Education >Celebrate Wetlands > Write On Challenge > Writers
 
 
Part I: The Writer's Challenge
Grades 6-9

 

Instructions and Tips

Remember the theme: "Amazing Adaptations"
Wetland plants and animals have to have special features to help them survive in their sometimes watery environment. Write a story exploring some of the amazing adaptations found in a wetland! Topics could include questions like:

  • Why do cypress trees have knees?
  • Which spiders can change color and why?
  • Eat or be eaten- how do they keep from becoming lunch?
  • Swimming, floating, sinking - how do organisms move in the water?
  • Why do frogs breathe through their skin?
  • Or invent a topic of your own!

Once you have your idea or main theme, create an outline for your story and include all of the points that you want to make.

Be creative!
Your story should be unique and clear. All stories should include the three components of a wetland, but let the story speak for itself. You don't have to say "A wetland is ____".
  • For example, if young Crusty the Crab hides from hungry Billy the Bass in a grassy marsh, then readers will get the idea that wetlands function as safe nurseries for young animals.
Remember your audience!
Your book should be geared toward kids ages 5-9. Use words that are simple enough for readers at that level to understand, but don't be afraid to introduce some challenging new vocabulary to keep them interested.
  • Think of what stories students that age might enjoy. For the youngest ones, you may even want to consider what their parents would enjoy, as they are often the ones reading stories to their children.

Format
 Your story must be submitted on 8.5" x 11" paper, typed, double spaced, with one-inch margins.

  • To save paper, put muliples pages of the story on one sheet of paper and insert the words "page break" to show where you would like different pages to end.
  • The final book will have 16 pages of text.
  • Each page should have no more than 70 words.

Edit
 Be sure to proofread your story for spelling, grammar, and factual errors.

  • To make sure you get your wetland facts straight, do your research. A good place to start online is www.wetland.org.
  • If you have any wetland questions along the way, contact a member of our Education Department at (410)745-9620 or click here to email your question.

Dont Forget...
 A fun, catchy title for your story!

 

Submit

Deadline for submissions:
All stories must be received no later than February 1 2010*

Include:
Story entry (see format above) with: Name, Address, Teacher's Name, School Address, and Contact Phone # or Email Address.

By mail:
Environmental Concern
c/o Write On! Wetlands Challenge
PO Box P
St. Michaels, MD 21663

Save a tree!
 E-mail: educate@wetland.org (send story as an attachment)

 

*Once submitted, all entries will be considered property of Environmental Concern and will not be returned.
EC reserves the right to edit the winning manuscript for length, spelling, grammar, etc.

 
  Checklist for Write On! Wetlands Story:

Does my story have a theme related to “Amazing Adaptations”?

Is my story original and creative?

Is the story title catchy and fitting?

Will readers learn something new from my story?

Is my story appropriate for ages 5-9? (Will children that age understand it? Will it keep them interested?)

Is my story free of spelling, grammar, and factual errors?

Did I type my story double spaced on an 8.5” x 11” paper, with 1” margins, and page numbers labeled?

Did I indicate where each new page begins with an appropriate page break?

Does each page of the story have no more than 70 words?

Did I include the three parts of a wetland: water, plants, and soil?

Will my story make it to Environmental Concern by February 1st?