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Switch It Up! | Poetry Contest | Ideal for 6-13 years
Change one thing. Imagine Everything.
What if your students could travel through time, shrink to the size of an ant, explore another planet, or become someone completely different?
Switch It Up! is an exciting,
FREE poetry contest for elementary students
that invites them to change just one thing about
their reality and discover a whole new world
of possibilities!
With four imaginative starting points,
it's easy to get ideas flowing and give
every student a way into creative writing.
Sometimes all it takes is one small change
to create an extraordinary idea!
Switch It Up! invites students to imagine
a different reality, then turn what they
see, hear, do, and feel into an original poem.
They might find themselves somewhere new,
travel to another time, become enormous
or tiny, or see the world through
someone else's eyes.
From funny and fantastical to thoughtful
and surprising, there's no limit to
where their imaginations can take them!
FOUR STARTING POINTS TO SWITCH IT UP!
These four simple switches help students
get started quickly, with plenty of freedom
to make their ideas their own.
SWITCH PLACE
Blast into space, dive beneath the ocean,
visit an upside-down world, or explore
somewhere completely new!
SWITCH TIME
Meet characters from the past,
jump into the future, or rewind
just a few minutes and change
what happens next!
SWITCH SIZE
Shrink smaller than an ant,
grow taller than a skyscraper,
or become as flat as a piece
of paper!
SWITCH WHO
Become an astronaut, a singer,
a wild animal, a robot, or
something nobody has imagined before!
ONE SWITCH IS JUST THE BEGINNING!
Students can choose one switch, add their
own twist, combine ideas, or invent
something completely different.
These are starting points, not limits.
Let their imaginations lead the way!
FROM ONE LITTLE IDEA TO AN ORIGINAL POEM!
Our free student activity sheet makes
poetry accessible by helping students
generate ideas before they're asked
to start writing.
01
MAKE YOUR SWITCH
Choose what to change, whether it's
place, time, size, or who you are.
02
EXPLORE YOUR NEW REALITY
Imagine what you can see, hear, do,
and feel. Draw, list words, or jot
down short phrases.
03
BRING IT TO LIFE
Turn your ideas into a poem, using
any poetry style or the optional
writing tips to help.
The flexible activity gives students
of different ages and abilities an
accessible starting point, while
encouraging creativity and original
expression.
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO GET YOUR CLASS WRITING!
Our FREE, ready-to-use resources
help you introduce Switch It Up!, get ideas flowing,
and support students as they develop their poems.
Student planning activity
Guides students through choosing a switch,
imagining their new reality, and generating
ideas for their poems.
Poetry toolkit
Simple writing tips and techniques to help
students turn their ideas into poetry.
Example poems
A rhyming poem and an acrostic show students
two different ways to bring a switch to life.
Student entry form
A separate, easy-to-print sheet for students
to write and submit their finished poems.
One little change can spark an extraordinary
poem. Give your students the freedom to
imagine something new, explore their ideas,
and discover the joy of creative writing.
We've worked with over 20,000 schools. Here's what some of them have to say...
“
”
This is my sixth year using YW to publish my students' writing and they are so easy to work with! My students are always excited to use the provided theme and challenge themselves to be chosen!
Thank you so much for another opportunity! The class really enjoyed this.
Justina Denapoli, Father Vincent Capodanno Catholic Academy, NYSee more...
The students enjoyed the freedom of this project (Peculiar Pets). It got them excited to write.
Amanda Peterson, Christ The King School, NYSee more...
Peculiar Pets was a great activity!
Anne Piccoli, Immaculate Heart Of Mary School, NYSee more...
Thank you for the intriguing prompts and engaging activities! I look forward to these contests each year.
Mike Carter, Millis Middle/High School, MASee more...
My students absolutely loved the challenge of writing mini sagas!
Darla Bubar, Edward Town Middle School, NYSee more...
The story starters are so fun!
Nichole Charbonneau, Old Rochester Regional Junior High School, MASee more...
My students look forward to this contest every year, and so do I!
Rachel Barnes, Monomay Regional High School, MASee more...
This was such a fun way to have my students engaged with their writing!
Christina Guertin, Midland Street School, NYSee more...
This is my sixth year using YW to publish my students' writing and they are so easy to work with! My students are always excited to use the provided theme and challenge themselves to be chosen!
Students have the opportunity to see
their poetry published in a real
Young Writers book.
CLOSING DATE: DECEMBER 18, 2026
If you are unsure on any rules or have any queries, please don't hesitate to Contact Us.
For Schools
SCHOOL PRIZE
YOUNG WRITERS' AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
The school with our favorite set of entries
will receive the prestigious
Young Writers' Award of Excellence!
PLUS FREE BOOKS FOR PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS!
Every participating school with published
students will receive a free copy of
the book featuring their work.
The more entries you send, the more
free books your school could receive.
Contest closes December 18, 2026.
Free to enter. No purchase necessary.
For Students
3 WINNING WRITERS!
Fantastic creative writing goody bags!
Become a published author
Students have the exciting opportunity
to see their poems published in a real
Young Writers book.
Every entrant receives a bookmark
Every student who enters will receive
a bookmark for taking part.
Celebrate getting published
Young writers whose work we'd love to
publish will also receive a certificate
to celebrate their achievement.
Our favorite three poets will each receive
a creative writing goody bag.
Winners will be chosen from eligible entries
received for Switch It Up!
Prizes will be awarded the following semester.
Your students write or type their entry (or an adult can scribe) ensuring their name (or initials) and age are included
Submit your entries using one of the options below
Enter Online
Email
Email your entries to [email protected]
and please ensure your students' names and ages are on their work, and that you include your name, school name and school address in your email. Thank you!
Please ensure your name, email and school name and address are included with your entries if you send entries digitally via a non-Young Writers service.
