Two Opportunities for Students

Kids Thinking About Important Issues

Today the idea of engaging students in “authentic” or “real life” work is found in education communications. For years many arts educators have provided relevant learning experiences. I notice that student contests or opportunities are being based on this idea. Here are two that could be used as stand alone lessons in  arts classrooms or allow for connections with your colleagues of other subjects.

Doodle 4 Google

If I Could Do Anything, I Would…. Google is sponsoring a contest inviting students in grades K-12 to work their artistic will upon the homepage logo. Probably everyone reading this has seen the logo that hangs above or near the Google logo, often changing and coinciding what is happening of special note on that day. The theme is “If I Could Do Anything, I Would…” and they are looking for a design along with their answers in writing.

Registration closes on March 17 and entries are due on March 31. The winning doodle will be featured on the google.com homepage on May 27, 2010. Only teachers can submit for their students. Please click here for more details and guidelines.

2010 America’s Greenest School

Students need to submit an entry explaining what they’d do if in charge of making the school a greener, more eco-friendly place. Submissions can be a photo, photo collection, music, video, essay, or photos of a diorama, collage or piece of artwork.

Ten finalists will be selected and America will be invited to vote online. Students of any age can enter or group or class entries are accepted. Deadline for submissions is March 8th.

The winner(s) school will receive a green a hybrid bus (valued at $150,000), a school audit by LEED Accredited Professionals and Green Makeover (valued at $20,000), free concert by The Maine. The winning student or classroom will receive a $3,000 scholarship. The teacher will receive $500 in class supplies and every day during voting one voter will be given a $100 gift card.

Please click here for more details and guidelines.

Betting on Art for the Super Bowl

Gambling Great Art

The Wall Street Journal, February 2nd has this article called “Art Museums Make Super Bowl Bet” by Candace Jackson. Would you bet a work of art on the Super Bowl? Will it be the Saints or the Colts?

Portland Symphony Orchestra

Student composer

Christopher Staknys is the winner of the Portland Symphony Orchestra’s (PSO) first composer competition in partnership with Maine Music Educators Association (MMEA.) Christopher’s piece “Congo” will be performed at the Spring Youth Concert on March 9th.

Christopher attended 3rd and 4th grade at Plummer Motz school in Falmouth, Falmouth Middle School in 5th grade, was homeschooled in 6th grade and is now attending Walnut Hills School for the Performing Arts in Natick, Massachusettes.

This 12 year old composer is also a pianist and has previously studied violin with PSO violinist Yasmin Craig Vitalius.  His mom recounts Christopher meeting Toshi in the elevator at the Portland Public Library several years ago, saying “Someday you’ll be conducting my music!”

Congratulations Christopher!!