LeFrak Class of the Month Essay Contest
Whales: Giants of the Deep
Please Note: All applicants for the Creatures of Light LeFrak Essay contest: We are still accepting submissions through May 17, 2013 (mailed entries must be post-marked no later than May 17, 2013). Submission forms for Creatures of Light submissions: |
The LeFrak Class of the Month Essay Contest invites New York City students in grades K-8 to submit essays about their Museum visit to the LeFrak Family Gallery, where they can experience Whales: Giants of the Deep.
This non-fiction reading and writing opportunity asks students to think critically about what they learned from their visit to the exhibition, and provides teachers with the opportunity to align a Museum learning experience with Common Core State Standards in ELA for Reading and Writing Informational Texts.
Eligibility
The contest is open to all New York City school groups in grades K through 8. Students must have visited the Whales: Giants of the Deep exhibit in the LeFrak Family Gallery between March 25 2013 - May 2013 for the 2012-2013 School Year and between September 2013 and January 3, 2014 for the 2013-2014 School Year.
Contest Guidelines
Student essay word length cannot exceed 200-250 words.
Refer to the Essay Scoring Rubric provided in the entry packet for additional essay requirements.
Student work must be done on the Student Entry Sheet provided in the Entry Packet and must have students’ name clearly printed in the space provided on each page.
When submitted, the Entry Packet must include work from all students that participated in the field trip.
When submitted, the Entry Packet must include a class roster.
The entry form must be signed by both the teacher and the principal.
Entry Materials
Entry forms are now available below. There is a form for each grade level between Grades K and 8.
Submissions
2012-2013 School Year
Submissions will be accepted from March 25 - May 17, 2013.
Note: Mailed entries must be postmarked no later than May 17, 2013
2013-2014 School Year
Submissions will be accepted from September 2013 - February 5, 2014.
Note: Mailed entries must be postmarked no later than February 5, 2014
Mail the Completed form and students work to:
LeFrak Class of the Month Essay Contest Administrator
American Museum of Natural History/Gottesman Center for Science Teaching and Learning
Central Park West and 79th Street
New York, NY 10024-5192
Essay Contest Judging
Student work must use the relevant grade level specific templates and rubric parameters included in the teacher information packet.
Entries will be judged by:
- adherence to contest rules
- essays will be judged using the grade specific rubric included in your teacher materials packet.
Winning Entries and Prizes
All winners will be announced at the end of the contest cycle.
Class of the Month winners will:
- Be invited to a special end-of-school year celebration at the Museum for students and their families from the winning school
- Receive a classroom visit from a Museum Educator during which your class will be presented with a certificate and a classroom library set of non-fiction science books worth $2000
- Have selected winning essays published on the Museum’s Website
Booking your Field Trip
General and Special Exhibition Admission to the Museum is free for NYC School Groups. Advance Reservations and tickets are required. We recommend that you book your trip five weeks in advance of your planned visit date. To start planning your field trip to the LeFrak family gallery, CLICK HERE
Educator Guides and additional resources to help prepare students for their visit can be found on the Whales: Giants of the Deep For Educators Page. CLICK HERE
The American Museum of Natural History gratefully acknowledges the LeFrak family’s commitment to supporting scientific and cultural understanding among the school children, educators, and families of New York City through the Richard and Karen LeFrak Charitable Foundation, Inc.