Neuroscience For Kids

2014 writing contest

The 2014 Neuroscience for Kids Poetry Contest is NOW COMPLETE and winners have been selected! The NEW Neuroscience for Kids Poetry Contest is now open.

Award Winning Poems

By Israella C. (Grade 1) There is something exciting about your brain in your head. It tells you when to get up and when to go to bed. The brain is your thinker and Loves when you tinker With ideas and problems to solve or things to fix The brain is the thing that really ticks.	By Reese W. (Grade 1) Three pound of wrinkle, Crammed in your skull. One hundred billion neurons, Science is never dull! Memories, smells, ideas and pain All come from your super, special brain!	By Addison M. (Grade 4) My occipital lobe helps me to see, the newly made milkshake made just for me. My temporal lobe will help me to detect, the sweet smell of strawberries and their effect. My temporal lobe also helps me to hear, the sounds of "slurp, slurp, slurp" in my ear. My parietal lobe is saying "yum, yum, yum," But slow down a brain freeze will come. My frontal lobe solves one last problem, how to get the cherry off the bottom.
By Bracklinn W. (Grade 5) A neuron is a brain cell, A tiny part of a large group. Billions of neurons get along well, Resulting in a conscious loop. Like a member of a bucket brigade, Signals are sent along the line. Jumping synapses in the crazy parade, The pulses make up the brain of mine. Oh humble neuron, you are so small. But without you, I couldn't think at all!	By Ehren C. (Grade 3) In a blink, each eye snaps a photo. Say "Cheese!" It's upside down on the retina. "Fix it, please." The picture is shredded into electrical parts, Traveling through a web of neurons, like tiny darts. The visual cortex processes what we see. It assembles the signals, that's a guarantee! The view from each eye together is mixed. It is now right side up and fixed!	By Cooper L. (Grade 6) My brain injury Lost distracted confused sad Life's puzzle won't fit.
By Aversa P. (Grade 8) I'm twelve with SM My brain thinks, reasons, and dreams. My voice is silent. Note: SM = selective mutism	By Christina G. (Grade 8) Alzheimer's disease Comes and goes without a trace Lost is mental grace	By Chloe D. (Grade 6) Right and left in sync Hemispheres communicate They help you to think.
By Colton C. (Grade 10) The occipital lobe gives you vision It helps you see things with precision Without it you'd be A blind man who can't see And constantly risk a collision.	Nancy H. (Grade 9) The brain is a valuable instrument And if used can solve any predicament It contains synapses and nerves All the body's functions it serves Proving that it is truly magnificent.	By Alexander L. (Grade 10) An artist had hemispatial neglect It was quite the inconvenient defect His painting wasn't quite right The right side was just pure white Oh well, at least the left half was perfect.
By Baishali R. (Adult) Flow of current like a spark Action potential, like light through dark Passing through the nerves Making all the verves; All our sensation By this conversation; Dancing ions' brilliance The core of our existence.

Here were the contest rules:

Only one entry per person. Please type or print your poems so we can read them.
Use the official entry form (copies of the form are acceptable) to write a poem about the nervous system in the style for your age group.
All poems, limericks and haiku must have at least THREE lines and CANNOT be longer than TEN lines. Material that is shorter than three lines or longer than ten lines will not be read.
All material must have a neuroscience theme such as brain anatomy (a part of the brain), brain function (memory, language, emotions, movement, the senses, etc.), drug abuse or brain health (helmets, brain disorders, etc.). Be creative! Use your brain!
Entries will be divided into five age groups:

If you are in Kindergarten to Grade 2, your poem can be in any style; it doesn't even have to rhyme.

If you are in Grade 3 to Grade 5, your poem must rhyme. You can rhyme the last words on lines one and two; the last words on lines three and four, etc. or you can choose your own pattern.

If you are in Grade 6 to Grade 8, your poem must be in the form of a haiku. A haiku has only THREE lines. Also, haiku MUST use the following pattern: 5 syllables in the first line; 7 syllables in the second line; 5 syllables in the third line.

Example Haiku:
Three pounds of jelly
wobbling around in my skull
and it can do math.

If you are in Grade 9 to Grade 12, your poem must be in the form of a limerick. A limerick has 5 lines; lines one, two and five rhyme with each other and have the same number of syllables; lines three and four rhyme with each other and have the same number of syllables.

Example Limerick
The brain is important, that's true,
For all things a person will do,
From reading to writing,
To skiing to biting,
It makes up the person who's you.

If you are a college student, teacher, parent or someone else, your poem must rhyme and explain why it is important to learn about the brain.

To enter the contest, mail your completed entry form with your poem to:

Dr. Eric H. Chudler
Center for Sensorimotor Neural Engineering
1414 NE 42nd St., Box 37
Seattle, WA 98105-6271

Entries must be received by February 1, 2014 and cannot be returned.
People and their families associated with the Neuroscience for Kids web site are not eligible to enter the contest. Kids from ALL countries are welcome to participate.
The staff of Neuroscience for Kids and other individuals will judge poems on the basis of originality, scientific accuracy and overall style.
At least one winner from each group will be selected. Winners will be announced by March 1 and will be notified by e-mail or regular mail. The winner agrees to allow Neuroscience for Kids to publish his/her name (first name and last initial only) and poem on the Neuroscience for Kids web site. Winner addresses and e-mail addresses will NOT be published.
All materials received will become the property of Neuroscience for Kids and will not be returned. Neuroscience for Kids will not be responsible for entries that are damaged or lost in the mail.
Winners will be awarded a book or other prize to be determined later. Prizes will be mailed to the address listed on the winner's entry form.

CONTEST SPONSOR: NEURO4KIDS.COM

Void where prohibited by law. Questions about this contest should be directed to Dr. Chudler at: chudler@u.washington.edu