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2008 Read Across America challenge for Kansas' public school students - Create a poster about Reading!

KNEA is challenging Kansas public school students of all ages to be creative and create a poster about reading. The deadline for the poster contest is October 31, 2007 . The artwork chosen as the Grand Prize winner will be the statewide poster* for KNEA's Read Across America campaign! (*The artwork may be altered for production of the poster.)

"Pick up a book and reading with a child!" That's how KNEA celebrates Dr. Seuss' birthday every March through the NEA's Read Across America literacy campaign. This year's theme involves parents, partnerships and the power of reading. 

To bring attention to the importance of reading, the Kansas NEA and its partners, United Way of Greater Topeka, Cox Communications, Target, the Kansas Press Association's Newspapers in Education (NIE), the State Library of Kansas, the PTA and the Kansas Parent Information Resource Center (KPIRC), are sponsoring a student poster contest. More on KNEA's Read Across America.

Contest Background

In addition to his book illustrations, Ted Geisel, aka Dr. Seuss, painted regularly. He often told young artists to "paint at least one picture a month that is just for fun."

Geisel was also involved in the betterment of the La Jolla/San Diego (California) community. He served as a trustee to the San Diego Fine Arts Museum and La Jolla Town Council, and was a member of Citizens United, an organization dedicated to civic improvement.

The KNEA Poster Contest - Deadline is October 31, 2007

Combine KNEA's theme, Parents, partnerships and the power of reading and Dr. Seuss's artist and community activist hats. Think about how to depict the importance of reading to be successful as an individual and a community. This might be a joint project with other teachers - art, social studies, reading and writing…

Directions for students:
1.  Include in the poster reference to at least one Dr. Seuss book (for example, Oh, the Places You'll Go!).   
2.  Show in your poster that reading is exciting, fun, educational and can involve other material besides books, such as newspapers, signs, maps, instructional manuals, etc. You may want to show that there is a wide variety of reading material that can appeal to just about every interest.
3.Try to appeal to the people, young and old, that live in your community. Maybe there is something special that interests them!
4. The entry size of the poster is 11 x 17. It can be delivered to KNEA by mail, in person or sent electronically.
5.  Any medium is acceptable: watercolor, oil, pastels, charcoal…
6. Entire classes, smaller groups of students or individual students may enter. Only five entries per class.

Here are the "musts:"

1.  Only public school students in Kansas may enter.

2. Only entries received at KNEA headquarters in Topeka by the deadline date will be judged.

3. The work must be done by students, not by adults. If any of the work needs to be completed by an adult, please tell us which part of the work and why. We'll understand!

4. Attach to your poster answers to these questions:

• Why do you think people will want to read more after seeing your poster?  (In other words, why did you choose the symbols, graphics and words that you chose?)
• What in your poster really helps people understand the importance of being able to read well; read often?

5.  There is a limit of five entries per classroom. If you have more entries than five, please pick the best. Thanks!
  
6. Include with or on the back of the entry: Name of student (s), Teacher (s), School, District, Grade, and Contact Information.  

Judging Guidelines

Judges will rate equally the written explanation (the answers to the questions listed above) and the artwork.

1.  Writing:  Does it clearly explain the theme and what the artwork seeks to accomplish?
2.  Artwork: Is it dynamic, creative? Does it excite people to want to go read?

Prizes:

All winners will be featured in Kansas NEA and reading partner publications. The grand prizewinner's artwork will be KNEA's 2008 Read Across poster*. The finalists' artwork will be used in the literacy campaign.

Deadline: October 31, 2007.

Mail or deliver entries to Read Across America Poster Contest, c/o KNEA, 715 SW 10th Avenue, Topeka, KS, 66612-1686 or send entries to kneanews@knea.org .

Questions? Contact Cynthia Menzel or Sherri Yourdon at KNEA,  1-800-432-3573.

*Artwork may be altered for poster production                                                                                                                                

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