Bays Mountain Young Gardener Essay Contest

Winners:

1. Janit E. Leonard, Haynesfield Elementary
2. John Jennings, St. Anne's School
3. Peyton Vance, Avoca Elementary

Honorable Mention

• Presley Guy, West Side School
• Sydney Waugh, West Side School
• Faith Ann Jensen, Westside Elementary
• Elijah Bo Pless, West Side School
• Katie Bradley, St. Anne's School

Theme Ideas:

• What wildlife would you like to see in your backyard?
• What would the world be like with no trees?

Essay Criteria:

• Only typed entries will be judged.
• Include a title page with: theme title, date, and student’s name, school, and birthday.
• Include as many curriculum standards of learning as possible.
• Essay should not exceed 500 words.
• Student must be currently enrolled in the fourth grade.
• All entries must be postmarked by April 25, 2008.

• Curiosity about the subject: That is, some genuine interest in understanding the subject at hand. Introduction sparks an interest for the reader.
• Questioning: Brainstorm as many questions as possible that can be related to curriculum standards.
• Hypotheses based on questioning: That is, an initial idea, or a hunch, that you will set out to demonstrate in your essay.
• Information gathered in response to the hypotheses: This information forms the main body of the essay. In the essay, do you explain “how” and “why” you arrived at “what” you assert? Have you shown the reader how your information is relevant to your hypotheses? This would include the curriculum strands.
• Conclusion

Prizes:

Any prizes will be awarded to the school the winning student attends.

First Prize will be a Nature Garden with a minimum retail value of $1,500 and installation labor provided by Appalachian Gardens, Inc. The Elementary School of the essay winner will receive the prize. The installation of the Nature Garden will be completed no later than June 6, 2008.

For questions or more information, please contact Bob Culler.

Official rules for the essay contest.