Georgia Day Classroom Contest - Georgia History Festival

Elementary and Middle categories
Submission window: December 1, 2024 – February 6, 2025

The Georgia Day Classroom Contest is now open!

See guidelines below or download here (pdf).

Extra! Extra! Headlines in Georgia History

Through the Georgia Day art contests, students have the opportunity to investigate the role that a free press plays in informing the American people; as a marketplace for competing ideas; and in holding government and our leaders accountable to those who have elected them. Students are encouraged to use their creativity to demonstrate their knowledge of the theme through art. Some ideas to consider:

Highlight important journalists, editors, or news entrepreneurs throughout the history of Georgia (ex. James Johnston, Sarah Hillhouse, Elias Boudinot, Henry Grady, Peyton Anderson).
Highlight the evolution of the press through various formats (ex. newspapers to radio to TV to online/social media).
Highlight the impact of Georgia-based news agencies/newspapers (ex. Cherokee Phoenix, Savannah Tribune, Atlanta-Journal Constitution, CNN, etc).
Highlight important stories in Georgia history through a “journalist’s lens” (ex. founding of the colony, Siege of Savannah, Sherman’s March, the Weeping Time, Civil Rights era
activities, etc.)

Classes are invited to create a bulletin board or classroom door decoration using the format of a three- or four-panel political cartoon. Within the cartoon, students should tell the story of an important or influential element of the press in Georgia.

For additional information, ideas, and inspiration, refer to the digital resources available at https://georgiahistoryfestival.org/educators/.

Georgia Day Classroom Contest Guidelines

The Georgia Day Classroom Contest is now open! Enter here.

Guidelines for Creation:

The contest is open to any public, private, parochial, or home school. One submission per school will be accepted.
The created piece should:

Represent student work, guided by teachers.
Be contained to a standard-size classroom bulletin board or door; maximum size of 7 ft x 3 ft.
Be an original design reflecting the theme, Extra! Extra! Headlines in Georgia History

Guidelines for Submission:

Artwork must be submitted via the GHS website:
- With up to three (3) high-resolution images (at least 300 dpi)
- With one (1) image to include the class/students who created the piece.
- As horizontal (landscape) orientation in .jpg or .png format.
- With a title and artist statement as to why the group chose the specific person, event, etc.
- By submitting images to GHS, the submitter transfers the right to use or reproduce images of banners and other works of art, in part or in full, including images with people, in GHS publications, and on all GHS social media platforms.

Guidelines for Judging:

Student art will be evaluated on the following criteria:

Integration of the Georgia History Festival theme
Creativity of interpretation
Visual impact

For the classroom contest, first, second, and third place winners will be selected in elementary and middle school categories.

Art contest winners will be announced via social media on Georgia Day, February 12, 2025.

All winners will receive a Certificate of Appreciation for their artwork and will be recognized in GHS publications and on social media. The first-place winner of the classroom contest will receive
a trophy.

Related Educator Resources

The Georgia Historical Society has created a collection of classroom resources designed to enhance student understanding of the history and role of newspapers and media in Georgia and America from the founding to today.

The resources include: