Charleston Soil & Water Conservation District


2017 Healthy Soils Contest School Winners!

Poster Contest Winners:

  • Kindergarten Class - Montessori Community School of Charleston- Terry Hartnett, Teacher
  • 1st Grade Class - Porter-Gaud School - Meri Stanec, Teacher (Tied Winner)
  • 1st Grade Class - Charleston Collegiate School - Krystie Mueller, Teacher  (Tied Winner)
  • 2nd Grade Class - Montessori Community School of Charleston - Amy Pontiff, Teacher
  • 3rd and 4th Grade Classes - Mt. Pleasant Academy - Laura Graham, Teacher 

Essay Contest Winners:

  • 8th Grade - Yahira Gonzalex - Zucker Middle School of Science - Erik Hilden, Teacher
  • 9th Grade (Tie) - Bethany Weeks - Charleston School of the Arts - Kevin Short, Teacher
  • 9th Grade (Tie) - Michael Bueno -Lowcountry Leadership Charter School-June Lowry, Teacher                       

Thank you to all the school participants in this year's contest!  Please see photos above of the winners!


Healthy SOILS Are Full of Life!

2017 POSTER / ESSAY CONTEST

Deadline: April 14, 2017



SEE BOTH POSTER AND ESSAY CONTEST INFORMATION BELOW:

Topic Guidelines, Rules, and Internet Resources shown at bottom of page


Dear Principals and Teachers,

The Poster Contest topic for 2017 is "Healthy Soils are Full of Life!" The contest is open to all classes in K-4th grades and special education in public and private schools in Charleston County. The deadline is Friday, April 14, 2017.

Let’s celebrate Healthy Soils with a beautiful poster! What’s living in your soil?

Did You Know?

Soil is at the bottom of the food chain, yet it is the cornerstone of life on earth. Soils are the foundation for everything that we are and do. From the clothes we wear, the food we eat, to the houses we live in, every person and thing gets its start from the soil! Productive soils are the foundation of any healthy ecosystem. As the world’s population grows and demand for food production increases, it’s essential that we work together to protect and enhance our soils! Soil is the upper layer of the Earth’s surface in which plants grow. It is made of tiny rocks, clay, minerals, and humus (the remains of dead plants and animals). Soil also contains air and water. Soils are Alive! Lots of bugs, worms, and other critters live in the soil. Some are so small you need a magnifying lens to see them! They make holes that help water and air get deep into the soil. Worms living in your yard, garden, or farm field are a real good sign that you have healthy soil.

Learning Objective: Students will identify structural components of soils, the life that lives in the soil, be able to explain how these components promote soil health, healthy food, and reflect on the benefits healthy soils provide to the environment. Students will work together as a class to create a "Healthy Soils are full of life Poster" that reflects their understanding of what makes soils healthy and alive! Show me a great poster that illustrates Healthy Soils! Each poster should illustrate two of the guideline topics shown at the bottom of the contest information. A brief description of your poster guidelines should be typed or handwritten and attached to the poster. 

The purpose of this contest is for students to gain a better understanding of why healthy soils are important.

The POSTER CONTEST prizes are the following: $25 cash award for the class, certificate of achievements for teacher and students and subscription to the SC Wildlife Magazine for the teacher of the winning class. Our office is located off Rivers Avenue at North Rivers Business Center, 2070 Northbrook Blvd., Ste. A-8, N. Charleston, SC 29406.


The Essay Contest is open to all classes in 5-9th grades and special education in public and private schools in Charleston County. The deadline is Friday, April 14, 2017.

Why do you think healthy soils are important to our environment and to us?

Did You Know?

Soil is at the bottom of the food chain, yet it is the cornerstone of life on earth. Soils are the foundation for everything that we are and do. From the clothes we wear, the food we eat, to the houses we live in, every person and thing gets its start from the soil! Productive soils are the foundation of any healthy ecosystem. As the world’s population grows and demand for food production increases, it’s essential that we work together to protect and enhance our soils! Soil is the upper layer of the Earth’s surface in which plants grow. It is made of tiny rocks, clay, minerals, and humus (the remains of dead plants and animals). Soil also contains air and water. Soils are Alive! Lots of bugs, worms, and other critters live in the soil. Some are so small you need a magnifying lens to see them! They make holes that help water and air get deep into the soil. Worms living in your yard, garden, or farm field are a real good sign that you have healthy soil.


Learning Objective: Students will identify structural components of soils, the life that lives in the soil, be able to explain how these components promote soil health, healthy food, and reflect on the benefits healthy soils provide to the environment.  Students will write a great essay explaining "Healthy Soils Are Full of Life" using at least two of the topic guidelines listed below the contest information.

The purpose of this contest is for students to gain a better understanding of why healthy soils are important

The Essay Contest prizes are the following: $25 cash award for the student, certificate of achievements for teacher and students and subscription to the SC Wildlife Magazine for the teacher of the winning class. Our office is located off Rivers Avenue at North Rivers Business Center, 2070 Northbrook Blvd., Ste. A-8, N. Charleston, SC 29406.



TOPIC GUIDELINE OBJECTIVES

Students should be able to illustrate and/or describe:

Poster Contest:  Students will create a poster that reflects their understanding of what makes soils healthy and alive!  Any media may be used to create a flat or two-dimensional effect (paint, crayon, colored pencil, charcoal, stickers, paper or other materials on regular posters (no computer only special category)  Poster Guidelines are the same topics listed below for the essay contest.  See contest rules below.

Essay Contest: Students will address listed guideline topics in their essay:   See essay contest rules below.

  • What is Soil and why are Soils Important?

  • What lives in our soil?

  • How are soils developed?

  • How does Soil Conservation promote healthy life?

  • Explain why productive soils are the foundation of any healthy ecosystem.

POSTER CONTEST RULES

  1. The Poster contest is open to Kindergarten through 4th grades – including Special Education K-4th.  Posters are a class/group effort and should be created by the whole class or group of students.  Teachers may give ideas, etc., but the drawings should be done by the students.
  2. Each poster should illustrate two of the guideline topics.  A brief description of your poster guidelines should be typed or handwritten and attached to the poster. 

  3. Posters should be no larger than 36’ x 48’ and should be easy to transport.  Oversized posters will not be judged. (One poster per class…no individual posters).

  4. The following information must be written on the back of the poster:  school, grade, teacher, school address, and names of students participating.

Winners from each grade level will receive the following: Winning Class: $25 cash award and certificate of achievement; Teacher: certificate of achievement, a subscription to SC Wildlife Magazine.

ESSAY CONTEST RULES

1. The Essay Contest is open to 5-9th grades-public and private schools. Essay should be 300 to 500 words in length. Essay will be judged within each grade level. See essay topic guidelines for contest.

2. All essays must have the student’s name, home mailing address, school, teacher’s name, school telephone number, and grade level on a separate, but attached sheet of paper.

3. Essays must be legible! Typed or printed double spaced is preferred, but neatly handwritten is acceptable.

4. We encourage creative writing!

Winners from each grade level will receive the following: Winning Student: $25 cash award and certificate of achievement; Teacher: certificate of achievement, a subscription to SC Wildlife Magazine.


INTERNET RESOURCES - Ctrl +Click to follow link

 





































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