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Student Contest – $500 Cash Prize!
The United States Courts within the Seventh and Eighth Circuits are hosting the Fourth Annual Bill of Rights Day Contest and we want YOU to be a part of it!
Students in Grades 5-12 from Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin are encouraged to submit art and essays on the importance of the Bill of Rights. See detailed prompts and guidelines below. Be as creative as you like!
Submission deadline is Oct 29, 2023. Finalists from each grade level will receive a $50 prize and advance to the finals. Grand prize winners will be awarded a $500 cash prize, be able to take part in a virtual award ceremony with a federal judge on Wednesday, December 6, and have their name and submission shared on the websites of the participating United States District Courts.
Finalists will be notified before Thanksgiving and grand prize winners will be announced at the LIVE virtual event on December 6, 2023. Must be present to win the grand prize. Event registration information below.
TEACHERS: All teacher names submitted will be entered into a raffle. Randomly selected teachers will receive gift cards. The more students who list a teacher’s name on the form, the more chances the teacher has to win! If you are assigning this to your class or classes, the bulk-submit option is highly recommended.
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- Click HERE to download a printable contest flyer.
- See HERE for a list of educational resources to help you teach about the Bill of Rights.
- There is a bulk-submit option for teachers submitting on behalf of a class. To inquire about bulk submissions, email EducationTeam@ca8.uscourts.gov
- NEW THIS YEAR: Classroom teachers who submit bulk class entries will be eligible to win a pizza party for the live event on December 6 at 6:00 PM Central. To be eligible for the pizza party drawing, teachers must use the bulk-submit option for the class’s entries, minimum of 12 students. Entry into the pizza party drawing is optional.
CONTEST PROMPTS AND GUIDELINES
Imagine that you have been selected to appear before Congress to propose a new amendment to the Constitution that will become part of the Bill of Rights. What right would you recommend and why? Write an essay, creative writing submission, video, multimedia presentation, or artwork, such as a poem, song, drawing, or painting. Be sure to address ALL of the following questions:
- What right would you suggest?
- Why should this right be added to the Bill of Rights?
- Why is your amendment needed?
- Grades 5-8 use at least 2 key facts from reliable sources to explain your reasoning.
- Grades 9-12 use at least 3 key facts from reliable sources to explain your reasoning.
- What impact do you think the addition of this right would have on citizens of the United States?
Students should research their topic to find data, facts, and/or anecdotes from credible sources to explain why they think their amendment is needed. Credible sources are written by trustworthy authors or news organizations and are free from bias and backed up with evidence. Not sure how to tell if a source is credible? Check out this GUIDE.
Click the tabs below to see the guidelines for each grade level range.
Submission Guidelines for GRADES 5-8:
- Essays and creative writing pieces must be between 250-500 words.
- Videos and multimedia presentations must be less than 5 minutes.
- Multimedia presentations must include slides that contain multiple creative elements such as video clips, GIFs, animations, or photos AND verbal commentary built into the program.
- Drawings and paintings must be accompanied by a 50–75-word artist’s statement that explains how the submission addresses the four questions above.
Be as creative as you’d like! Check out our tips for winning submissions below.
Submission Guidelines for GRADES 9-12:
- Essays and creative writing pieces must be between 500-800 words.
- Videos and multimedia presentations should be less than 5 minutes.
- Multimedia presentations must include slides that contain multiple creative elements such as video clips, GIFs, animations, or photos AND verbal commentary built into the program.
- Drawings and paintings must be accompanied by a 200-word artist’s statement that explains how the submission addresses the four questions above.
Be as creative as you’d like! Check out our tips for winning submissions below.
Rules and General Guidelines
Eligibility: Contest is open to all students in grades 5-12 within the Seventh and Eighth Circuits – Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
Entry: Entries MUST be submitted using the online entry form. If information is missing from the form, the entry will not be considered. EXCEPTION: Teachers are strongly encouraged to use the bulk-submit option if multiple students are entering.
There is a bulk-submit option for teachers submitting on behalf of their classes. To inquire about bulk submissions, email EducationTeam@ca8.uscourts.gov
Deadline: Submissions will be accepted during the fall semester, through 5:00 pm on Sunday, October 29, 2023.
General Guidelines:
- All entries must be the original work of the student(s). Computer assisted writing will not be accepted.
- Only individual entries will be accepted for essays and artworks.
- Group entries will be accepted only for video, song, and multimedia projects. It is up to the contestants to fairly divide any prize amounts they may win.
- Only one entry per student.
- Entries with incomplete entry forms will not be considered.
- No photography or computer-generated art will be accepted as artwork.
Tips for Winning Submissions – Click HERE
Online Entry Form – Click HERE to enter the contest and upload your entry. Do not complete the online entry form until you have your art or essay ready to attach. Entry forms without a file attachment will not be considered.
“The Bill of Rights and You” Virtual Event – Wed Dec 6
Participants will hear from federal judges and learn who won the student contest and the teacher raffle drawing. The live event will be held in Zoom on Wed Dec 6, 6:00-7:00 p.m. Central.
You do not have to be a contest finalist to participate. This event is designed for families but all are welcome to join the webinar.
Valuable prizes will be awarded! Be sure to register for the webinar with your correct name and email address – there will be a drawing for attendance prizes. DO NOT REGISTER WITH A STUDENT’S SCHOOL EMAIL ADDRESS.
Click HERE for a printable event flyer.
Click HERE to register for the webinar.