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This list of annual national contests is not
exhaustive, but does include major,
established contests in many interest
areas.
Deadlines
We have not noted the deadlines because
some are rather complicated with local,
regional, and national competitions. These are yearly contests. If a
deadline has just been passed, there will be
another one next year. You can use the
time until the next deadline to research and
decide what contests you want to enter and
start preparing ahead of time. You
could even do a sample entry for
practice.
Individual or Team EntriesSome of these contests can be entered by
either an individual or a team. You may want to take advantage of the
cooperation provided by a team effort –
either within your own family or with
friends.
Key to Listings
In the parenthesis after the name of the
contest,
I = Individual Entry; T = Team
Entry; followed by grade levels.
Language Arts
Reading
• Book
It! Reading
Incentive Program (I, Preschool-6). Info.
Writing
• Scholastic
Kids Are
Authors Competition (T, K-8). Info. • National Council
of
Teachers of English (I, 8 & 11). Info. • Patriot's
Pen Youth Essay
Contest (I, 6-8) Theme "Does Patriotism
Still Matter?". Info. • The
Laws of Life Essay
Contest. Info. • Sons
of the American
Revolution's George S. & Stella M. Knight
Essay Contest (I, 10-12). Info. • The
Grannie Annie (I,
4-8). Info. • NRA
Civil Rights Defense Fund Youth Essay Contest
(I, K-12). Info. • Being
an American Essay
Contest (I, 9-12). Info.
Journalism
• Weekly
Reader's Student
Publishing Contest (I, 3-12). Info. • National Scholastic
Press. Info. • IWPA
High School
Journalism Contest (I, 9-12). Info.
Spelling and Handwriting
• Scripps
National Spelling
Bee (I, -8). Info. • National Handwriting
Contest (I, 1-8). Info.
Foreign Languages
• National French
Contest
(I, 1-12). Info.
Math,
Science and Technology
• Siemens
Westinghouse
Competition in Math, Science, and Technology
(I or T, 9-12). Info.
Math
• Math
Olympiads (I, 4-8).
Info. • Mathcounts
(I or T, 6-8).
Info. • The
Mathematical
Association of America's American Mathematics
Contests (I, 7-12). Info. • American Regions
Math
League (T, 9-12). Info. • The
Art of Problem
Solving Foundation USA Mathematical Talent
Search. Info.
Science & Technology
• Science
Olympiad (T,
K-12). Info. • Team
America Rocketry
Challenge (T, 7-12). Info. • West
Point Bridge Design
Contest (I/T, 7-12). Info. • U.S.A.
Biology Olympiad
(I, 9-12). Info. • Intel
Science Talent
Search (I, 12). Info. • Discovery
Channel Young
Scientist Challenge (I, 5-8). Info. • Technology
Education for
Today's Youth. Info. • Christopher
Columbus
Awards (T, 6-8). Info. • Junior
Engineering
Technical Society TEAMS & NEDC Contests (T,
9-12). Info. • National Engineers
Week
Foundation Future City Competition (T, 7-8).
Info. • Stockholm
Junior Water
Prize (I/T, 9-12). Info.
Computer, Vocational
• USA
Computing Olympiad
(I, 7-12). Info. • American Computer
Science Contest
(I/T, 7-12). Info. • Skills USA
Championships Career and technical skills; 77
separate events. Info.
History & Geography
• National History
Day
Contest (I/T, 6-12) Exhibit, documentary,
paper, or performance. Info. • National Geography
Bee
(I, 4-8). Info.
The Arts
Art, Essay, Photo, Poetry
• Home
School Legal Defense Association. Info.
Multiple Disciplines
• National Foundation
for
Advancement in the Arts (9-12) Identifies
artists in the performing, literary, and
visual arts (Cinematic Arts, Dance, Jazz,
Music, Photography, Theater, Visual Arts,
Voice, Writing). Info.
Art & Writing
• The
Scholastic Art &
Writing Awards (I, 7-12). Info.
Art and Crafts
• The
Wildlife Forever
State-Fish Art Contest (I, 4-12). Info. • Arbor
Day National Poster Contest
(I, 5). Info. • Make
It with Wool Contest
encourages creativity in sewing, knitting,
and crocheting. (I, all ages). Info. • NRA
Youth Wildlife Art
Contest (I, 1-12). Info. • U.S.
Fish & Wildlife
Service's Junior Duck Stamp Contest (I,
K-12). Info.
Music
• Jean
Wells Worship Guitar Class Annual Worship
Contest. Write an original worship song. (I,
Child, Adult) Info. • Music
Teachers National
Association Student Competitions. Info.
Filmmaking
• Vision
Forum's San
Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival.
Info.
