Education Newswatch March 2007

Invent-A-Toy World Games
By Kids For Kids (BKFK) and Mattel are sponsoring a contest that aims to spark the creative and imaginative spirit of America's kids, and to discover the toys and games of tomorrow. Participants ages 5-19 can materialize their dreams of fun new toys and games into real, available products for other kids. Industry and academic experts in patenting, marketing, licensing and merchandising will evaluate the submissions according to marketability/market potential, originality and inventiveness. Winners will be awarded a licensing contract from BKFK, legal support to patent the invention in the winner's name (if patentable), professional expertise to bring the product to market and a $5,000 U.S. savings bond. Each winner will have the opportunity to identify an inspirational or supportive teacher, and that teacher will receive a $1,000 U.S. savings bond. Visit www.bkfk.com/challenge for more information. The deadline for entry is April 6, 2007.

National Poetry Month Classroom Kit
Celebrate National Poetry Month in April with a free classroom kit from Harcourt Children's Books. The kit, suitable for grades 2-5, includes a full-color poster featuring a poem and art from Comets, Stars, the Moon, and Mars, a new poetry collection by Douglas Florian; a pack of "poetry pencils" as well as curriculum ideas. To request a kit, sign up online at www.harcourtbooks.com/TK8 Allow 2-4 weeks for delivery; offer good while supplies last.

Diabetes Lessons Align with National Standards
The American Diabetes Association (ADA) has announced that the educational lessons and activities included as part of its School Walk for Diabetes (SWFD) program now align with the National Standards for Health and Physical Education. The educational lessons are designed to reinforce the values introduced during a SWFD program: healthy living choices, community service and diabetes awareness. ADA developed these lessons to make it easier for schools to bring these important values into the classroom while also meeting other academic requirements.

The lessons encourage educators to facilitate conversations about diabetes and healthy living choices across several academic disciplines including english, science and health. The activities, when used in conjunction with a School Walk for Diabetes program, focus attention on personal health choices as students approach their event.

The School Walk for Diabetes is a fundraiser that benefits not only the ADA but also school health and athletic departments; a percentage of the money raised is used to purchase physical education equipment and school medical supplies. For more information about the School Walk for Diabetes program, visit www.diabetes.org/schoolwalk

UNICEF Greeting Card Contest
Children ages 13 and under in the U.S. are being asked to submit creative drawings for the 2007 Pier 1/UNICEF/Weekly Reader Greeting Card Contest. Two winners will be chosen from thousands of entries and their winning artwork will be reproduced as official UNICEF greeting cards sold exclusively at Pier 1 Imports, Pier 1 Kids and http://www.pier1.com to benefit children around the world. The children's artwork will be judged on artistic quality and creative interpretation of the theme "Holiday Happiness." One hundred percent of the proceeds from the sale of all UNICEF cards sold at Pier 1 go to UNICEF.

Entry forms are available online at www.pier1.com, www.www.unicefusa.org and www.weeklyreader.com; or by calling Pier 1's Customer Relations Department at 1-800-245-4595. Entry forms are also available at Pier 1 Kids locations and at Pier1Kids.com. All entries must be hand-drawn and received by April 11, 2007.

WRITERS WANTED Student Essay Writing Contest Invitation
Please consider encouraging your students to enter our essay contest as part of your Earth Day observance, and please consider calling on author John Gile (www.johngile.com) to strengthen your students' writing skills as part of your effort to meet state and national standards. - Donna Paladino

Essay Contest with more than $5000 in prizes for students and schools.
The essay contest started Valentine's Day, February 14, 2007, and will end on Earth Day, April 22, 2007. Valentine's Day kicked off the essay contest because Valentine's Day is a time when people talk about love, both ersatz and real, and because respect is an integral part of love. Earth Day will conclude the essay contest because Earth Day is a time when people talk about caring for the earth, a way we can show respect for each other and for future generations.

The essay contest asks students to answer the following question in 100 to 300 words: "How and why do I show respect for the people and places in my life?" The question may be answered by individual students or as a collaborative class effort submitted by teachers.

The contest is open to all students in grades K-8 in the United States. Submissions must be postmarked no later than midnight Earth Day, April 22, 2007, and sent to Essay Contest c/o JGC/United Publishing, Box 2321, Loves Park, IL 61131. Winners will be notified on or before May 11, 2007. The student whose essay wins first prize will receive $1000. Second prize is $500. Essay entries are eligible for five additional $100 prizes.

Winners will be chosen by author John Gile, and every student at the first prize winner's school will receive a complimentary copy of his award-winning book The First Forest (www.thefirstforest.com), a fable reminding readers "that peace and harmony flow from an attitude of grateful appreciation for the gifts we receive and a respect for the need and right of others to share in those gifts, also."

(Author's note)
Every school with students submitting entries will be eligible for a drawing to receive more than $1,500 in writing enrichment programs - presented to more than 500,000 in 39 states, Europe, and New Zealand - by the author. Call 815.968.6601 for answers to any questions you may have about the essay contest.

March, 2007, Vol.37, No.6