Educators' Tools

Statewide Poster and Poetry/Prose Exhibit:

“Lending a Hand to Protect Our Precious Land!”

Dear Fifth/Sixth Grade Educators,

Contest Materials:

• Poster, Poetry and Prose Calendar
• Environmental Pathways
• Participation packet
• Previous Exhibits: Select Year 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997

We invite your students to participate in the annual Environmental Pathways statewide poster and poetry/prose exhibit. The theme of the 2013 event will be “Lending a Hand to Protect Our Precious Land!” focusing on land pollution and ways to prevent it.

We ask that you use our educational packet, “Environmental Pathways - Youth Investigating Pollution Issues in Illinois,” in your classroom during the month of January. Following this year's theme with a focus on preventing land pollution and protecting land resources.

We believe that the creation of posters and written works gives your students an opportunity to express and share, on a deeper and more personal level, what they have learned. The student exhibit also draws attention to environmental issues.

We recommend that you have a school exhibit of your students' works. Ask students and faculty to vote for their favorite entries. Then send the Illinois EPA the top four posters and top four poetry/prose entries (representing the school) for inclusion in the statewide exhibit.

Students whose works have been chosen for the exhibit, together with their parents and teachers, will be invited to an awards reception in Springfield. The finalists will receive certificates and ribbons. Twelve students (six in each category) will be given special recognition and will each receive an environmental reference book for his or her school's library. Following the recognition reception, the works will remain on display at the Illinois EPA March 25^th through April 26^th.

The top twelve entries also will be displayed on the Illinois EPA's web site providing additional recognition for the winning entries as well as promoting the program.

To participate in the poster and poetry/prose contest you will need the participation packet which contains the rules and necessary forms. Please read the timetable below and note important dates and deadlines. If you have previously participated in the poster contest please take time to complete the poster contest survey.

Lending a Hand to Protect Our Precious Land!

Exhibit timetable is as follows:

January 2013

Teachers incorporate the Environmental Pathways materials into classroom curricula with focus on preventing land pollution and preserving land resources.

January 22 - 25

Students create posters or written works relating to the theme focus.

January 28 - 31

Teachers display posters and poems/prose at their school. Students and faculty vote to select four posters and four written entries to submit to the Illinois EPA for further judging.

February 1

Teacher/school sends four posters and/or four poems/prose to the Illinois EPA; a total of eight entries per school. Entries must be postmarked before or on February 1, 2013.

February 19

Illinois EPA staff selects the top posters and written works for exhibition.

February 21

A panel of judges (from local organizations) selects the top twelve entries.

March 23

Reception and awards ceremony held in Springfield.

March 25 - April 26

Top posters, poems and prose on exhibit at the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, Springfield.

Informational resources can be found on the following web sites:

• Illinois Department of Natural Resources
• U.S. EPA
• Earth 911

Awards are subject to change or funding.

All entries become the property of the Illinois EPA. If you have any questions, please call Kristi Morris at (217) 558-7198.