Category Archives: Other Events & Contests

Spooky Sagas-Creative Writing Contest

Spooky Sagas 2023 | Creative Writing Contest

Due date Nov 1, 2023
There is nothing better than reading a thrilling story, one that grips you so tightly and puts your senses on alert simply through the power of words. Spooky Sagas is a fantastic way to practice writing in this way by using tension, suspense, and atmosphere.
Write a mini saga (a story told in up to 100 words) can be funny or creepy, scary or odd, but must be your own work.
Read the student info page for more ideas.

The contest closes on Nov 1. If you would like help with your submission, make sure to get your story to the EY teacher in your building before this date.
Student Planning Sheet 
https://youngwritersusa.com/contest/elementary/spooky23

Essay Contest: Celebrate “Stars and Stripes Forever”

Attention 5th-8th Graders

On May 14, 1897, John Philip Sousa played his new march,

“The Stars and Stripes Forever.”

This song would become the national march of the United States on December 11, 1987.

Essay Contest:  Imagine it is 1897 and you are a newspaper reporter for The Philadelphia Times. Your newspaper editor has asked you to write an article about the new song performed that day. Your article needs to tell about Sousa’s life and the story behind the song. It is the first performance of the song, so make sure your article includes thoughts about the music and how the audience reacts to what was seen and heard that day.

Title of Essay: The Stars and Stripes Forever

Subtitle (optional)

Length:  Grade 5: 300-600 words and Grades 6-8: 600-1000 words

Entry Deadline: December 15, 2023

Type your essay in Google Docs and share it with your EY Coordinator so they can help you with formatting/submission of your essay.

Writing Contest-Due Feb. 24, 2023

This writing contests is simple!  Pick an integer and write a 100 word mini-saga.  That’s it!

INTEGER:

[in-tuh-juh] noun

a number which is not a fraction; a whole number

Could you finish one of these story starters?
  • I rolled a 6…
  • I am number 13…
  • It was 2099…
  • Room 237 was empty…
  • I was down to my last $5…
  • Only 30 seconds left…
  • I was public enemy number 1…
Use one of the story starters above or think of your own!  Hurry!  Entries are Due Feb. 24.  For help in submitting your writing, contact the EY Coordinator at your building.

Click For More Information: https://youngwritersusa.com/contest/middle-high/integer#download-links

 

 

 

Social Studies Spark #51: Ancient Adventures Creative Writing Contest!

Which era or person will get your creativity flowing? Watch the video above and get  inspired to write with history!
Take the excitement of history and mix it with your imagination to create ancient adventures!
You can pick any person, place or event from history to inspire your mini-saga, a story told in just 100 words that must have a beginning, a middle & an ending. It MUST be original! You can be inspired by other stories, but your mini-saga must be written in your own words. HERE are some examples of other students’ mini-sagas! Go check them out!
From discovering a pharaoh’s tomb, or a soldier in the trenches, to being a president or an explorer it’s a great way to tie in creative writing with history to have a bit of fun, and to create an original short story.
Write your mini-saga on GOOGLE DOCS and then share it with your school’s EY teacher. Share your doc by MONDAY, FEBRUARY 20TH!!
Use THIS LINK to download a graphic organizer to help you get started!
Click HERE and HERE for more information!
We can’t wait to read your stories! Good luck!

Crazy Creatures Writing Contest!

Watch the video above & get excited to participate in the Crazy Creatures Writing Contest! All students in grades K – 6 can participate!
To enter this contest, you must write a MINI-SAGA featuring a crazy creature! What is a mini-saga? A mini-saga is a story told in UP TO 100 words that must have a beginning, a middle & an ending. It MUST be original! You can be inspired by other stories, but your mini-saga must be written in your own words.
Write your mini-saga on GOOGLE DOCS and then share it with your school’s EY teacher. Share your doc by MONDAY, DECEMBER 19TH!!
Use THIS LINK to download a graphic organizer to help you get started!
Here’s a WORD BANK that might help you, too!
Click HERE for more information!  GOOD LUCK!

The Scholastic (Try Your) Hardest Math Problem Contest!! Grades 5 – 8!

The 2022 Contest is now OPEN!

ABOUT THE CONTEST

The Hardest Math Problem Student Contest is an annual competition presented by Scholastic, The Actuarial Foundation, and the New York Life Foundation that challenges grades 6–8 students to solve multistep, grade-appropriate math problems with real-world situations and engaging characters. Plus, 5th graders are eligible to participate by reaching to a higher grade level! This year’s theme is food access.

Enter Challenge 1! – Click HERE to download the entry packet!

Challenge #1 is due on or before December 5th!

Puzzle It Out!

Writing a Math Argument

Practice, practice, practice explaining clear math reasoning so you can show other people how you found your solution!

Why is this important? Many people use math in
their jobs. For example, an actuary uses complicated
math to help businesses make decisions, so they
have to be able to clearly explain their calculations
to people who aren’t math experts.

Click HERE to practice your math arguments!

Click HERE & scroll all the way to the bottom to view past questions & answer keys!

**Turn your completed entry form into your EY teacher at your school on or before December 5th!** 

 

 

Peculiar Pets 2022 | Poetry Contest for Elementary

Peculiar Pets poetry writing contest is now open to 

elementary school students ages 6-12 years old.

What would your perfect peculiar pet be? An acrobatic bunny? A tech-savvy puppy? A vegan crocodile? A bird that’s scared to fly? A giraffe that likes to race? A superhero cat?

You can create an animal mash-up, be inspired by your perfect pet, or make your own awesome animal to write a poem about.

Visit the website for more information!

Download the Entry Form HERE!

Deadline:  Friday, October 28, 2022.

United States Academic Pentathlon: Grades 6-8

What:

Academic Pentathlon tests students in five different subject areas.  Students can choose to compete in 1, 2, 3, 4 or all 5 subject areas. All tests are online.

Where and When:

The 2022 Regional Competition (for Westside Community School students in grades 6-8) will be on Thursday, Feb. 17 at Westside Middle School.

Why?

Academic Pentathlon isn’t about demonstrating how good a student you already are. It’s about daring to push your limits.

If you are interested in participating in the Academic Pentathlon, please email Dr. Spady by Friday, Jan. 21.  She will provide you with additional details.

The 2021-22 United States Academic Pentathlon theme is:
Water: A Most Essential Resource.

Below is a brief summary of the topics covered.

SCIENCE: The science topic will be an introduction to marine biology.

LITERATURE: The literature curriculum will include critical reading, one long work of literature, and selected shorter works. The long work of literature will be the novel A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park ISBN 978-0-547-57731-9.

FINE ARTS: The fine arts curriculum is a combination of art and music. The guide will focus on the impact of water on art and will explore the many ways water has influenced music.

SOCIAL SCIENCE: The social science curriculum will be the impact of water on human history.

MATHEMATICS: The mathematics curriculum will cover an overview of probability, permutations and combinations, statistics and algebra.

For more information, visit:  https://www.usad.org/Pentathlon.aspx