Things You'll Need:
- Written rules for the contest
- Participation from area newspapers
- Participation from area schools or libraries
- Interested children to enter
- Ribbons
- Certificates
-
Step 1
Decide on which age groups you would like to attract for the poetry contest. The best grades to choose would be kids who have learned how to write or spell for a few years. A great age group to try would be grades 4-6th, and perhaps junior high as well.
-
Step 2
Write down and form a group of rules for the poetry contest. Figure out how many lines the poem will be and the theme that the children will be writing on. You could decide on a different theme for each age group. Some ideas could be favorite animals, holidays, summer memories, even school days.
-
Step 3
Contact area newspapers to see if they would agree to publish the winner(s) poems in local newspapers. Purchase ribbons for the winners, and create certificates on the computer for all of those who participate in the contest.
-
Step 4
Call and meet with area schools to see if they would be interested in having children participate in the poetry contest. Speak with the teachers in the selected grades that you would like participants from and get their opinions. Also speak with librarians during the summer time and try to get children from the summer reading programs as well. Put announcements in local newspapers letting everybody know about the poetry contest. Spread the word to any of your friends or family who have children in your selected age groups as well.
-
Step 5
Collect entries from children who enter the poetry contest. Ask other teachers, librarians, and college students to help judge the entries. Vote on the winners of the contest. Hold a banquet at a community center or school for all of the participants and winners of the poetry contest. Ask the children if they would like to read their poems at the banquet. Present awards and certificates to the children and publish winners and runner-ups in the newspaper.
