Language Arts and English teachers know that daily journals can keep kids interested in writing. Entering creative writing contests for kids is also a great way to motivate students.
Read on for creative writing contests for kids to make writing more fun for your students.
- Teachers can check on the internet for creative writing contests for kids. Be sure to choose one from a reliable company or publication. Local and state civic groups and organizations also hold writing contests; check your local newspaper for these.
- Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), a civic club, sponsor creative writing contests for kids every year. The writing categories include poetry and essay. Students can win at the local, state, regional, and national levels. Winners receive certificates, ribbons, and small cash prizes.
- As a teacher, you can supply writing prompts to get your young authors started. The internet can be a fantastic source for these. Use an everyday phrase for a prompt. Have the class read a classic poem and then write about thoughts and feelings evoked by the poem.
- Another creative writing prompt can be to write about things lost and found. Encourage students to think about the life of a “found” object before it came to them.
- Show the class a photograph or assign students different photos to write about. You can also use photos of classic paintings. Visual cues can provide fertile ground for stimulating writing in kids.
- Students can write an epic poem about themselves or a family member. Choose the task that the epic hero must accomplish. The hero usually has some assistants; these can be fantasy creatures or whatever the child chooses. An epic poem has three phases: exile, trip, and going back home. The student can come up with ideas as to why the hero has to leave his home. After the piece is written, the author can draw pictures to accompany the epic poem.
- Kids can create their own mad libs. After a student completes a piece and has typed it on the computer, go through and take out at least one word per sentence. Add a blank line and label what part of speech goes in the blank. Swap papers with someone else in the class and you have created your own mad libs.
These creative writing contests for kids are just a few ways to motivate to students to write. By making creative writing enjoyable, your students will gain a valuable life skill.
