SCOPE CONTESTS

December 2023/January 2024
Deadline
February 19, 2024
Great Alaska Earthquake Contest
How does author Lauren Tarshis transport readers to March 27, 1964? Answer this question in a short response. Use text evidence.
Prize
Mixed Up by Gordon Korman
Pangolin Contest
Drawing on information from the article and the infographic, create a poster, video, or slideshow about saving pangolins from extinction.
Prize
The Last Wild by Piers Torday
Apollo 13 Contest
In the epilogue, Haise says that ingenuity, leadership, and teamwork brought the crew home safely. In a short essay, explain how his statement is supported by details in the play.
Prize
Diary of a Martian by Stephen B. Haunts
The Owl Contest
Write a sequel in which the narrator sees the owl again. Your sequel could take place weeks, years, or even decades later. Don’t tell your readers everything—give them clues so they
can draw inferences.
Prize
a Scope notebook
Root Power Contest
Read “The Mysterious Manuscript.” Then follow these steps: 1. Write down the meaning of each word in green. Use context clues or, if needed, a dictionary. 2. Find another word that contains the root script or scrib. 3. Write a sentence using that word and draw a picture that shows the word’s meaning.
Prize
a $20 Scholastic gift card
My Apologies Contest
Write a poem titled “My Apologies.” Your poem can be to yourself, to a part of yourself, another person, place, or thing.
Prize
a Scope notebook
Gum Contest
Using “The Sticky Story of Gum” as a model, make an infographic titled “The Story of Chocolate.” Present your infographic on a poster or with a digital tool such as Canva.
Prize
a Scope notebook

November 2023
Deadline
December 18, 2023
Code Talkers Contest
Imagine that the U.S. Postal Service wants ideas for who to feature on a new series of stamps. Write an essay explaining why it should choose the code talkers. Support your ideas with information from the article.
Prize
Code Talker by Joseph Bruchac
Mosquito Contest
You just read two texts about mosquitoes. What is each author’s purpose? How does reading both texts give you a more complete understanding of mosquitoes than reading just one of them would? Answer both questions in a short essay. Use text evidence.
Prize
Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson
Olympians Contest
Who do you think is the hero of the play: Zeus, Rhea, Amalthea, or the Cyclopes? Answer this question in a short paragraph. Support your ideas with details from the play.
Prize
The Chalice of the Gods by Rick Riordan
Follow the Water Contest
Explain the title of the story. Who “follows the water,” and in what way? What makes them willing to follow it? Answer both questions in a short essay. Use text evidence.
Prize
Last Day on Mars by Kevin Emerson.
Root Power Contest
Read “Lost in the Corn Maze.” Then follow these steps: 1. Write down the meaning of each word in blue. Use context clues or, if needed, a dictionary. 2. Think of another word that contains grat. 3. Write a sentence using that word and draw a picture that shows the word’s meaning. 4. Send your finished product to Root Power Contest.
Prize
a $20 Scholastic gift card
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.
Entries must be written by a student in grades 4-12 and must be submitted by a teacher, parent, or legal guardian of the student. Entries submitted by someone under 18 will be deleted and disqualified.
Teachers/Parents/Legal Guardians:
Email entries to:
Please attach entries as Word documents or PDFs, put the contest name in the subject line, and include your email address. Please note: We cannot accept Google docs or SharePoint files.