2023 Student Contest
Thank you for participating in the 2023 #BPSCoders Contest!
Please read all challenge descriptions & rules CAREFULLY.
1. SCRATCH ANIMATION CHALLENGE
Create an animation using Scratch. Animation must have at least 2 sprites and be no more than 2 minutes. Animation can go on forever, but one complete sequence must be no more than 2 minutes.
Animations will be judged on creativity and content. Please be sure that the Scratch project is "shared" before entering. (If your animation is a story, please submit to Challenge 2.)
Animation could be about anything, but educational or informative contents are preferred. Please be sure that the Scratch project is "shared" before entering.
This challenge is for grades 3-8.
🗂️ Teachers submitting multiple student entries can put all files in a Scratch Studio and submit as one entry rather than completing a separate entry form for each student. Please use teacher name, class, and email for the entry.
2. GAME DESIGN CHALLENGE
Are you a future game programmer? Create an interactive game on Scratch! Be sure to include instructions on how to play the game in the Project page; we can't judge if we don't know how to play your game.
Educational content is preferred. Please be sure that the Scratch project is "shared" before entering. If this game is a Remix, please include the original project in Notes and Credits and clearly explain what you modified.
This challenge is for grades 3-8.
🗂️ Teachers submitting multiple student entries can put all files in a Scratch Studio and submit as one entry rather than completing a separate entry form for each student. Please use teacher name, class, and email for the entry.
3. TELL YOUR STORY
Tell us your story! Using ScratchJr or Scratch, create an animation of a short story that is less than 3 minutes. Story may be fiction or nonfiction, original story or a retelling. Projects will be judged for both the quality of animation and the creativity of your storytelling.
This challenge is for grades K0-8.
ScratchJr (Grades K0 - 2)
Submit a short video showing the project (3 min max) and the student describing what the project is doing. (Student does not have to appear on camera)
💡Tip: Video can be recorded on your phone or Chromebook, or by using tools like Screencastify or Flipgrid.
🗂️ ScratchJr project can also be submitted as a file. Please have the file ready in your Google Drive so you can add it to the Entry Form! Teachers submitting multiple files can put them all in a single Google Folder and submit as one entry.
Scratch (Grades 3-8)
Submit a link to your Scratch program. Please be sure that the Scratch project is "shared" before entering and include the title and author in “Notes and Credits” section of your project.
🗂️ Teachers submitting multiple student entries can put all files in a Scratch Studio and submit as one entry rather than completing a separate entry form for each student. Please use teacher name, class, and email for the entry.
4. APP DESIGN CHALLENGE
Have you ever thought, “I wish there was an app for that!”? Tell us your idea for an app that fills a need.
Category A - Concept/prototype: Use this Google Slides template or a similar tool and tell us about your idea! No programming required. Need an example? See this sample app idea!
Category B - Completed app: Submit a short video (3 min max) showing an app programmed in MIT App Inventor, Code.org, or another tool.
Please include in the video:
Who the app is for.
The purpose of the app and how it will be useful to your audience.
Quick demo of the app.
Images of both the app and your program in the video.
Please have the video ready in your Google Drive so that you can add it to the entry form!
Winners will be selected in both categories.
This challenge is for grades 6-12.
💡Tip: Video can be recorded on your phone or Chromebook, or by using tools like Screencastify or Flipgrid.
5. MOTION, LIGHTS, SOUND
Calling all projects using BeeBots, KIBO, Makey Makey, LEGO robots, micro:bit, LED’s and more! Submit a short video (3 min max) to show us your creation and your code.
Please include in the video:
What your creation is, and a demo.
How you programmed your creation.
Images of your creation and the code must be included in the video.
Please have the video ready in your Google Drive so that you can add it to the entry form!
This challenge is for grades K0-12.
For K0-2 only: Teachers may submit a “class entry” for BeeBots and KIBO if the whole class participated. Please use teacher’s email and homeroom # for the entry.
💡Tip: Video can be recorded on your phone or Chromebook, or by using tools like Screencastify or Flipgrid.
👉 Don't have physical computing materials for your classroom? Check out the BPS Lending Library for items such as BeeBots, KIBO, Makey Makey, micro:bits, and more!
6. OUT OF THE BOX
Do you have an original CS project? Please submit any CS project that is outside the scope of the other categories. Your submission could be a completed project or work-in-progress. Projects such as essays or artwork related to CS are also encouraged!
If your project involves programming, please send us a short video (3 min max), showing:
What your program does (a demo).
What programming language you used.
Please show us both the program (code) and the user experience.
If this is a work-in-progress, let us know where you are in your project and what your next steps are.
Please have the video ready in your Google Drive so that you can add it to the entry form!
If your project is an essay, artwork, or other non-programming project related to CS, please send us a link to a Google Doc file that includes a brief description and all relevant links for the project.
This challenge is for grades K0-12.
💡Tip: Video can be recorded on your phone or Chromebook, or by using tools like Screencastify or Flipgrid.
Enter for a chance to win great prizes!
Above are examples of past prizes. This year's prizes will be similar to these, based on availability.
General Rules and "Fine Print": PLEASE READ CAREFULLY!
All submissions must be received between December 4-21, 2023 through the online submission form which will be posted on this site on December 4th by 8am. You can submit previously-completed work; however, projects that were submitted in previous years' contests are not eligible.
Submissions may be by individual or pair of students. Entry form may be completed by the student or the teacher. Exception is for Challenge 5, where teachers in grades K0-2 may submit a class entry.
You can only enter once per challenge. If you submit more than once, we will only look at the last one. You can enter more than one challenge but it must be a different project.
All work must be be done by the student(s) who is/are submitting. Submitted work must not contain any copyrighted or trademarked materials, including images and music. Work with copyrighted/trademarked materials will be disqualified. If you remix a Scratch project, original project must be cited.
All BPS students are eligible to enter, regardless of whether the work is done in or outside of school. All applications must include your BPS email, school, grade, and name of a and email of a teacher at your school.
Student Contest FAQ's
Q. How many prizes are there, and what are they?
A. Exact number of winners depend on the number of entries we receive. In most challenges, winners will be selected for each grade band (K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12). Multiple winners may be selected for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places. Past prizes have included LEGO sets, micro:bit or other programmable boards, and STEM kits.
Q. How do I submit a Scratch project?
A. Scratch projects are submitted via a link (URL) to your project. Please make sure that your project is "shared" and remains shared during the judging period.
Q. How do I submit a video or image?
A. Video, image, and other artifacts are submitted from the Submission Form (Google Form). Please have the media on your computer or Google Drive so that you can find it when you are completing the form.
Q. I'm not sure which category my coding project falls under. What should I do?
A. Please submit it to Challenge 6. We will move it to an appropriate category if we find a better fit.
Q. I'm a teacher submitting entries for the whole class. Do I need to fill out a separate form for each student?
A. Teachers with multiple entries FOR THE SAME CHALLENGE can submit a batch using Scratch Studio or Google Drive Folder using teacher name and email as the submitter. Please contact hhosokawa@bostonpublicschools.org if you have any questions.
Q. Can I work with someone who is in another grade and/or school?
A. Yes, as long as it is a BPS school.