Neuroscience for Kids - Drawing Contest

2002 Neuroscience for Kids
Writing Contest

The results of the Neuroscience for Kids Writing contest are in! We received 726 poems from students in kindergarten though grade 12. Most of the poems were from students in grades 4 through 8. To judge the contest, Dr. Eric Chudler read all 726 poems and selected 20 poems from each grade category (Kindergarten-Grade 2; Grade 3-Grade 5; Grade 6-Grade 8; Grade 9-12). Twelve judges (6 neuroscientists, 3 teachers, 1 fifth grade student, 1 local PTA Board member, 1 University of Washington staff member) read these selected finalists and chose up to 10 of their favorites. The judges' scores were then tallied and the poems that received the most votes were declared winners. Below is a list of the winners and a few samples of their poems. Winners were awarded a book (including those from Capstone Press, Millbrook Press, Copper Beech Books and Twenty-First Century Book) related to neuroscience.
Kindergarten through Grade 2 (poem; any style)
From Steven J., a second grader in Phoenix, AZ: The brain is strong, The brain is smart, The brain is the most important part.	From Christopher T., a second grader in Minden, LA: My brain is a mystery but it helps me with my history. My brain helps me to learn and it tells me when to turn. With my brain I can learn technology or I can learn biology. It helps me see the light and I know when it's night.
Grade 3 to Grade 5 (poem; must rhyme)
From Troy T., a third grader in N. Charleston, SC: Cerebellum controls the way you stand, It also controls a ball in your hand. Neurons are very fast. Messages to your brain they blast. Skulls are hard, Unless they're jarred. The cranium is very hard, It will save you in your yard. The cerebrum helps remember the past So happy times will always last.	From Nereyda H., a fourth grader in College Place, WA: You help me think You help me speak You do my homework Every week.
Grade 6 to Grade 8 (must be a limerick)
From Mariah H., an eighth grader in Chuckey, TN: I have a 3lb mass up top Where all my input goes, nonstop I use it all day I'm trying to say My brain is the best friend I've got!	From John M., a sixth grader in Loudonville, NY: The organ that's known as the brain, Is the center for pleasure and pain. It controls the five senses, And muscles to hop fences. It's called el cerebro in Spain.
Grade 9 to Grade 12 (must be a haiku)
Jessie G., a tenth grader in St. Peters, MO: Synapses sparking Neurons connecting my thoughts Understanding dawns.	Kaylee E., a ninth grader in Hattiesburg, MS: We think that we know. But, understanding the brain? It's more than we think.

List of All Winners
Grade K-2	Grade 3-5	Grade 6-8	Grade 9-12
Mark B., Lynden, WA Steven J., Phoenix, AZ Hamlyn F., Lindenhurst, NY Gentry F., Lindenhurst, NY Cameron I., Marietta, GA Leslie F., Moorestown, NJ Kelsey B., Moorestown, NJ Carlo R., Moorestown, NJ Victoria M., Moorestown, NJ Katie S., Moorestown, NJ Thornton B., Stewartsville, NJ Ben C., Moorestown, NJ Alexander I., Moorestown, NJ Mary B., Fairview Heights, IL Donald T., Minden, LA Christopher T., Minden, LA	Nereyda H., College Place, WA Troy T., N. Charlestown, SC Arif J., Hanahan, SC Andrew R., Hanahan, SC Brad R., Hanahan, SC Alyssa D., Hanahan, SC Alicyn B., Fort Worth, TX	Catherine D., Ringwood, NJ Mariah H., Chuckey, TN John M., Loudonville, NY	Jessie G., St. Peters, MO Kaylee E., Hattiesburg, MS Hunter S., Bruceton, TN

Your Brain
by Terri DeGezelle, Mankato (MN): Bridgestone Books, 2002 Your Senses
by Helen Frost, Mankato (MN): Pebble Books, 2000 101 Questions Your Brain Has Asked About Itself but Couldn't Answer ... Until Now
by Faith Hickman Brynie, Brookfield (CT): The Millbrook Press, 1998 Medicine's Brave New World by Margaret O. Hyde and John F. Setaro, Brookfield (CT): Twenty-First Century Books, 2001

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Your Brain by Terri DeGezelle, Mankato (MN): Bridgestone Books, 2002	Your Senses by Helen Frost, Mankato (MN): Pebble Books, 2000	101 Questions Your Brain Has Asked About Itself but Couldn't Answer ... Until Now by Faith Hickman Brynie, Brookfield (CT): The Millbrook Press, 1998	Medicine's Brave New World by Margaret O. Hyde and John F. Setaro, Brookfield (CT): Twenty-First Century Books, 2001