PRESENTS
"A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words" Economics Concepts Poster Contest
The Economics Concepts Poster Contest is used by teachers of grades 1-8 to stimulate students' interest in the fundamentals of our economic system. The program also helps students learn about the economy and have fun doing it. The program also gives students an opportunity to creatively demonstrate their understanding of the economy.
Students represent in a color drawing, one of six basic economic concepts. Entries are judged on accuracy of concept representation and originality. Because the state winners will be printed in a color calendar, additional criteria include suitability for printing and distribution to the public.
NEW! KidsEcon Posters
Resources to help teachers of all grades incorporate economic concepts in a visual manner. Supported by curriculum lessons tied to standards. Materials support the Illinois "A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words" Economics Concepts Poster Contest.
Registration
All entries must be submitted through a regional contest. See the list of Centers below, and find your county or district in the list. Contact that Center or download their most recent flyer, for information on your regional contest's dates. All Illinois schools are serviced by a Center for Economic Education and are eligible for participation in one of the regional contests for this program.
Regional contest dates and their recognition events vary by Center, with entry deadlines of December through early March. It is very important to submit your entry to the correct Center for your school so you meet their entry criteria and their entry deadline. If your entry is mailed to the wrong Center, that Center may not ge able to redirect it to the correct Center in time for their judging. Entry deadlines vary by Center.
- Bradley University Center
for Economic Education 2007-2008 brochure
(serving all counties south of Interstate 80 to an Adams/Sangamon County line) - Dominican University Center for
Economic Education 2007-2008 brochure
(serving all schools in west and north Cook county, all of Lake and DuPage counties, including all of the elementary schools in Indian Prairie District 204 regardless of location) - Governors State University Office
of Economic Education 2007-2008 brochure
(serving south Cook County, Will, Grundy, Kendall, Livingston and Kankakee Counties) - Northern Illinois University Office
of Economic Education 2007-2008 brochure
(serving counties north of Interstate 80 with the exception of Cook, Lake and DuPage counties - to the Mississippi River) - Southern Illinois University
at Edwardsville Office of Economic
Education 2007-2008 brochure
(serving counties along and south of an Adams/ Sangamon/ Edgar County line) - University of Illinois at Chicago Center
for Economic Education 2007-2008 brochure
(serving schools located in the City of Chicago, zipcode 606xx)
Timeline
Regional competitions are held through the Centers for Economic Education including Bradley University, Dominican University, Governors State University, Northern Illinois University, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and University of Illinois at Chicago. These competitions are held in the fall or winter, concluding no later than February. Twelve winning regional entries, along with twelve top honorable mention entries from each region, are then submitted to ICEE for judging in the statewide competition in March.
Regional awards receptions are scheduled by the host Center, usually within the weeks just following their contest's entry deadline. The availability of receptions depends on regional program funding.
Savings bonds are awarded to the twelve student winners at both the regional and state level. Some students will receive two bonds! Regional and State winners receive certificates of award, as do any number of State Honorable Mention recipients. Press releases are issued for state winners and letters are sent to those schools' legislators.
The twelve Illinois winners will be included in a 12-month flip calendar, published during the late fall, for the following calendar year. Participating teachers, their principals and winning students receive copies of the calendar.
Interested educators may contact ICEE to obtain a copy of the current or upcoming calendar.
Recent Winners
Review the winners of previous competitions. The drawings of state winners can be printed for use as examples of concepts. Because originality is a big factor in judging, we do not advise your students to copy the idea you show them. Illinois classroom teachers of grades 1-8 may request a calendar from the current/past year (based on availability) to use as a set of full-size color examples by contacting ICEE.
In selecting the twelve state winners for the calendar, judges attempt to reach an equal distribution between each of the regional competitions as well as grade levels. Winners include basic drawings from first graders, along with detailed drawings from older students. The most recent winners are listed on the pages linked below.
- Economics Concepts Poster Contest, 2008
- Economics Concepts Poster Contest, 2007
- Economics Concepts Poster Contest, 2006
Resources
