail.
• Winners will be awarded a book or other prize to be determined later. Prizes will be mailed to the address listed on the winner’s entry form.
• Void where prohibited by law. Questions about this contest should be directed to Dr. Chudler at: chudler@u.washington.edu

Contest prizes provided by:

NEURO4KIDS.COM | Capstone Press

Copyright © 1996-2009, Eric H. Chudler All Rights Reserved.

Entry form and other details below:

http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/contest10.html