The town's Sister City Delegation Committee is sponsoring writing and art contests in conjunction with its sister city in Dartmouth, England to commemorate early New England settlements, including those in Dartmouth and Plymouth.

All students who attend school in Dartmouth are invited to participate. Entries will be judged in three categories: elementary school, middle school, and high school. Winning entries in each category will appear in a published anthology.

Contest topics:

Respond to one of the following prompts about 17th century colonial Massachusetts with a written response, illustration, or diorama.

1) Your family recently emigrated from England to Massachusetts. Write a letter to a family member or friend living in your English hometown about your life in America.

Do you live in a settlement or village? Describe your living quarters and the people around you. What is the land like? Have you met any Wampanoags? Would you encourage your family member or friend to come to America?

2) You are on the ship that is taking you and your family to America. Write a minimun of 10 journal entries that record your observations and experiences during the journey.

What do you do during the day? What are the sleeping, bathing, and cooking conditions? What is the weather like? What are your feelings about leaving your native country? What will you miss most? What are you most looking forward to?

3) You are a newspaper reporter for the colonists. You have recently interviewed Native Americans about their view of the settlers. Write a newspaper article reflecting the Native Americans’ views.

What were their thoughts when they realized the colonists were here to stay? Did they consider the colonists a threat or did they welcome their presence? What did they find the most surprising about how they lived?

Contest rules:

Entries to the writing contests must be typed and no longer than two pages.

Art work depicting on of the above scenarios must be no larger than 24"x36". Use pencils, pen and ink, watercolors, pastels, etc.

The 3D model illustrating one of the scenarios must be no larger than 24"x36"x10". Use paper, cardboard, Legos, etc.

Be creative, but also strive to be historically accurate. Teacher, librarians, and technology instructors will have ideas where you can look for information.

Include student’s name, grade, teacher’s name, and school.

Send all entries (or a photo of your entry) digitally to dartmouthsistercity@gmail.com. The original work must be available if you are a winner.

Teachers may undertake this as a classroom project. Put entries in an envelop and email a notification to dartmouthsistercity@gmail.com. The committee will arrange to collect projects from the school.

The deadline to apply is June 1.