Enter the STEAM Powered Poetry Video Contest!

If you love poetry, creativity, and a little bit of science, I’ve got something fun to share with you! My friend and fellow children’s poet Heidi Bee Roemer and her team of poets and educators have launched a wonderful opportunity for students who enjoy blending art and imagination with science, technology, engineering, and math.

It’s called the STEAM Powered Poetry Video Contest, and it’s open now through April 30, 2026. This contest invites junior high, high school, and college students to create short, engaging one-minute videos based on poems from a special collection of STEAM-themed poetry. There’s no entry fee, and you could win up to $100!

How It Works

Getting started is simple:

  1. Register as an individual or as part of a class (teachers can register their whole class).
  2. Once you’re registered, you’ll receive access to a Poetry Packet with 40 STEAM poems to choose from.
  3. Pick your favorite poem and bring it to life in a creative one-minute video aimed at grade-school audiences.

Entries are due by April 30, 2026, and the judges will select the top three winners. First place wins $100, second place earns $50, and third place takes home $25.

Even if you don’t win a prize, there’s still a big reward: all high-quality entries will be featured on the STEAM Powered Poetry vlog, where students, teachers, and poetry fans can enjoy your work!

Why You’ll Love It

This contest is more than just a chance to win money (though that’s always nice). It’s a creative challenge that brings together two things I love most—poetry and imagination—with the excitement of science and learning.

By turning a poem into a short video, students get to:

  • Work as a team or go solo on a fun creative project
  • Explore new ways to express ideas through words and visuals
  • Read and perform poems designed to inspire curiosity
  • Make something meaningful that can be shared with younger kids in classrooms and homes

Teachers and librarians will love it too—it’s perfect for National Poetry Month in April or as an extra-credit project that helps students develop both literacy and media-making skills. Plus, every video contributes to a growing library of educational, kid-friendly content online.

A Message from One Poet to Another

As someone who’s spent a lifetime writing funny and educational poems for kids, I’m thrilled to see projects like this one that encourage students to connect poetry with the real world. The team behind STEAM Powered Poetry is passionate about helping kids discover that poetry isn’t just about rhyme and rhythm—it’s about creativity, curiosity, and seeing the world in new ways.

So, if you know a student who loves both science and art—or if you’re a teacher looking for a meaningful classroom project—don’t miss this chance to enter the STEAM Powered Poetry Video Contest.

Learn more and register here.

Kenn Nesbitt
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