Entry Format Tips
Tips for submitting your entry in the correct format
- Visual Art (Painting, digital art, sketching, comic, or any other art form)
- When uploading any artwork like drawings, paintings or others that can’t be automatically uploaded (such as a painting or drawing) use these tips and keep in mind that we’ll be sharing winning submissions on social media:
- Please submit as a png or jpeg file.
- Use a high-resolution camera or setting on your phone (5 megapixels or higher is best, however 2 megapixels at the highest resolution will also work).
- Use indirect light to minimize glare.
- Take the photo as straight on as possible to prevent distortion and hold as still as possible.
- Check your image for blurriness and make sure it is clear.
- When uploading any artwork like drawings, paintings or others that can’t be automatically uploaded (such as a painting or drawing) use these tips and keep in mind that we’ll be sharing winning submissions on social media:
- Original music (3 minutes or less)
- If you’re submitting an audio file it will need to be uploaded as an mp3 file and max size of 30MB.
- Can also be submitted with a visual such as a music video, lyrics on screen, or recording of live performance. For video files, please submit as an mp4 or mov file.
- Short video, animation, or TikTok (15-seconds or less)
- Videos can be submitted as an mp4 file.
- When creating these short videos, please consider that they will be posted on social media.
- TikTok videos:
- Download your TikTok video and submit the video file with your entry form.
- Also, tag us @DirectingChange on your TikTok post and use #DirectingChangeChallenge.
- Radio PSA (30-seconds)
- A recorded audio file will need to be uploaded as an mp3 file and max size of 30MB.
- A good 30-second PSA contains all the key messages and information laid out in a pleasing, yet succinct manner. Need some tips? Check this out, and remember to make sure your submission meets all content criteria for the topic you’re addressing.
- Video PSA (60-seconds)
- Upload your film as an mp4 file.
- For these films, be sure to review the judging criteria and ensure your film includes a title slide (which can be downloaded here).
- Your video must also include this end slate within the 60-second time limit.
- All 60-second film entries received prior to March 1, 2022 will also compete against all 60-second films entered in the Hope and Justice category for a chance at a statewide prize.
- Other submission formats
- For blogs, poems, spoken word, essays, or other narratives, please save your document as an image file (jpg or png) as we cannot accept Word or PDF files.
If you are submitting an entry in another format not mentioned here and not sure how to submit, please contact us and we can help.
Resources for Teachers & Parents
2020 Census:
Unlike the upcoming presidential election, the 2020 census is one of the few political events where everyone, regardless of age, race, legal status, or income, can participate. Youth can get involved by can helping engage community members who may be low income, non-English speakers, homeless college students, and others who may feel marginalized or afraid to take part.
- Learn about why it’s important to participate in the 2020 Census and what is at stake: https://calworkforce.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Making-Census-2020-Count-for-Youth.pdf
- 2020 Census Made Simple: This PSA explains what the 2020 Census is, how its data is used and secured, how it affects representation, and how to take it. https://youtu.be/oXZAe8XYeNQ
- The Census is about Power and Money: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMaaH6Suf98
- 2020 Census Today: To help our communities when we come back together, respond to the 2020 Census today—and impact the next 10 years of health care, infrastructure, and education. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmJDTsrCa0c
- Educational Activities including fun facts, warm up activities and more: https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/sis/activities/distance-learning.html
- Educational Videos about the 2020 Census for K-12 students: https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/sis/2020census/2020-resources/2020-videos.html
- 2020 Census Challenge Video: https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/sis/2020census/2020-resources/2020-videos/census-challenge.html
- What Will you Do After High School?: https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/sis/2020census/2020-resources/2020-videos/what-will-you-do-after-high-school.html
- Toolkits and Fact Sheets for Educators about the Census: https://census.ca.gov/resource/school/
Voting
- Directing Change Lesson Plan (September Prompt): “What This Election Means to me”
- “Young People Were the Heroes of 2018” from Vote.org
- “43 States Still Have Primaries. Here’s Why Local Elections Matter More Than Ever.” from Vote.org
- Lesson Plan: “I’m Not Old Enough to Vote, but If I Was…” http://archive.pov.org/pov2008/election/educators/psa.html
- Essays and Speeches about Voting: http://archive.pov.org/pov2008/election/wvote/king.html
- Let’s Talk About Voting (Anti-Defamation League): ideas for lessons and conversation starters about current events and voting: https://www.adl.org/education/resources/tools-and-strategies/lets-talk-about-voting
- Elections and the Youth Vote (High school lesson plan around youth activism and voting): https://www.adl.org/education/educator-resources/lesson-plans/elections-and-the-youth-vote
Racism, Justice, Tolerance and Social Change:
- Teaching About Race, Racism, and Police Violence: https://www.tolerance.org/moment/racism-and-police-violence
- Teaching About Police Brutality: Lesson Plans and Resources https://educators4sc.org/topic-resources/teaching-about-police-brutality/
- How to Make This Moment The Turning Point for Real Change: An essay by Barack Obama https://medium.com/@BarackObama/how-to-make-this-moment-the-turning-point-for-real-change-9fa209806067
- New Era of Public Safety: An Advocacy Toolkit for Fair, Safe, and Effective Community Policing: From the Policing Campaign at the Leadership Conference Education Fund, this toolkit is a great resource for teaching students about the different ways to take action and support criminal justice reform.http://policing.civilrights.org/toolkit/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Toolkit.pdf
- Lesson plan Students write and perform a skit or monologue that brings awareness to a specific issue addressed in the text. https://www.tolerance.org/classroom-resources/student-tasks/do-something/act-up-drama-for-justice
- Thinking about Social Justice through Crafts and Conversation: https://www.adl.org/education/resources/tools-and-strategies/thinking-about-social-justice-through-crafts-and
- ADL Debunk: Disinformation and the BLM Protests: https://www.adl.org/resources/reports/adl-debunk-disinformation-and-the-blm-protests
- The Pyramid of Hate (available in English and Spanish): illustrates the prevalence of bias, hate and oppression in our society: https://www.adl.org/education/resources/tools-and-strategies/pyramid-of-hate-en-espanol
- Sports and Social Justice: Lesson plans and resources for educators and families: https://www.adl.org/education/resources/tools-and-strategies/sports-and-social-justice
- Believe in Something: Nike, Kaepernick and Social Change (Lesson plan from the ADL): https://www.adl.org/education/educator-resources/lesson-plans/believe-in-something-nike-kaepernick-and-social-change
Diversity Story Time: Teaching diversity at home and in the classroom is an essential component of the social and emotional learning principle of social awareness. Teachers and parents are recommended to try to pick books about people of different cultures, race/ethnicities, religions and other backgrounds.
