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Meaning of Home

January 6 - February 21, 2025

More Information
Meaning of Home girl with pencil at desk

What does home mean to you?

National Writing Contest for Grades 4, 5 and 6

Parents and teachers! The Meaning of Home contest is a unique and meaningful way to get your children involved in creative writing and giving back in their community. Kids in grades 4, 5, and 6 can write an entry between 50 and 300 words about what home means to them in English or French. Entries can be submitted online, by mail, or by e-mail during the contest period. Grand prize winners receive a $30,000 grant for their local Habitat and runner-up winners receive $10,000 for their local Habitat, plus all winners receive a tablet for themselves and a pizza party for their class!

Image of a young boy doing his homework

Each contest entry results in a $10 donation to your local Habitat for Humanity to help build safe and affordable homes for families in your community.

The contest is an activity that students will see as meaningful. It will challenge them to think creatively about a topic that directly impacts their lives—the meaning of home—and ultimately improve their writing skills.

Prizes

Each grade will have one grand prize winner and three runners-up.

$30,000
Grant

Each grand prize winner will receive a $30,000 grant for their local Habitat for Humanity, PLUS an iPad and a pizza party for their class.
Grand Prize

$10,000
Grant

Three runners-up per grade will receive a $10,000 grant for their local Habitat for Humanity, PLUS an electronic tablet and pizza party for their class.
Runner Up

$10
Donation

$10 per entry will be generously donated by the contest’s founding sponsor, Sagen, to your local Habitat for Humanity.
All Entries
Meaning of Home cover

Education Module

If you’re a teacher, download the education module for lesson plans and curriculum to help guide the creative writing process and provide fun activities that will get students thinking and excited about their contest entries.

Download Education Module
"The Meaning of Home contest provided my students with a meaningful and authentic writing task. They were so motivated by the “contest” element! Even just the idea that their entry would be posted on the website was exciting for them. As they started to learn about Habitat for Humanity, and the purpose it serves in our community, they became even more engaged because they knew their writing was supporting the organization and actually helping real people. We were able to explore topics of equity, empathy and citizenship through our learning. My fourth graders genuinely enjoyed this experience and gained an important perspective through it."
Lisa Wood
Grade 4 Teacher
John William Boich PS

1800 Appleby Line, Unit 10
Burlington, ON L7L 6A1
(905) 637-4446

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