Doodle 4 Google: "What I'd Like To Do Someday..."

2009 Doodle 4 Google Winner
Theme: "What if..."
Title: A New Beginning
What if..."out of the current crisis, discoveries will be found to help the Earth prosper once more"
Christin Engelberth, 6th grader

Doodle 4 Google  is a competition.  K-12 students who participate are required to use their artistic talents to "think big and redesign Google’s homepage logo for millions to see."  

As an (temporarily former) elementary art teacher, I encouraged my students to participate in the 2009 and 2010 Doodle 4 Google contest.  Besides the fantastic prizes, the contest inspires a young person to think creatively, and problem solve in a creative way.  Even though I never had a an actual winner, my students' entries have always made me proud. 

Here's why, a quality entry:

1. Requires a student to come up with an idea in words (think creatively), and then translate those words into drawings (creative problem solving). 
2. If thinking of an idea wasn't tricky enough, a quality doodle also requires artistic skill and several revisions.  

Just like a writing piece in their Language Arts class, students had to edit and revise their doodle several times to get a contest quality work of art- a difficult obstacle for many since today's children get a trophy for just being on the team.   Guiding students to think bigger or work harder on their doodle without crushing their spirit was a challenge. It was clear that the contest wasn't for all of my students, it took someone really special to see it through. 

The participation rules have changed this year, you can enter your child's doodle without a school district contact.  If you have a creative thinker and budding artist who rises to the challenge of working diligently on creative endeavors, this is a great opportunity. 

Winning a college scholarship- not bad
Having your artwork on Google's homepage for the whole world to see- priceless

For information go to tthe official Google 4 Doodle page
http://www.google.com/doodle4google/

Good Luck & Happy Doodling,
Tracey