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Invasive Species Art and Video Contest

Deadline May 1, 2023.

Theme: "Think Ahead; Stop the Spread"

Invasive species are plants, animals, and microorganisms that are not native to an environment, and that once introduced, establish, quickly reproduce and spread, and harm the environment, economy, or human health. Invasive species spread in many ways, and everyone can play a part in stopping them from spreading. Download art and video contest flyer.

Instructions

Art Contest

  • Open to grades 2-12. Each entry must be from an individual student.
  • Create an original piece of art on an invasive species issue that affects California, focused on the theme “Think Ahead; Stop the Spread”.
  • You may want to choose a topic relevant to your local area (see Helpful Resources below).
  • Entries may be drawings, paintings, mixed media, sculpture, or comic strips.
  • Submit a scan or photo of your artwork (maximum 10MB).
  • Artwork will be judged on the information conveyed, creativity, and relevance to the theme.
    • Entries will be judged in three grade divisions (2-4, 5-8, 9-12) with three winners selected from each division.
    • One entry will receive the Invasive Species Program Choice Award (grand prize).
    • Winners will be notified and announced on CDFW’s Facebook page during Invasive Species Action Week in June.

Video Contest

  • Open to grades 5-12. Contestants may be an individual student, a small group, or a class.
  • Create a 60 second live or animated video on an invasive species issue that affects California, focused on the theme “Think Ahead; Stop the Spread”.
    • You may want to choose a topic relevant to your local area (see Helpful Resources below).
    • The video must be the work of the student(s). Adults may provide minimal help such as holding the camera for filming.
    • Add citations for any materials used that are not your own.
    • All videos must include captions for digital accessibility. See instructions for adding captions in YouTube and Google Drive.
  • Submit your entry by providing the link to your YouTube or Google Drive on the entry form. Do not send entries via email or DropBox; our system’s security settings will not permit them. Mark videos as public so judges can view them.
  • Videos will be judged on the information conveyed, creativity, and relevance to the theme.
    • Winners will be notified in May and given instructions to provide a file.
    • Winners will be announced on CDFW’s Facebook page during Invasive Species Action Week in June and displayed on CDFW’s YouTube channel. The parent or guardian of each student who appears in the video must sign a release form for a video to be displayed.

Helpful Resources

For Teachers

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Researching invasive species to create art or videos meet California curriculum standards:

  • Next Generation Science Standards
    • Grade 2: 2-LS2-1 and 2-LS2-2
    • Grade 5: 5-LS2-1 and 5-ESS3-1
    • Middle School: MS-LS2-4, MS-LS2-1, MS-ETS1-1
    • High School: HS-LS2-7 (LS4.D) and HS-LS4-6 (ETS1.B)
  • English Language Arts
    • Grades 5-12: SL.5.4, SL.5.5, SL.6.4, SL.6.5, SL.7.4, SL.7.5, SL.8.4, SL.8.5, SL.9-10.4, SL.9-10.5, SL.11-12.5
  • Visual Arts
    • Grades 7-12: 7.VA:Cr2.3, 8.VA:Cr2.3, Prof.MA:Cr2