Social Studies Competitions for Kindergarten–5th Grade

A citizenship-focused youth program offering contests in art, creative expression, and community service. Elementary students respond to the current civic or patriotic theme through age-appropriate projects rather than one uniform academic test.

Participation: Any child may enter without belonging to a Junior American Citizens club, but participation and judging are generally coordinated through a local Daughters of the American Revolution chapter or state organization. Confirm current categories, forms, and the local submission pathway.

A civic-themed creative contest that invites elementary students to explore the U.S. Constitution, civic ideals, or founding principles through current age-appropriate categories such as poetry, artwork, or greeting-card design.

Participation: Eligible students may enter through the organizer’s current submission process with required parent or guardian permission. Families should review the current elementary categories, qualifications, and entry rules before beginning a project.

A history-focused poster contest that encourages elementary students to study a person, event, document, or theme connected to the American Revolution and communicate what they learned visually.

Participation: Entry is generally coordinated through a local chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, a school, or a sponsoring educator. Confirm the current topic, eligible grades, judging criteria, and chapter submission process.

A patriotic writing contest in which students respond to the current question about freedom, citizenship, veterans, or American ideals.

• Elementary group: Grades 3–4.
• Older elementary group: Grade 5 is generally grouped with Grade 6.

Participation: Entries are generally submitted through a participating American Legion Auxiliary unit or department. Local procedures may differ, so families should contact the appropriate state or local organization.

An active International Academic Competitions program that tests knowledge of places, physical geography, cultures, maps, and the relationships between people and environments through grade-appropriate geography questions.

Participation: Elementary students may begin through an online qualifying exam and progress to available regional and national tournaments. Families should review the current U.S. structure, age divisions, qualifying process, and tournament availability.

A classroom-based economics and financial-literacy simulation in which student teams manage a hypothetical investment portfolio while learning about markets, saving, investing, risk, current events, and economic decision-making. It is an educational simulation, not investment advice.

Participation: A teacher, school, homeschool, or after-school educator commonly organizes participation through a regional Stock Market Game program. Program length, fees, competition structure, and available sessions may vary by location.

A financial-literacy writing competition connected to The Stock Market Game. Students explain an investment or economic idea in writing and apply what they learned through the simulation.

Participation: InvestWrite is available to eligible students participating in The Stock Market Game through a registered educator or classroom. The educator reviews and submits eligible individual student essays under the current rules.

A history-based writing contest for Grades 5–8 that asks students to research and respond creatively and accurately to the current American history topic. It appears here because Grade 5 is the only K–5-eligible level.

Participation: Fifth graders may participate through a public, private, or parochial school, registered home-study program, or participating local Daughters of the American Revolution chapter under current procedures.