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Essay Competition
Grades: PreK – 2

Description – PreK – 2nd Grades

The Essay Competition for students in Grades PreK-2nd is an Illustration Competition that allows STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) SECME coordinators to reinforce STEM skills through illustrations.

Students will choose a topic and create an illustration. They must also provide a 1 to 2-sentence caption and record a video to explain their illustration.

>>>>>>> Essay Competition Guideline for PreK – 2 in PDF Format <<<<<<<

 >>>>>>> Essay Grades prek-2 Scoresheet in PDF Format <<<<<<< 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Non-fiction Topics

  • STEM Role Model
    • Who do you consider to be your STEM role model? It could be an inventor, an engineer, an architect, an artist, or anyone who has succeeded in the STEM industry. Why do you admire this individual? How did their story impact or inspire you on your journey in STEM?
  • Life Science  
    • Describe the lifecycle of a butterfly. Explain what happens at each stage. 
  • Earth and Space
    • Why do you only see the sun during the daytime? Where is the sun when you can’t see it?

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Science-Fiction Topics

  • Technology
    • Cellphones, tablets, and computers have not been around forever. What would the world be like if they were never invented?
  • Earth and Space
    • An alien just landed in your backyard. How would you describe Earth to an alien from another planet?
    • Your parents just told you that you will be moving to the moon. Describe how your life would be different on the moon. What would you need to survive?

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Process map

*Click on the image to see the enlarged version.

  1. Choose a topic from either the non-fiction or science-fiction list.
  2. Create a hand-drawn illustration on paper based on your chosen topic.
  3. Write one to two sentences describing the picture.
  4. Ask your SECME Coordinator, ELA teacher, and/or parent/guardian for feedback.
  5. Revise based on the feedback, and if necessary, repeat, go back to step 3 and repeat with changes.
  6.  Finalize illustration and caption.
  7. Collaborate with your SECME Coordinator, ELA teacher, and/or parent/guardian to record a video explaining your illustration and caption.
  8. Submit your cover page, finalized illustration, caption, and description video.

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Submission Requirements and Scoring

Submit a PDF file that includes the cover page, illustration, and a caption description with the file name “SECME_Illustration_PreK2_Your School Name.‘”

***For detailed scoring, please download the scoresheet.

  1. Organization – 10 %
    • Cover page 
    • Paper Requirement ( 8.5” × 11” paper)
  2. Content – 60%
    • A one to two-sentence written caption description of the illustration 
    • An original and hand-drawn Illustration
    • Students can use materials such as magazine clippings, newspaper clippings, crayons, markers, colored pencils, colored pens, or paint.
  3. Video Explanation – 30%
    1. A four-minute (max) video explaining your illustration in mp4 format and with the file name “SECME_Illustration_Video_PreK 2_Your School Name.” 

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