Doodle 4 Google

FAQ

About the Competition

Q: What is the Doodle 4 Google competition?: A: Doodle 4 Google is a competition open to K-12 students of registered U.S. schools to create their own Google doodle inspired by the theme, "What If...?"
Q: Why is Google holding this competition?: A: We are delighted to encourage and celebrate the creativity of young people, and are excited to see the range of creative doodles that are submitted. Every day Dennis Hwang, our chief doodler, is asked by users to create one doodle or another, and with this competition, Dennis is going to let one of them do it for themselves.
Q: Why did you select the theme, "What If..?": A: At Google, we like to dream big, and we can't think of anything more important than asking students to do the same. We ask ourselves that same question – what if? – everyday, as we build our products, so it seemed like an intriguing and appropriate launching point to encourage students to explore their creativity.
Q: So what does "What If..?" mean? How might that be represented visually?: A: Questions are provided to help students start dreaming and doodling. Questions such as: "What if... I could see into the future? What if...I could live underwater? What if...I could build any invention I wanted?" We're really excited to see the range of creative interpretations that are submitted.
Q: How do kids/parents/teachers sign up?: A: Teachers should go to www.google.com/doodle4google to register their school by March 28, 2008. Parents and children interested in participating should pass this link on to their teachers. We will only accept entries submitted by registered schools.

Eligibility

Q: What are the eligibility requirements?: A: This competition is open to current students in grades K-12 of registered schools in the 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. The students must also be U.S. residents and if they are a minor, they must obtain their parent's consent to participate in the contest.
Q: Are home schooled children eligible to participate?: A: Home schools that teach students curriculum for grades K-12 are encouraged to register. Only the teacher or administrator may register the student(s).
Q: My school is not participating in the competition. Can I still participate?: Only registered schools and home schools can participate. Encourage a teacher to register on behalf of your school.
Q: Does the student need to be a U.S. citizen to participate?: A: Students are not required to be U.S. citizens. However, they must be U.S. residents.
Q: I am a teacher/school administrator, but I have an immediate family member that works at Google. Can I participate in Doodle 4 Google?: A: You cannot register the school or be a part of any judging that happens at your school. However, you can administer or facilitate lessons with students on creation of the artwork.
Q: Can after-school programs participate?: A: After-school programs are not eligible to participate. If you are affiliated with such a program, please encourage your local schools to enter and have your members participate through that school.

Resources

Q: What resources have been made available to teachers?: A: Google has worked closely with experienced teachers/curriculum developers to design lesson plans for each grade level to ensure Doodle 4 Google acts as an enhancement to the curriculum. The lesson plans are available here.
Q: Do I have to use the provided lesson plans or may I create my own?: A: The lesson plans have been provided as suggestions for how this project and its "What if...?" theme may be used to meet the U.S. national standards. Feel free to branch out on your own and to vary the "What if...?" theme according to your class topics or units.
Q: Can students use clip art or copyrighted images in their doodles?: A: Students' doodles should be original artwork. We cannot accept entries that incorporate third party material.

Submitting Entries

Q: What if another teacher/administrator from my school registers and submits entries?: A: We will do our best to identify duplicate registration and notify affected schools, however we cannot guarantee notification. If we do receive two set of entries from the same school we will only accept the first six entries, so please make sure you coordinate participation with other educators at your school. Each school is responsible for selecting and submitting its 6 best entries.
Q: What if I forgot to include an entry code, a completed entry from or a signed consent form?: A: We cannot accept entries without an entry code, a completed entry for and a signed consent form. Please make sure to attach all necessary forms to the associated doodle securely to ensure the are received.

Judging and Prizes

Q: How is the contest judged?

A: A panel of independent judges will select the top doodles across grade groups, from which the public will help select the final four. The national winner will then be selected by Google and announced at an event held at Google's headquarters on May 21st, 2008.

Submissions will be divided into four grade groups (Kindergarten - Grade 3, Grade 4 - Grade 6, Grade 7 - Grade 9, and Grade 10 - Grade 12) for judging. There will be four stages of judging. At the State level, up to 400 State Finalists (100 per grade group; 2 from each state) will be selected by a panel of regional judges including Googlers, educators and the press. Entries from the the District of Columbia will be judged with the state of Maryland.
At the Regional Level, 40 Regional Winners (10 per grade group; 1 from each region) will be selected from the pool of up to 400 State Finalists by the panel of regional judges.
At the National level, four National Finalists (1 per grade group) will be selected from the pool of 40 Regional Winners by public vote via www.google.com/doodle4google
Google will then choose one National Winner from among the four National Finalists.

Q: Who is on the panel of independent judges?

A: The panel of judges includes experts at Young Audiences, Teach for America and reporters from across the country.

Q: What criteria will be used to select the winning doodle?

A: To narrow the entries down to the top 40 regional finalists, eligible doodles will be judged by the judging panel against the following criteria:

Artistic merit: based on grade group and artistic skill
Creativity: based on the representation of the '"What If...?" theme and use of the Google logo
Theme communication: how well the theme is expressed
Appropriateness of the supporting statement

Q: What are the prizes for winners?

The National Winner will have their winning doodle on the Google homepage on May 22, 2008. He or she will also win a $10,000 college scholarship to be used at the school of her/his choice, a trip to the Googleplex on May 21, 2008, a laptop computer, and a t-shirt printed with their doodle. We'll also award the winner's school a $25,000 grant towards the establishment/improvement of a computer lab.
Each of the other 3 National Finalists will win a trip to the Googleplex on May 21, 2008, a laptop computer, and a t-shirt printed with their doodle.
Each of the other 36 Regional Winners will win a trip to the Googleplex on May 21, 2008 and a t-shirt printed with their doodle.
Each of the other 360 State Finalists will receive a "Doodle 4 Google" certificate.