Poster Contest

2022-23 School Year:

Submissions Accepted December 1, 2022 - April 30, 2023

In Your Classroom

Open to all MN K-8 students, gauge student learning and engagement with economic & personal finance topics used in class by having them illustrate one of the below concepts. Submissions should be on one of the following concepts or otherwise approved by MCEE:

  • Barter: Trading a good or service directly for another good or service

  • Budget: A plan for saving and spending money.

  • Capital Resources: Items made to produce and distribute goods and services (i.e. tools)

  • Choice: A decision made, or course of action taken, when given a set of options

  • Consumers: People who buy and/or use goods and services

  • Demand: The quantity of a good or service that buyers are willing and able to buy at all possible prices during a certain time period.

  • Entrepreneur: A person who recognizes an opportunity, brings together materials and resources, and takes the risk to develop a business idea or product in the hope of earning a profit

  • Human Resources: The human work and effort, both mental and physical, used to produce goods and services.

  • Incentives: What motivates or influences people to act in a certain way

  • Market: The space (not necessarily physical) where people buy and sell goods and services and where prices are determined.

  • Natural Resources: Materials or substances gained from nature that can be used in the production of goods and services.

  • Needs: Basic things people must have to survive (such as food, clothing, and shelter), resources they need to do their jobs (such as reliable transportation and the tools of the trade), and resources to help build and protect their assets so they can meet future needs (such as emergency savings and insurance).

  • Opportunity Cost: The alternatives that must be given up when a choice is made.

  • Preferences: Things that people like and will choose to do, use, and/or consume.

  • Producers: People who make goods or provide services.

  • Productive Resources: The natural, human, and capital resources used to produce goods and services.

  • Productivity: The amount of a good or service that is produced as a result of the labor used to produce it.

  • Saving: Money set aside for future use.

  • Scarcity: When there is not enough of a good or service for all who want to use it.

  • Supply: The quantity of a good or service that producers are willing and able to sell at all possible prices during a certain time period.

  • Trade: Voluntary exchange of goods and services for money or other goods and services. When trade is voluntary, both parties benefit.

  • Wants: Upgrades and other things that would be nice to have but aren’t necessary for living, earning, or protecting what you have.

Competition Rules

  • Teachers may enter as many submissions as they like (no more than one per student); 12 students will be recognized. The winning artwork may be used in a printed or virtual calendar to be distributed by MCEE to our corporate and community partners, volunteers, other stakeholders, winning teachers, and winning students.

  • Students of chosen artwork will receive a $50 cash prize; checks will be mailed to the teachers school address.

  • Teachers of chosen student artwork will a $100 cash prize (maximum of one cash prize per teacher); checks will be mailed to the teachers school address.

  • Submissions must be original and drawn horizontally/landscape on a 8 1/2" x 11" white sheet of paper. Please encourage students to use the entire piece of paper. Entries may not be folded.

  • The illustrated concept must be from the approved the Minnesota Council on Economic Education (MCEE) glossary of terms list above or approved by MCEE in advance of the competition.

  • All entries must have the concept clearly printed on the drawing, using correct spelling and large lettering.

  • All entries should be in color, not black and white.

  • The student's first & last name, grade, school, and teachers name should be written legibly on the back of the submission in pencil or pen or on an accompanying sheet of paper sent with artwork. *Student’s last name will not be published.

  • Teachers must complete the online registration form prior to submitting their submissions.

  • All entries become the property of MCEE and may be used for publicity purposes.

  • Brand names and trademarks are not allowed.

  • Entries must be postmarked no later than the final date of the competition.

  • Judging Rubric

Submission Guidelines

2022-23 Competition: December 1, 2022 - April 30, 2023

  1. Complete the 'Registration & Submission Form' linked below (December 1, 2022 - April 30, 2023).

  2. Submitting Artwork:

    1. Digitally: Both the front and back (name, grade, school, & teacher) of artwork emailed in a jpeg or png format to mcee@umn.edu (must be sent by Sunday, April 30, 2023).

2. Mailed: Mailed to the below address (submissions must be postmarked by Sunday, April 30, 2023). Please do not fold the artwork when mailing.

Minnesota Council on Economic Education Attn: Poster Contest 116 Ruttan Hall 1994 Buford Avenue Saint Paul, MN 55108

3. Complete Forms & Evaluations: