Ozarks Public Television proudly presents the annual OPT/PBS KIDS Writers Contest, designed to promote the advancement of children’s literacy skills through hands-on, active learning. The Contest empowers children in grades K-3 to celebrate creativity and build literacy skills by writing and illustrating their very own stories.
2020 OPT/PBS KIDS Writers Contest – ENTRY DEADLINE EXTENDED TO MAY 15TH!
How the Contest Works
Beginning February 10, 2020, children can submit their entries to the OPT/PBS KIDS Writers Contest.
The entry deadline is May 15, 2020. OPT will select local winners and award prizes in the summer of 2020. Additionally, local winners will be featured on www.optv.org, and winning stories will be displayed at Waverly House Gifts and Gallery.
Contest Rules/Entry Form
Please review the Contest Rules for eligibility guidelines and story requirements. All entries must be accompanied by an entry form signed by the child's parent or guardian. Please make sure you print clearly as we use the information on the entry forms to create award certificates, mail back stories, and communicate with parents via email. You can access the entry form and rules below, or you may contact OPT via email or call 417-836-6256 to request an entry form.
IMPORTANT! OPT offices are closed to the public due to local stay-at-home orders. Please DO NOT drop off your submission. Please mail your submission, or scan and submit via email.
Submit via Mail:
Ozarks Public Television/MSU
Attn: Melissa Rea
901 South National
Springfield, MO 65897
OR Submit via Email: MRea@MissouriState.edu
Creative Writing Resources
This packet contains a series of resources to help your little writers break down the process of story writing. It includes a teacher’s guide and printable documents to help writers with brainstorming, revising, illustrating, and caption-writing. Let the story writing begin!
Teachers can find additional resources at PBS Learning Media.
Congratulations to the 2019 KIDS Writers Contest Winners!
Kindergarten
First Place: Camren Lamb, Fort Scott, KS – “Penguin the Penguin”
Second Place (Tie): Arabella Louderback, Golden City, MO – “One Gold Step for Two Cats”
Second Place (Tie): Zoey Shoemaker, Springfield, MO – “The Girl and The Bear”
Third Place: Max Powers, Springfield, MO – “The Lady”
1st Grade
First Place: Savannah Stevens, Mindenmines, MO - “The Adventures of Bat Girl
Second Place (Tie): Juniper Fields, Marshfield, MO – “Bongo the Lemur”
Second Place (Tie): Elsie Slone, Nixa, MO – “The Rescue Raccoon”
Third Place: Anley Morrison, Branson, MO – “Sylvie Skunk”
2nd Grade
First Place: Samuel Ivor Walworth, Branson, MO – “Brain Boy vs. The Mathematical Menace”
Second Place (Tie): Dalton Morrison, Branson, MO – “Wilderness Island”
Second Place (Tie): Levi Nelson, Springfield, MO – “My House is Full of Pets!”
Third Place: Cameron Acosta, Springfield, MO – “A Panda Named Potato”
3rd Grade
First Place: Anna Roller, Stockton, MO – “There is Only One You”
Second Place: Sydney Jacobs, Neosho, MO – “Time Twist”
Third Place: Lindsleigh Todd, Mountain Grove, MO – “The Hero”
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