For Schools
School-Based Competitions: Art Contest Ideas
1. Have students create a poster that illustrates America's melting pot.
2. Ask students to create a poster montage showing how diverse people have contributed to America's government, legal system, popular culture, etc.
3. Ask students to create a poster montage that reflects America's quest for equality.
4. Have students create a poster that shows people celebrating or using their freedom.
5. Assign students to create an informational poster montage that explains the trial rights guaranteed in the Constitution.
6. Challenge students to create a poster that explains their understanding of our freedoms as American citizens.
7. Have students design artwork suitable for a billboard and purchase use of a billboard to advertise Law Day events for the entire month prior to the events.
With some advance planning, you might sponsor a t-shirt or button contest with the winning artwork being displayed on items worn on Law Day.
Don't forget the special education students, for whom this form of expression is particularly appropriate. The Dallas Bar Association once instituted a Special Education Art Contest. In cooperation with the Dallas Association of Court Administrators, they mailed entry packets to over 200 special education teachers. Students were asked to interpret their understanding of our freedoms as American citizens. All entrants received Honorable Mention Ribbons, and winners were selected in the K-5, 6-8, and 9-12 categories. All entries were displayed in a central jury room for an entire month.
Dioramas
Dioramas are small scenes which depict historical events. Students could create dioramas that illustrate important events in the history of our rights. The dioramas could illustrate people using their rights or being denied rights. Students should be judged on selection, accuracy, completeness and artistic rendering of the scene in their diorama. You will probably want to create different competitions for students depending on their grade level. The best could be displayed in a public building, like the courthouse or city hall. They might even be preserved for displaying on future Law Days.
Photo Contests
1. Adapt ideas stated above for use in a photo contest.
2. Ask students to create a photo that reflects the statement "One Nation Out of Immigrants from Many Nations."
3. Visit the Images of Freedom Student Photography Website for more ideas.
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