REGION 9

The Texas General Land Office, through our Save Texas History program, offers an annual essay writing contest for all 4th and 7th graders in the state of Texas. It asks students to answer the question, “What history in your community is worth saving?”. The contest runs September through November and offers gift cards and other prizes for winning students (and, this year, prizes for their teachers).

Open to all 4th and 7th grade students in Texas

Deadline: November 27, 2023

Essay Contest Landing Page

Entry form and rules

Grand prize: $500 per grade level

Finalist prizes: 10 winners will receive $100

Each year the Bryan Museum's “I Am Texas” theme encourages contestants to use historical artifacts found in the Museum as inspiration for their writing. The Bryan Museum houses over 70,000 pieces that tell the story of Texas and the American West and contains many online resources for student research.

This year, middle and high school students can write either a fiction or nonfiction piece about the artifacts from the Museum’s collection. Elementary students are asked to write a letter to a Texan from the past or present. Student artists should get creative and use their unique perspective to interpret the “I Am Texas” theme.

Top winners in each category will receive cash prizes!

Open to 2^nd -12^th grade students.

Deadline: April 30, 2024

I Am Texas Landing Page

Apply for writing contest here

Apply for art contest here

Teacher Resources

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Open to students aged 13-19. 

This student civic engagement contest seeks to foster a robust understanding of citizenship and get students active in their communities. Student service projects can win up to $10,000, with $40,000 in total prizes available to students and teachers.

Application deadline: May 21, 2024. 

Check it out now!

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The TEKS Resource System Social Studies Team is looking to gauge your interest in writing assessment items for social studies. Our goal is to create a pool of trained item writers that can pick up item writing contracts on an as-needed basis. Writers are paid by each approved item. This interest form will remain open. You will be contacted when we are expected to begin creating item orders. At that time, you will need to submit a resume and a sample item for approval. After approval, you will receive item writing training and an initial contract. Successful completion of a contract will lead to being retained in an item writing pool for future contracts. The writer pool is expected to be retained for multiple years with the intent of occasional opportunities to pick up an item writing order.

Requirements you must have for initial consideration:

• Current and Valid Texas Teacher Certification either as an elementary generalist or in secondary social studies
• At least 3 years of classroom experience teaching social studies

Apply here >> http://bit.ly/TRSItemWriting

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