16th International Children Contest Announcement for teachers and schools

Selected winners will be published in the 2017 calendar to be distributed
internationally to raise awareness of mangrove forest ecology. This creative
contest aims to promote appreciation and awareness of mangrove forests, and to
encourage and listen to creative voices of children living in mangrove areas.

Help us launch this program in your school by contacting science and art
teachers in your area and encourage them to work together on this fun and
innovative project.

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What kind of art can be submitted? Any technique

Technique: Paint, color pencil, ink, collage,
pastel, crayons, etc

Dimensions: Canvas, or paper, 45 cms x 30 cms.
(18 in. x 12 in)
The Art Work should be in a format horizontal (long length across, the shorter
length vertical), in order to fit on the calendar page. (We had received
wonderful art work in a vertical format, but sadly were unable to use it. )

Artist Identification: On the back of
each art work please write in English: the full name and age of the artist, the
school name, address, city or town, country, and title of art work.

Age Limit: from 6-16 years old

All entries selected at the national level should be submitted to the same
address.

Your local NGO contact is: (Please fill this in.)

Some suggested Field Trip and Classroom Lessons

It is suggested that this contest could coincide with an Associated Mangrove
Ecology Educational Project with the children. This lesson will highlight the
importance of mangrove forests for the environment, for their community, for
fishermen and/or for the associated mangrove forest fauna. The intent of this
educational project is to help the participating children better comprehend the
important role mangroves play in their lives and for their communities.

 1- Information and guidance in the classroom, aided by text books,
mangrove curriculum, slides and videos.

 2.- Eco-Study Field trips for firsthand observation with  the
teacher and/ or a local resource person, where they can observe the myriad
forms of life that inhabit the mangroves, such as the many colored  birds,
fish, crabs, mollusks, reptiles, mammals, and insects, while also learning
about the unique characteristics of the associated mangrove plants and trees.

 3.- During, or after, the field trips, the children can  hold
interviews with their parents or local fishermen about the mangroves in their
region, learning more about the history of the area’s mangrove forest, as well
as why they are important and what the problems are when the mangroves are
lost.

 4 – As a result of this research, the children may wish to create
artwork for the 2015 calendar art competition.

Yours sincerely,

Monica Alicia Paz Gutierrez-Quarto,
Calendar Project Coordinator
Mangrove Action Project