Speech & Debate
• The
National Christian
Forensics and Communications Association Home
school students age 12-18. Formal speech and
debate. Info. • National Forensic
League
Speech Tournament and Student Congress. Info. • The
American Legion's
National High School Oratorical Contest (I,
9-12) To develop a deeper knowledge and
appreciation of the Constitution of the
United States. Info. • Sons
of the American
Revolution's Joseph S. Rumbaugh Historical
Oration Contest (I, 9-12). Info. • Veterans of
Foreign Wars'
Voice of Democracy (I, 9-12) Audio essay,
"Does My Generation Have a Role in America's
Future?" Info. • National High
School Mock
Trial Championship (T, 9-12). Info. • National Management
Association's American Enterprise Speech
Contest (I, 9-12). Info.
Miscellaneous
10 Academic Areas
• United
States Academic
Decathlon (T, 9-12). Info.
Chess
• U.S.
Chess Federation (I,
K-12). Info.
Gardening
• National Junior
Horticultural Association Contests (I/T)
Eighteen contests. Info.
Community Service
• The
Prudential Spirit of
Community Awards (I, 5-12). Info.
Many of the contests listed above have
been reviewed and recommended by the National
Association of Secondary School
Principals.
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Saturday Morning Erins
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on our Saturday morning routine of errands.
One Saturday we had just finished our
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when Emily asked, "Daddy, can we do some
Emilys now?" Submitted by D. O'Hearn, New Hampshire. Send your humorous anecdote to publisher@teachinghome.com. Because we have been separated from God by
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In This Issue
How To Make Contests
a Learning Experience
• Benefits of
Participating in a Competition
• The Ins and Outs
of a Competition
• Integrating
Contests into Your Curriculum
• Local and State
Contests
Sidebar
List of Annual National Contests
Recommended Resources
• Williamsburg
Retreat: Christian Family Vacation
• Birch Court
Books: Timely Helps for Your Family
• Basic Christian
Education: Bible Based Curriculum
• Judah Bible
Curriculum: Year of the Bible
Greetings,
In this issue we talk about
competition. This is an issue that
requires a delicate balance in our own lives
and our children's. On the one hand, if we look at someone
else and think that they are doing better
than we are, we could become discouraged. On the other hand, we could be challenged
and encouraged by another's good example when
we see what might be possible in our own
lives. May the Lord richly bless your family for
His glory during this New Year!
Cordially,
The Pat Welch Family, Publishers
Pat, Sue, Heather, Holly, and Brian
The Teaching
Home is a home-school, family-run
business operated in our home since 1980.
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Veteran Homeschoolers Invite Your Family
To Vacation with Them – Back to
1774!
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Is your family ready for the refreshingly
fun change
of pace that others from all over the U.S.
will soon enjoy?
Christian Family Retreat - Williamsburg,
Virginia
 • Explore the history of
the founding
fathers
• Experience our Christian
Heritage
with living history studies!
• Invest in memories that
will
deepen family ties
• Fellowship with
like-minded
families
• Build lasting
friendships
3 Weeks to Choose From: Feb. 26 - March
21, 2010
Spacious, comfortable, private
accommodations. Full retreat package
affordably priced as a ministry to Christian
homeschoolers.
Details & Registration at www.WilliamsburgRetreat.com
Williamsburg Retreat
Box 7665 Columbia MO 65205 / (573) 356-3657
Sponsored by MOMYS (Mothers of Many Young
Siblings)
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Benefits of
Participating
in a Competition
1. Motivation
One of the best ways for children to learn
is to actively participate in something they
care about. Contests are great learning
motivators.
2. Knowledge and Skills
A competition can provide a practical
learning experience which results in expanded
academic knowledge and improved skills.
3. Character
The character qualities of persistence and
diligence are called for in working on a
long-range goal such as some contests
require.
4. Direction and Confidence
Entering contests can help children
uncover lifelong interests, gain a sense of
responsibility, learn to think for
themselves, and ask questions – all of
which can boost their confidence.
5. Practical Life Skills
Children also develop everyday skills such
as how to work with others, fill out
applications, follow guidelines, keep
records, meet deadlines, and organize their
work.
6. Rewards
A contest implies rewards. Besides
the intangible rewards of accomplishment and
recognition, prizes are offered which are
sometimes quite substantial or are in the
form of a scholarship. Expense-free
travel to a national event might also be
included.
Timely Helps for You and Your Family!
|
 1. Siblings: Making
Brothers and Sisters Best Friends. Go
beyond merely "getting along" to
friendship!
2. Character: The
Gold Thread. Inspire "nobleness" in
your son through this allegory of a prince
following his "gold thread" through
the forest back to his father.
3. Encouragement: Pocketful
of Pinecones. A homeschool mother's diary
shares her ups and downs and incorporates
practical guidelines for nature study.
Heartwarming and encouraging!
4. Bible: "Then
and Now" Bible Map Book. Full-color
Bible maps with clear plastic overlays of
modern cities and countries make Bible study
interesting and educational.
