GO HERE FOR GUIDELINES
AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL ESSAY CONTEST
How do your students see America?
In 1893, Katharine Lee Bates, a college professor at Wellesley College, traveled by train from Massachusetts to Colorado. She was so inspired by her journey that she wrote the words to America the Beautiful.Your students experience the beauty of America every day and we want them to write about it. Students who write the best essays will compete for a chance to win a trip to Washington, D.C.
Rand McNally and USA TODAY have been working together to find the best of America - the best small towns, most patriotic places, and friendliest folks. (bestoftheroad.com). As technology has made the world smaller, geographic awareness has become a critical skill for 21st century life. Rand McNally's mission is to provide students with that geographic foundation and to foster an appreciation of the world around them, while USA TODAY has been helping teachers enhance literacy and knowledge of current events for more than 25 years. Now we are reaching out to you and your classroom to find out what young people think about their country, state, or community and what makes them special.
As a teacher whose students participate in the program, you will have a chance to win gift certificates, a NOOK tablet™, and even a trip to Washington, D.C. - plus $5,000 worth of Rand McNally product for your school. Your students will have the opportunity to win a $10,000 college savings plan and a trip to Washington, D.C
The goal of the 2012 America the Beautiful contest is to inspire students to appreciate what makes our country great and to use their writing skills to share with others stories about those places that are special to them. We want to know what they love about their hometown or a place where they experienced a special memory or what landmarks in our country inspire them.
So rally your classroom and challenge your students to dig deep and tell us what makes America beautiful.
Print and post our classroom poster to inform students about the contest.