Contests
For Kids
| Competition among
equally prepared peers can be fun and challenging to children
and teens with competitive natures. No child should be forced
to enter a contest that doesn't interest him or her. These contests
encourage the participation of homeschoolers, but may have restrictions
because of age or location. Since contests require registration,
kids, ask your parent's permission before entering. Contests
being held in one state only will be listed on that state's
page. Participation usually requires dedication and preparation
and offers some kind of real prize as a reward to winners. Websites
not meeting these criteria are considered "games" and
listed elsewhere in Explorations 4 Kids. Awards from these contests
can be used when filling out college applications, in the "Academic
Awards" section. |
Winners
Homeschooler
Wins Contest
Google news results of recent wins by homeschooled students
in regional and national contests. |
Contests
and Scholarships
Contests for winning prizes, cash, and college scholarships.
A sortable database.
Computer Related
USA Computing Olympiad
The USACO supports pre-college computing around the world through
computer programming competitions and training materials.
Fine Arts
International Family Film Festival
The Freshi Film Camps and the Freshi Film Festival are programmed to address the needs of young filmmakers and screenwriters 8-18 with competitive categories, scholarships and awards organized by age group and content for both filmmakers and screenwriters. These programs happen in July with a submission deadline of June 1.
Young Composers Challenge
Open to young musicians (ages 13-18) in the Southeastern U.S. The Challenge is simple. First, you can take part in an extensive workshop with world-renowned composers. Then you will have all summer to write your own score. Finally in September, a panel of judges will choose the top three orchestral and ensemble pieces, and these will be performed by the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra at the Bob Carr Auditorium.
Youth Film Festival of the Northwest
June deadline each year. Check site for details. If you are in grades K-12 and live in
Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Alaska, or Utah, send us
your drama, documentary, comedy, animated movie or media in some
other style.
Language Arts
AWM Essay Contest: Biographies of Contemporary Women in Mathematics
To increase awareness of women's ongoing contributions to the mathematical sciences, the Association for Women in Mathematics (AWM) sponsors an essay contest for biographies of contemporary women mathematicians and statisticians in academic, industrial, and government careers. Prizes awarded by age categories.
Balticon Young Writers' Contest
Sci-Fi and Fantasy writing contest for teens living in Maryland.
Deadline is March 1 every year. Contestants shall be no younger than 14 and no older than 18 years of age as of May 29 in the contest year and shall reside in, or attend school in Maryland.
Hexco Academic
The Hexco Academic products were first developed in 1984 to be
used in studying for The Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee.
These were soon followed by a range of products for preparing
for UIL academic contests. [Not an A to Z affiliate, but I thought
these products might be of interest to those visiting this page.]
Kids-in-Print Book Contest for Students
Deadline May 1. What wonderful experiences await the three
winners! [In different age categories] When their books are selected
for publication, they will be offered publishing contracts. They
also will enjoy all-expense-paid trips to our offices in Kansas
City, Kansas, where Landmark's professional staff will assist
them in the editing, refining, and final production of their
books.
Letters about Literature
Deadline early December. Homeschooled students are invited to
write a letter to an author -- living or dead -- explaining how
that author's work changed the student's way of thinking about
the world. Winners receive cash awards at the national and state
levels. Two competition levels are offered: one for students
in grades 4 through 7, the other for grades 8 through 12. Sponsored
by the Center for the Book in association with the Weekly Reader
Corporation.
Poetic Power Contest
The purpose of the poetry contest is to bring recognition to poets both young and old. Winners share over $70,000 in prizes. With most contests regionally based, poets are competing against their peers in both age and location. Contests in the US and Canada.
Scripts Howard National Spelling Bee
Each sponsor organizes a spelling bee program in its community.
The champion of the sponsor's final spelling bee advances to
the national finals in June. Sponsorship is available to daily
and weekly newspapers.
