Every year, HSLDA offers quarterly contests in art, poetry, photography, and essay writing, open to all homeschooled students (ages 7–19). Through its contests, HSLDA hopes to offer homeschooled students the opportunity to hone their skills in a fun and creative setting that invites them to think outside the box and be rewarded for excellence.
Art Contest
December 1–February 1 (contest is closed)
December 1–February 1 (contest is closed)
Category 1 (Ages 7–10*): Expressionist Art
Incorporate one characteristic of art from the Expressionist period in your entry:
Category 2 (Ages 11–14*): Renaissance Art
Incorporate one characteristic of art from the Renaissance period in your entry:
Category 3 (Ages 15–19*): Realism Art
Incorporate one characteristic of art from the Realism period in your entry:
Optional: To add a little humor, students may choose to incorporate a quarantine-related twist (mask, gloves, hand sanitizer—anyone?) of their choosing into their entry.
Sources: For art history or other art-related materials, check out these vendors: Christianbook or Sonlight Curriculum.
*All ages are as of January 1, 2020
Poetry Contest
March 1–May 1 (contest is closed)
March 1–May 1 (contest is closed)
Write a rhyming poem that encompasses your impressions of the time of day in your age category:
Category 1 (Ages 7–10*)
Morning
What comes to your mind when you think of the morning? It could be blueberry pancakes, doing chores, sunshine flooding your room, or hugs from your family! Or maybe it’s a feeling—excitement, grogginess, or cheer. Whatever it is, share your impressions of morning with us in a poem.
Category 2 (Ages 11–14*)
Afternoon
What does the afternoon mean to you? Do you find comfort in the balance between the push of morning and the settling down of evening? Do you enjoy the symmetry of light distribution that can only occur near midday? Maybe you’re fond of afternoon walks in the rain or like to indulge in a specific lunchtime routine. Describe your afternoon impressions to us in a poem.
Category 3 (Ages 15–19*)
Evening
How does evening speak to you? Does the dark, sparkling sky fill your mind with thoughts of the future? Do you enjoy how the gentle quiet of night complements the bustling energy of day? Perhaps your evening ritual is curling up on the window seat with the moon in view to pray for your loved ones. Reveal your impressions of evening to us in a poem.
*All ages are as of March 1, 2021
Photo Contest
June 1–August 1 (contest is closed)
June 1–August 1 (contest is closed)
Words likely flood your mind when you analyze a photo to determine why it attracts your attention. If you think about it hard enough, you can probably even boil those words down to single-word descriptors. In this year’s photography contest, create a photo shoot that reflects the single-word descriptor in your age category.
Category 1 (Ages 7-10*): Small
Everywhere you look, you will find big things and even bigger things, like cars, trees, and skyscrapers. But if you look closely, you will find some small objects worth noting. For example, maybe your family has begun growing your own produce and now finding a few small, bright, juicy tomatoes in your garden means fresh tomato soup and grilled cheese for dinner (your favorite!). Or perhaps you appreciate something small for its visually stunning effect—a hunk of pyrite that sparkles radiantly in the sunlight. Let these two examples of “small” things spark your creativity to interpret this theme in any number of ways. Submit a photo that embodies the word small.
Category 2 (Ages 11-14*): Natural
The abundant, elemental beauty of earth sometimes seems hard to find as urbanization expands. However, no matter where you are, the beauty of naturally-occurring, simple things or settings can be detected with sharp eyes—eyes that want to see it. Maybe your neighborhood is completely overtaken with dandelions. While not the most obvious candidate for a lovely subject, a dandelion can appear just as graceful as the most delicate rose in the right setting, with the right lighting, taken from the right angle. As the photographer, your task is to find that perspective! Let this example of a “natural” subject spark your creativity to interpret this theme in any number of ways. Submit a photo that embodies the word natural.
Category 3 (Ages 15-19*): Dazzling
Most dictionary definitions of dazzling relate to intense light or brightness and/or impressive quality. Can you recall when you encountered something dazzling? Maybe fireworks or a rainbow? While it might be difficult to project your own rainbow, you can still discover some dazzle in everyday settings. Picture the way the light hits your mom’s favorite glassware freshly cleaned with lemon juice, or how the light pours in through the stained glass in your church’s foyer. Let these few examples of “dazzling” things spark your creativity to interpret this theme in any number of ways. Submit a photo that embodies the word dazzling.
*All ages are as of June 1, 2021
Essay Contest
September 1–November 1 (Now accepting entries!)
September 1–November 1 (Now accepting entries!)
Category 1 (Ages 7–10*)
A friend is a special gift—someone whom you can play with, talk to, and trust. Sometimes you find friends in surprising places; maybe your friend is not your peer or is pretend. The comic Calvin and Hobbes features a great example of a make-believe friend, Hobbes the imaginary tiger. A friend can be a family member, one of your pets, or somebody from your church or another group. Tell us about one of your friends, whether real or imaginary.
Category 2 (Ages 11–14*)
Sometimes life places us in uncomfortable and uncertain situations. For instance, when a natural disaster occurs, our families may have to evacuate to a safer place than home. In a situation like this, it’s important to have the essentials ready to go—say, in an emergency backpack. If you were to prepare an emergency backpack, what would you put in it?
Category 3 (Ages 15–19*)
Challenging experiences teach us important, practical lessons about life and about ourselves, and navigating a pandemic is no exception. Now, think into the future. . . . If we were to experience another pandemic in 2051, what three significant lessons from this past year would you want to pass on to the generation of teenagers going through that future pandemic?
See Rules & Guidelines on the entry form for important instructions!
*All ages are as of September 1, 2021
All contest profits go to HSLDA Compassion, which uses them to provide low-income homeschooling families with access to educational and legal resources to help them continue homeschooling.
Please contact the Contest Coordinator at contests@hslda.org with any questions.