Category Archives: Other Events & Contests

Nebraska SciFest Essay Contest-Check back after Jan 1

Learning Opportunities, Other Events & Contests, Teachers

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Nebraska SciFest is sponsoring a writing contest.  Students in grades 4-12 can choose from a writing prompt an can enter a paper to be judged.

This writing prompts will be posted with this contest opens in after the first of the year, 2019 @  https://www.nescifest.com/participate/essay/

Essays must be postmarked by March 1.   For more details on the essay requirements, check out https://www.nescifest.com/participate/essay/ after the first of the year.

Good lucK!

Pictures taken from http://www.pdclipart.org

The Marshmallow Challenge

Other Events & Contests, Teachers

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What can you build with 20 full pieces of spaghetti, one standard-sized marshmallow, a yard of masking tape and a yard of string?  The Omaha Public Power District challenges you to challenge your inner engineer and build the tallest structure you can!

Teams of three to four students currently in 5th grade are invited to participate.  Read more about the contest rules here.  OPPD is accepting electronic entries until 5 p.m., February 19.

Breaking Barriers Essay Contest

Learning Opportunities, Other Events & Contests, Teachers

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The Breaking Barriers Essay Contest is a chance for diverse students in grades 4-8 to share their personal stories and how they use Jackie Robinson’s values to face their own barriers.

Details:  Write an essay about a barrier that you have faced. Explain how you faced this barrier by using one or more of Jackie Robinson’s Nine Values:

  1. Citizenship
  2. Commitment
  3. Courage
  4. Determination
  5. Excellence
  6. Integrity
  7. Justice
  8. Persistence
  9. Teamwork

Each essay should be at least 200 words long and not exceed 700 words
in length.  There is a limit of one entry per student. All essays must be factual and based on the student’s real-life experience.  Fictional stories will be disqualified.

Contest Deadline:  March 13, 2015

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You can read more about the essay requirements, official rules, and judging criteria by going to the website.

2015 Block Kids

Other Events & Contests, Parents

BlockKids

The Block Kids program was created in 1990 to introduce children in grades 1-6 to the construction industry.  During the event, kids are given a maximum of one hour to use their blocks and selected items to build a project that is in some way related to the construction industry.  This is a free event!

When:  The 2015 event will be held on Saturday, February 7th at 10:00 am

Where:  Metro Community College South Campus (29th and Q Street)  Industrial Technology Center, Room 120

Click Here for the Brochure

Click Here for the Registration Form

Click Here for Frequently Asked Questions

Thomas Edison Invention Challenge

Learning Opportunities, Other Events & Contests

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6th-12 graders…Are you interested in a team-based, integrated/interdisciplinary, head and hands approach to learning?  Well the Thomas Edison Invention Challenge is for you!

Basic Rules:  

  • Get a team of 4 students
  • Register your team
  • Submit an essay or video answering the question: Who was Thomas Edison?
  • Receive a alternative energy kit and create a prototype
  • Document all your work
  • Present your work

The team registration is due by Dec. 8!  Click on the link below!

Deadline #1 – December 8, 2014 – http://edisoninventionchallenge.org/main/about/registration/

Deadline #2 – December 20, 2014 – Teams must electronically submit an essay, not to exceed 750 words OR a student created video. The essay/video topic will be “Who was Thomas Edison?”  NOTE:  3 minute Video submissions are preferred.

Deadline #3 – January 30, 2015 – Teams must submit electronic images of their design logs.  Powerpoint would be the preferred method to showcase your Notebook.

Mid February –  Teams receive an alternative energy kit

Deadline #4 – March 20, 2015 – Teams are to submit a PowerPoint presentation showing the build process.  See submission criteria included in this manual.

 Deadline #5 – April 10, 2015 – 50-60% marketing of your invention and its added value to society and 40-50% demo of a working model or explaining how you imagine it to work.

 Westside Community Schools does not sponsor or endorse the organization or activity described here.  The sharing of this information is provided as a community service.

Engineering Learning Center

Other Events & Contests, Parents

The Midwest is filled with innovation … why not allow the students who grow up here the opportunity to capture that and make something great?

Time for STEM provides opportunities for students who want to experience real life examples and projects in engineering.  Some programs include:

  • Electrical Engineer I & II
  • Aerospace Engineer
  • Social Media Engineer
  • Agricultural Engineer
  • Environmental Engineer

For more information, check out the website and course schedule.

Website:  http://www.timeforstem.com/home.html

Course Schedule:  http://www.timeforstem.com/course-schedule.html

Westside Community Schools does not sponsor or endorse the organization or activity described here.  The sharing of this information is provided as a community service.

Hour of Code

Other Events & Contests, Parents, Teachers

Every student in every school should have the opportunity to learn computer science!

Many classrooms have already started the adventure of exposing students to the world of computer science through coding.  Some students are making their own video games using Pixel Press Floors and Hopscotch.  Others are using the curriculum on code.org  and Khan Academy.  Scratch, Scratch Jr. and Tynker are other resources to check out if you’re interested in having your kids learn to code.  Leave a comment and let us know how your classroom and/or children are learning about computer science!

Make sure to check out the resources on the Hour of Code site at http://csedweek.org.

Also, check out the Computer Science Education Resource Guide @ http://www.smartscholar.com/computer-science-guide/

Totem Head’s Story Contest

Other Events & Contests

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So there I was, looking through my Twitter feed when it appeared…Totem Head’s Story Contest.  I’m always looking for great writing opportunities for students and this one looks like one YOU should enter!

Details

Categories:  Ages 8 and under, 9-10, 11-12, 13-15, 16-18

Deadline: December 31, 2014

The first sentence should start with, “So there I was”.  Stories must be tasteful and contain more mystery or suspense than gore.  Think of it as a mysterious adventure story, without the happy ending–an ending with a lesson instead of warm fuzzies.  Read more about the guidelines by clicking here.

Click here for the entry form and official rules.

Westside Community Schools does not sponsor or endorse the organization or activity described here.  The sharing of this information is provided as a community service.

Metro Reading Council Writing Contest

Other Events & Contests

Calling All Writers!

The Metro Reading Council is taking submissions for their 2014-2015 writing contest.

Deadline is December 15, 2014

Intermediate Prompt (4th-12th grade):  Write a story about our world in the future. What would this world be like for young people? Is life better or worse?  Click here for the rules and submission form.

Primary Prompt (K-3rd):  Tell a story about a talking animal. Does the animal talk to you or other humans? Or does your animal just talk to other animals? Be sure to describe the animal in your story.  Click here for the rules and submission form.

4_12WritingContest K-3WritingContest

Westside Community Schools does not sponsor or endorse the organization or activity described here.  The sharing of this information is provided as a community service.

Secret Millionaires Club

Other Events & Contests

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Do you have an idea for a business that you want to get off the ground?  Submit your original business idea(s) for a product or a service and you could win up to
$1,000 and a sought-after seat at a celebration event with Warren Buffett!

Learn more about the contest by clicking here: http://smckids.com/learnandearn/contest/getting-started

If you’re not quite ready to submit an original business idea, check out these animated webisodes.  You can also find the webisode content in a comic book format.

Westside Community Schools does not sponsor or endorse the organization or activity described here.  The sharing of this information is provided as a community service.