The world's a place of living things,

From bees to frogs to birds with wings.

Some live in cold places, some swim in reefs,

And don't forget some have many a leaf!

The world's a place of living things,

With dots and stripes and lots of rings.

With all this variety we'd like to remind

Every species is one of a kind.

 "The World's a Place of Living Things" is the 17th annual art contest held by the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) in Arlington, VA. The contest supports national education standards for grades K-4.

This year, we're inviting young scientists and artists to explore biodiversity!

There are many different types of life on Earth -- from bacteria to insects to plants and animals. This biodiversity extends across species and individuals. We encourage students to learn about the forms of life in a particular place. Have them explore what can be seen, what types of life are hard to see, and how those lifeforms interact with one another.

Biodiversity is everywhere! Students should investigate, then draw a picture showing what they have learned. Remember to submit completed art pieces to the 2012 IGES art contest!

The first-, second-, and third-place artists will receive $100, $75, and $50 Visa gift cards, respectively, framed color certificates and their artwork will be showcased on IGES's website. For all entrants, certificates of participation will be available online as PDF files for teachers and parents to download and print.  

For more contest details, guiding questions, fun facts, and resources