Attention Teachers

The Countdown is on! You can sign up to receive contest updates and register your class anytime between now and January 3rd, 2021. The contest opens for submissions on January 4th, 2021 and the final submission deadline is February 19th, 2021. Winners will be announced June, 2021.

What is this contest?

The Meaning of Home contest, which runs from January 4th, 2021 to February 19th, 2021, invites Grades 4, 5 and 6 students from across Canada to submit a written poem or essay (in English or French) explaining what home means to them for a chance to direct a $30,000 grant to a local Habitat for Humanity. There is no cost to enter.

Since 2007, over 58,000 students have participated in the Meaning of Home contest. Thanks to their inspiring words, and the support of founding sponsor Sagen Canada and award sponsors Revera Inc. and Swiffer, the Meaning of Home contest has raised over $1.5 million to build homes across Canada for families in need of decent and affordable housing.

The Meaning of Home contest offers a unique and meaningful way to get students involved in the creative writing process. The goal is to teach students about the importance of giving back to the community and foster their active participation as world citizens.

 

National Prizes

Each entry results in a $10 donation to Habitat for Humanity Halton-Mississauga and the grand prize winner in each grade gets to direct a $30,000 grant to Habitat for Humanity Halton-Mississauga. The grand prize winner also receives an iPad. The class of each grand prize winner will receive a pizza party.

Nine runners-up (3 per grade) will also get to direct a $10,000 grant towards Habitat for Humanity Halton-Mississauga.

Local Prizes

Habitat for Humanity Halton-Mississauga is supporting students locally this year with these additional prizes:

$500.00 Staples Gift Card for the teacher of the winning student
$2,500.00 Staples Gift Card to the school with the most entries
$25.00 Staples Gift Cards for the class of the winning student (x30)

Ready to Win?

Let's Go

Helpful Resources

Contest Poster

This is a handy little one-pager that you can put up in your classroom or around the school. You may even wish to place it within your school newsletter or send a digital copy to fellow teachers.

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Teacher Letter

Here's a little bit of information to tell you more about the program and how it works. Read this before you jump into the lesson plan. It provides an important overview of timelines and resources available.

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Lesson Plan

We've made it super easy to have important social justice discussions and host the writing contest with your students. Everything you need to run this activity with your students is right here. What are you waiting for?

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Parents MOH

Parent Letter

We know how important it is to share this information with your student's parents. Simply download this letter, add your contact information and signature at the bottom, and you're good to go.
By sharing this letter with parents, you're enabling them to have important conversations with their children at home. This will help students reflect upon what home means to them and spark ideas for their entry in the writing contest.

Download Now >

How Does the Program Work?

Step 1: Register Your Class

Click here to register as a teacher so that you can easily upload multiple essays, track your students’ impact and receive regular contest updates.

Step 2: Share

Share an overview of the contest details with your students and their parents prior to the opening of submissions on January 4th, 2021.

Step 3: Submit

Click here to make your student submissions prior to the deadline on February 19, 2021.

Step 4: Cross Your Fingers

Once all your student submissions are uploaded, sit back and wait for the winners announcement in June of 2021.