National Spelling Bee: Schools To Pay To Play
The Scripps National Spelling Bee will begin charging $100 per
participating school next year for any school system that participates
in the spelling bee. What does this fee of $100 per participating
school mean for homeschoolers? Apparently, the $100 fee will
be charged to any homeschool association while individual families
will be charged $30. BevK, April 24, 2007
National Vocabulary Championship
Win With Words. High school students nationwide can take the online test now for their chance to compete for $40,000 toward college tuition. The online exam will continue through November 30.
Write On! Writing Challenge
Create a children's book. Winning entries used in a published book. Theme is about environmental concerns.
Math
American Mathematics Competitions
The AMC seek to increase interest in mathematics and to develop
problem solving ability through a series of friendly mathematics
contests for junior (grades 8 and below) and senior high school
students (grades 9 through 12). Registration in November and
February.
Crazy for Math Contest
Officially starts May 1. Describe how you use math in any activity
you love to do -- a sport, game, craft, hobby or anything else.
Send in a description of the activity and how you use math. You
can also include a drawing or diagram. All finalists receive
a copy of Googol Power's award winning CD "Multiplication
Vacation."
International Mathematical Olympiad
This prestigious event will bring to the USA 500 of the most
talented high school age mathematicians from more than 80 countries.
The Olympiad will be held in Greece in July.
MathCounts
A national math coaching and competition program that promotes
middle school mathematics achievement through grassroots involvement
in every U.S. state and territory.
Math Olympiads
Two divisions for 4-6th graders and 7-8th graders. Only schools
or homeschool associations, not individuals, may participate.
A homeschool association, to us, is a group of homeschool students
from the same geographic area. Students not enrolled in a public
or private school.
Online
Math League
Offers fun, challenging math contests to schools and individuals
in Grades 2-12. Registration discounted for individual homeschoolers.
Online
Math Madness
Unlike many math competitions, you don't have to travel across
the state or country to compete with other students; you can
compete against students across the world without ever leaving
your own home! Intended for those working at a high school level
in math. More fun than "heavy" competition.
Physical Education
The President's
Challenge
As a homeschool you are eligible to participate and receive awards
for the President's Challenge Physical Fitness Program. There
are a few tips and suggestions that we will try to answer and
urge you to consider before you get started. Here's a page on
how homeschoolers
may participate.
Problem Solving
Destination Imagination
We invite you to stretch your mind and share your brainstorms
on the web.
eCYBERMISSION
A free, web-based science, math and technology competition for
students in grades 6 through 9. The competition encourages and
rewards students from a diverse range of proficiency levels,
interests and backgrounds. Registration ends in early December.
Odyssey of the Mind
An international educational program that provides creative problem-solving opportunities for students from kindergarten through college. A homeschool-friendly competition.
See Interview with Susan Smylie Odyssey of the Mind Coach
Stuck @ Prom
$500 scholarships to each member of a couple who creatively decorate
their prom outfits with silver or colorful Duck brand tape. Sounds
perfect for those attending unproms! $5000 to the best overall
high school couple.
Tiger Woods Calls on Young People to Take Action and Join the First Fist Pump Challenge
"Building on my father's legacy, I am challenging children to make a difference in the world and to reach higher and farther than they ever imagined," Woods said.
TOYchallenge
A chance for teams of imaginative kids in grades 5-8 to create
and design a toy or game.
Science
Robotics Competitions
AN A TO Z RESOURCE
On our Robots 4 Kids page. Links to robot contests.
Science Fair Help
AN A TO Z RESOURCE
Looking for help with that science fair project? You've come
to the right place!
3M Young Scientist Challenge
We're looking for a few great students and teachers to inspire us with their enthusiasm for science, so show us what you've got! Create a short (1-2 min.) video about one of this year's scientific topics and YOU could win a trip to Washington, DC to compete in the YSC finals.
Action For Nature International Young Eco-Hero Awards
Have you been working to preserve the world around you? Have
you been teaching others how to protect the environment? Have
you been doing an environmental research project? Not so much
a contest as an honor.
Canon Envirothon
Delve into the topic of introduced species in general, and within
your own communities.
Chemistry Olympiad
Each nation sends a team of its four brightest chemistry students.
ExploraVision
Teams of students select a technology, research how it works
and why it was invented, and then project how that technology
may change in the future. K-12. Sign up now. Projects due in
April.
