Tri-State Tornado Contest
In a well-organized essay, explain how author Lauren Tarshis transports her readers to March 18, 1925. Use text evidence.
The Tornado Scientist by Mary Kay Carson
Dr. West Contest
Imagine that the United States Postal Service wants ideas for who to feature on a new stamp. Write an essay explaining why that person should be Dr. Gladys B. West. Use information from the article and the informational text to support your ideas.
Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly
Holmes Contest
Jones, Merryweather, Holmes, and Watson are giving a press conference about the case. (A press conference is where someone speaks to reporters about a news event and then answers their questions.) Write the scene of that press conference in the form of a written script or video.
The Thief Knot by Kate Milford
The Cloud Contest
Write what happens next. Be sure to include details that bring the setting to life for your readers.
Greystone Secrets 2: The Deceivers by Margaret Peterson Haddix
You Write It Contest
Read our interview with Nolan Mejia. Choose a central idea and write a three-paragraph article about Nolan in your own words. Be sure to use quotes from our interview.
$25 gift card
Before Smartphones Contest
Interview an adult about what life was like before smartphones. Then use information from your interview as well as the infographic to write an article with the title “Life Before Smartphones.” Your article can be written or it can be in the form of an audio recording or a video.
$25 gift card
Indianapolis Contest
Imagine that you are giving a speech at the USS Indianapolis memorial in Indiana. Write your speech, using information from the article as well as from the video and the slideshow at Scope Online. Send your speech in the form of a video, audio file, or written transcript
Left for Dead by Pete Nelson.
Sneaker Contest
Imagine you are a sneaker designer like Jonathan Guisbert. Design a new sneaker. In a written document, poster, or slideshow, make a pitch that includes a sketch of your sneaker, the high-profile person you think should endorse it, and an explanation of why your sneaker will be successful. Draw on information from the article and the interview.
Hatch by Kenneth Oppel
Wilma Rudolph Contest
Consider Wilma’s last lines in the play. How do these lines relate to Wilma’s story? Use text evidence to support your ideas. Send
Patina by Jason Reynolds.
Plan B Contest
Write the scene that happens between the end of Nathan’s letter and the debriefing. Be true to information revealed in the debriefing and to the characters in the story.
First Light by Rebecca Stead
You Be the Editor Contest
Read our article about auroras. Then follow the prompts in the circles to revise and polish the writing.
$25 gift card
Noisy Mind Contest
Explain what the speaker means when she says her mind is noisy. Then explain—in your own words—what happens when the speaker quiets her noisy mind.
My Thoughts Are Clouds: Poems for Mindfulness by Georgia Heard.
Pick one of Varian Johnson’s three story starters and write an original short fiction story. If Johnson picks YOUR story as the winner, you’ll get $100 and have your story published on Scope Online (plus prizes for your teacher and classmates)!
Check out the winners of the 2019 Write-a-Story contest with Jennifer A. Nielsen.
Scope is packed with contests to get your students excited about writing. And they can win awesome prizes! On this page find information about our current contests, including entry forms and deadlines.
Here you’ll find 7 tips for submitting a winning entry.
At this time we are only accepting entries by e-mail to:
Scope contests are open to legal residents of the U.S. And Canada age 18 and older who are the teacher, parent, or guardian of a student in grades 4-12.
Entries must be submitted by the teacher, parent, or guardian, not the student.
Please note: We cannot accept Google docs.