- It’s Okay to Be Differentby Todd Parr
- Chrysanthemumby Kevin Henkes
- The Skin You Live Inby Michael Tyler & David Lee Csicsko
- Families, Families, Families!by Suzanne Lang
Additional Suggestions for Younger Children :
- The Colors of Usby Karen Katz
- Let’s Talk About Raceby Julius Lester
- The Skin I’m In: A First Look at Racismby Pat Thomas
- Sesame Street’s “We’re Different, We’re the Same”by Bobbi Jane Kates
- Something Happened in Our Town: A Child’s Story about Racial Injusticeby Marianne Celano, Marietta Collins, and Ann Hazzard
- I Am Enoughby Grace Byers
- Happy in Our Skinby Fran Manushkin and Lauren Tobia
- Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer: The Spirit of the Civil Rights Movementby Carole Boston Weatherford and Ekua Holmes
- Daddy Why Am I Brown?: A healthy conversation about skin color and familyby Bedford F. Palmer
- A Terrible Thing Happenedby Margaret Holmes
- Antiracist Babyby Ibram X. Kendi
- Teach Your Dragon About Diversity: Train Your Dragon To Respect Diversityby Steve Herman
Additional Suggestions for Teens:
- The Hate U Giveby Angie Thomas
- Harbor Meby Jacqueline Woodson
- This Book Is Anti-Racist: 20 Lessons on How to Wake Up, Take Action, and Do The Workby Tiffany Jewell and Aurelia Durand
- Brown Girl Dreamingby Jacqueline Woodson
- Dear White Peopleby Justin Simien
- Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You: A Remix of the National Book Award-winning Stamped from the Beginningby Jason Reynolds and Dr. Ibram X. Kendi
Additional Suggestions for Adults and Parents:
- Raising White Kids: Bringing Up Children in a Racially Unjust Americaby Jennifer Harvey
- So You Want to Talk About Raceby Ijeoma Uluo
- Why Are All The Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?by Beverly Daniel Tatum PH.D
- Between the World and Meby Ta-Nehisis Coates
- An African American and Latinx History of the United Statesby Paul Ortiz
- An Indigenous People’s History of the United Stateby Rozanne Dunbar-Ortiz
Additional Resources:
- California Department of Education: Social and Emotional Learning
- Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL)
- CARE for Teachers Program
- Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning
- Navigating Social and Emotional Learning from the Inside Out
- Social and Emotional Learning Resource Finder
- org Responding to Children’s Emotional Needs During Times of Crisis
- Davis Joint Unified School District Wellness & Regulating Activities for Each Grade Level
- Coping Skills for Kids
- The Center for Cognitive Diversity
- Transforming Education – Trauma Informed Social and Emotional Learning
Resources on 6 feet physical distancing and how to protect yourself from COVID-19:
- Social Distancing- Keep a safe distance to slow the spread: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shares information about why limiting close face-to-face contact with others is the best way to reduce the spread of the coronavirus disease.
- PBS: Why 6 Feet Apart?: Learn the science behind why the 6-foot social distancing has been recommended
- American Psychological Association: Keeping your distance to stay safe: Practicing safe social distancing of 6-feet, as well as quarantining at home or being cut off from regular routines can leave us experiencing lots of different feelings. This article shares why these feelings are normal and gives tips for how to cope.
- Science News for Students: While 6 feet social distancing is important, there are others things that we must do to avoid spreading the virus
- Toolkit for People 15 to 21: Resources and Tools designed for youth and young adulst to keep them healhty as they venture out.
Lesson Plans on Physical Distancing
- Teaching Social and Physical Distancing Ideas https://pecsusa.com/download/social%20distancing%20lesson%20plan.pdf
- Understanding disease spread helps keep students safe: Coronavirus Lesson Plans Grades K-12 https://populationeducation.org/coronavirus-lesson-plans-educating-students-to-stay-healthy/