Engineer Girl Contest
Every year, the EngineerGirl website sponsors a contest dealing with engineering and its impact on our world.
Global Challenge
Teams of US high school students collaborate with international counterparts from October to May to address global climate change and compete for prizes and scholarship awards.
Intel International Science and Engineering Fair
The Olympics, the World Cup and the World Series of science competitions.
Held annually in May, the Intel ISEF brings together over 1,200
students from 48 states and 40 nations to compete for scholarships,
tuition grants, internships, scientific field trips and the grand
prize: a trip to attend the Nobel Prize Ceremonies in Stockholm,
Sweden.
National Young Astronomer Award.
Designed to recognize the outstanding achievements by high school aged astronomers throughout the United States.
Rube Goldberg Machine Contest
Everything you need to know to build an "official"
one and enter the contest or hold a local contest in your support
group. [Note: being reconstructed, so keep checking back. Contest
held in April.]
Science Olympiad
Homeschool teams have done quite well in this science competition
in the past. Regionals were held in February. Contact in the
fall to enter your team.
Team America Rocketry Challenge
Find the latest information about the student rocketry competition
that's being sponsored by AIA and the National Association of Rocketry.
US Physics Olympiad Team
Promotes academic excellence through preparation for and participation
in the International Physics Olympiad.
Social Science
FDR- A Presidency Revealed Eligibility - 3/11/05
AN A TO Z ARTICLE
The History Channel has decided to open the scholarship challenge
to all homeschoolers (even in states where homeschooling is not
considered "private" school) in addition to students
enrolled in a private and/or public high school.
Doors to Diplomacy
The U. S. Department of State sponsors this educational challenge to encourage middle school and high school students around the world to produce web projects that teach others about the importance of international affairs and diplomacy.
Future City Competition
Now in its eighth year, asks middle school students from around
the nation to create first on computer and then in large, three-dimensional
models of their visions of the city of tomorrow. Check in September.
Girls Going Places
Guardian's annual initiative designed to reward the enterprising spirits of girls ages 12 to 18. Guardian awards prizes to 15 girls who demonstrate budding entrepreneurship; are taking the first steps toward financial independence; and make a difference in their schools and communities.
Kids Philosophy Slam
Designed to make philosophy accessible and fun for kids of all ages and abilities, to promote a philosophical dialogue between kids and adults, and to promote a greater awareness of philosophy and education in everyday life. Over $5,000 in prizes are available to students & schools. Home school entries and international participation are encouraged.
Let's Get Real
An academic competition and an opportunity for teams of students to gain experience working on real business challenges.
LifeSmarts
A consumer education competition that tests teens in grades 9-12
about personal finance, health and safety, the environment, technology,
and consumer rights and responsibilities.
Model United Nations
While not strictly a contest, teams of student delegates, after
studying their assigned country's policies, will win and lose
in the debates over the various issues.
National Geographic Bee
Homeschools with students in grades four through eight are eligible
for this entertaining and challenging test of geographic knowledge.
Join homeschoolers and other contest winners at the GeoBeeCentral
message board.
National Geographic Bee Contest Eligibility - 3/21/05
AN A TO Z ARTICLE
We have heard from a number of people concerned about National
Geographic's treatment of home-schooled children in our annual
geography Bee competition because of an incident that recently
occurred in New Hampshire.
National History Day
Show your creativity by making history come alive in an exhibit,
documentary, paper, or performance. By producing one of these
projects, you have opportunities to win awards and scholarships,
as well as learn about your history.
National Peace Essay Contest
A well-established contest with very specific guidelines and rules. Entries from home-schooled students are also accepted. Students must be in grades nine through twelve at the Contest deadline.
Trash to Treasure
Take everyday discarded or recycled materials and re-engineer them into functional products. The grand prize winner will receive a $10,000 cash prize provided by the Intel Foundation and a trip to the development lab at Continuum, an award-winning international design and innovation consultancy, to build a prototype of his or her Trash to Treasure design. The competition runs April 1 Ð June 30, 2008.
|