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The Ins and Outs
of a Competition
1. Explain Competition
Teach your child about competition and how
it can spur one on to greater
accomplishments. (See 1
Corinthians 9:24-27; Philippians
3:14; 2
Timothy 4:7-8.) Whether or not your child wins a prize,
the contest can be used to teach him about
being a good sport by handling success
modestly and disappointment graciously.
2. Prize or Participation
Even if your child doesn't win a prize,
taking part in a contest can be a positive
experience. You can request
participation certificates from the contest
sponsor ahead of time or create certificates
yourself.
3. Be a Good Example
People, and the press, will often judge
the home-school community by the actions of
home-school students in the spotlight of a
national contest. We should teach our children godly
principles and how to be good examples both
as Christians and as home schoolers. Many home-school students have won
national contests, thereby lending
credibility to home education.
4. Observe the Rules
It takes careful study to understand all
the rules of some contests. If you
have questions, be sure to contact the
contest administrator. Tip: Check out last year's
winning
entries (you can often find these on the
contest's website) to get an idea of what the
judges are looking for.
5. Deadlines
You may have several deadlines to meet,
the first being your application. Organize and plan the work on your contest
by breaking the whole into smaller goals and
setting your own deadlines for each. Be sure to allow enough time to do your
best on the contest and to realize all the
benefits possible.
6. Costs
Some contests require an entry fee, and
some contests might necessitate other
expenditures that you should be aware of
before you begin. Check to see if you need to pay for your
own travel to a national event.
Is It Time for a New Start?
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Integrating Contests
into Your Curriculum
1. Choose a contest carefully.
You may want to choose a contest with a
certain learning goal in mind. For example,
you may want to use an essay contest to
strengthen writing and reading skills as well
as to expand knowledge of the assigned topic. Ask your children what topics they would
be interested in pursuing. The sponsor or purpose of the contest
might affect your decision. If you do not
believe the United States should share its
authority with the United Nations, then you
would probably not want to write an essay on
the topic.
2. Prepare.
For a contest to work successfully, you
should know exactly what is needed –
skills,
materials, entry fees, contest rules, etc. You, as the parent, might want to try the
contest yourself (e.g., write a sample essay
on the topic) for full understanding of
what's involved.
3. Learn about the history or
background
of the contest
subject.
This will not only give your children a
valuable history lesson, but it will also
help them gain a greater insight into their
contest theme or subject. Read books and magazines or listen to
music. For example, if your children are
entering a poetry contest, have them read
different kinds of poetry.
4. Take field trips.
Use any opportunities available locally
which relate to your contest. For
example, if
your children are participating in an
environmental protection program, arrange a
trip to a nature reserve.
5. Broaden specific contest
activity
to create a
unit study.
If your children are entering a writing
contest, have them create artwork or crafts
that relate to their subject; if they enter
an art competition, have them write an essay
about the theme.
6. Maintain a resource-filled
environment.
Provide access to dictionaries, atlases,
almanacs, and an encyclopedia. As well as traditional resources, teach
your children how to safely (under your
supervision) and efficiently use the internet
for research.
7. Information Packs.
You might want to start collecting
information on a few topics of interest to
your children. Label an extra large
envelope
for each topic and fill it with clippings,
pictures, articles, statistics, notes, etc.,
on that topic. These information packs will be a great
resource for your children during contest
time. Many contests will provide educational
information or even lesson plans, as well as
how to comply with the
contest rules.
8. Have your children maintain
portfolios.
Include drafts and final copies of writing
or sketches, and photos of artwork or
projects. These records are great for
showing
the improvement in students' abilities as
well as the work that was done.
9. Furnish a Biblical
perspective.
Many contests will be secular in
nature.
You can furnish a spiritual dimension by
using a Bible concordance, dictionary, or
encyclopedia to study what the Bible says
about your subject. Acknowledgment: Some of these ideas
were suggested by Laurie Bluedorn of Trivium
Pursuit.
2010
The Year
of the Bible |
How Long Has Bible Class
Been on the Back
Burner in Your Homeschool?
It has been said – and it is true
– that
"Bible class
should be the centerpiece
of a Christian
education."
Judah Bible Curriculum gives you
Confidence
in teaching your
family the Bible.
Make 2010 the Year of the Bible
in your home
school. Begin today!
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Local and State
Contests
Support Group Science FairsYour support group may put on a science
fair, or you might volunteer to help do one. For ideas and information on Science
Fair Projects, read articles
online at Home Science Tools website. Read an article about the benefits
of science fairs (including a basic
outline for a project), as well as practical
tips on setting up a science fair on the
BJU Press website.
County or State Fairs
Consider entering one or more of the many
categories in your county or state fair. Contact your county Cooperative
Extension System for information on fairs
in your state, or see a list of state
fairs and city
and county fairs. See our list Annual National Contests in the
sidebar at the left.
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