Contest: Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Hub Create a Story Contest?
The Hub Create a Story Contest is an elementary school (K-5) story writing contest. The contest invites teachers to organize groups of 2 – 4 students, have them choose one of four Hub TV shows as a platform for their story, share with them some show images and/or short videos, and let each group run with their imaginations. Using the tools they have learned in class about the writing process in conjunction with a few visual cues, groups are encouraged to work as a team to come up with an engaging, creative and a well written story.
How can I incorporate this contest into writing curriculum?
You may want to use this contest as a final writing project. Let your students embrace the writing process on their own. On the other hand, you could use this writing contest as a catalyst of sorts to encourage your students to write. They could take the piece for this contest through the writing process, lesson by lesson. You could base several weeks worth of writing lessons around getting started, developing, revising, and publishing this piece.
What are the dates for this contest?
Teachers may submit their students’ stories from October 8, 2010 at 5:00 PM Eastern Time (“ET”) through December 17, 2010 at 5:00 PM ET.
How can my students participate in the contest?
Just go through the steps under Getting Started and we walk you through the process. Once your students craft their group stories, the teacher is responsible for registering and submitting the entries.
Who is eligible to participate in the contest?
Students in grades kindergarten through fifth grade at a public, private, or parochial school located in the United States at the time of entry, under the supervision of a classroom teacher.
How will The Hub Create a Story Contest be judged?
Please do not submit any typed piece longer than two pages, double spaced (12 pt. font). Longer is not always better; judging will take place on content, not length. Judging criteria include: Creative Storyline – 50%, Flow & Structure – 25%, and Originality in using Hub characters – 25%.
When will the stories be judged?
Judging will begin on or around December 18, 2010. Winners will be notified on or about January 30, 2011.
Can a student participate on more than one group?
No, students may only participate in one group.
Can I submit a story from an individual student?
Individual student stories cannot be submitted because of the legal rules of this contest.
How do I enter my students’ stories?
Simply go to the section titled “Enter the Contest.” The first time you enter you will be asked to provide some basic contact information and create a password. Then, to enter a story, all you have to do is sign in using your password and email address. You can cut and paste from a word document right into the form. Please note that once a story is entered and submitted there is no option to go back and review and/or edit.
Feel free to type the final piece for your students while staying true to their content and structure.
How polished should the submissions be?
Please let the students edit and revise their own work. Let them take the piece through the writing process on their own. You may want to have mini-conferences to give them some advice and guidance, but allow the students to be the publishers of their own work.
Can my students add characters not featured in a Hub show?
By all means. They should take their inspiration from a Hub show and the characters presented, but encourage them to branch off as they see fit and be creative as possible.
What are the prizes and how many will be awarded?
Stories submitted will be judged separately among K-2 and 3-5 entries. A winning story will be selected among both grade bands. The group and their teacher will be showcased right here on www.hubforteachers.com. The teacher of the winning group will receive a digital storytelling prize pack for his or her class to include a green screen, flip video camera and digital storytelling software. Each wining student will receive a Hub prize pack. It will be the responsibility of the teacher to receive and distribute the prize pack to their winning students.
Is the contest open to students outside of the United States?
No, the contest is for students within the U.S. only.
What is the likelihood that one of my student groups will win?
The chances will depend upon the final number of entries and the quality of the entries received. However, we encourage you to celebrate all of your students’ efforts. See the list of suggested celebratory activities listed in our Storytelling in the Classroom/Publishing section.