News Alert! Hexapod Haiku Challenge!

Pic by G.W. aka P.A. ~ Delightful creepy crawlie on my verandah in the Dromana Hills, Mornington Peninsula
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hexapod haiku -
short poems that celebrate
most Arthropoda

North Carolina State University is hosting the Hexapod Haiku Challenge. (Check out the link for details!) They also "definitely accept minor departures from traditional haiku "rules" (i.e., the 5-7-5 onji composition). We'd also love to see more haiga (a haiku that is accompanied by an image) and senryu (short poem about human and/or, in this case, insect foibles) though they will be judged as haiku equivalents."
What's a hexapod?
The word Hexapoda refers to all insects and their six-legged arthropod relatives (springtails, diplurans, and proturans). We're calling this contest the Hexapod Haiku Challenge only for alliterative purposes. We would love to have haiku that feature any familiar arthropod associated with the field of entomology, including those arthropods without six legs (e.g., spiders, millipedes, centipedes, and scorpions).

Haikus should be submitted by 11:59pm, March 20th either...
1. as an email to ncsuinsects@gmail.com OR
2. as tweets (be sure to start each tweet with @ncsuinsects #HexapodHaiku) OR
3. as 3x5 cards (one per haiku; cards will not be returned) mailed to the following address:Hexapod HaikuNCSU Insect Museum
Department of Entomology
North Carolina State University
Box 7613Raleigh, NC 27695

History Waves #2 + Opinion Piece #7 ~ The Hobbit Connection

Pic by G.W. aka P.A. ~ A window on other worlds at Melbourne Museum
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How a hobbit is rewriting the history of the human race is an article written on 22nd February, 2010 Guardian UK in the Archaeology Daily News.
Here is the introduction:
The discovery of the bones of tiny primitive people on an Indonesian island six years ago stunned scientists. Now, further research suggests that the little apemen, not Homo erectus, were the first to leave Africa and colonise other parts of the world, reports Robin McKie...~
Click on the link above and read the whole article.~
Try ONE of the following:
* Create a possible scenario explaining the origins of these "little people" and how they managed to be at Flores. (Try to be both creative and logical.)
OR
* Write an opinion piece exploring the historical value of the hobbits.~

NEWS ALERT! Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Competition 2010

Junior Secondary (Years 7 – 9)
Winner: $500 and trophy
Runner-up: $300 and trophy

Senior Secondary (Years 10 – 12)
Winner: $500 and trophy
Runner-up: $300 and trophy

Schools’ Award
For schools whose entries demonstrate a high overall standard.
Winner: $1000 and trophy
Runner-up: $700 and trophy

A National Presentation Ceremony will be held in Gunnedah, north-west NSW on Friday 3rd September 2010.

The entry fee is $15.00 per school which includes GST.
Payment must accompany entries which must all be submitted in a single envelope.
Entries must be posted on or before 2 June 2008.

Judging will take place in
July/August enabling announcements regarding the winning entries to be made during
Literacy and Numeracy Week 1-7 September 2008.

PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR GOOD COPY/TYPED ENTRIES TO MS ADAMS
Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards
PO Box 113, Gunnedah NSW 2380 Tel (02) 6742 1200

Welcome to Year 10 Boys 2010

Pic by G.W. aka P.A. ~ 2010 Swimming Carnival at Frankston
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A feast of stimuli awaits you here to feed your creative spirit!

Try an analysis!

Try an opinion piece!

Dare to write in a style you have never tried!

For starters ~ What about a haiku?
5 syllables
7 syllables
5 syllables

e.g. The swimmer's challenge
Long lanes fears and deep waters
Barrier breakdown
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NOTE: Once you make a first comment here, I can link to your blog on the sidebar!
That way there is a permanent link to your blog from this base!
ENJOY!