Bring Reading and Creativity Together this Halloween!
ReadWorks and Simply Draw are teaming up to invite students to explore Halloween-themed reading and turn what they read into an original illustration.
Students in grades 1-6 can read a ReadWorks article, spark their imagination, and create an illustration using a free trial in the Simply Draw app and inspired by their reading. It’s a fun way to give students an opportunity to engage with text, think creatively, and show what they understand in a completely different way.
Enter your students’ illustrations for a chance to win a free annual subscription to the suite of Simply apps including Simply Draw, Simply Piano, and more, a $25 gift card, and a fun merch package mailed to your home or school!
Students in grades 1-6 can read a ReadWorks article, spark their imagination, and create an illustration using a free trial in the Simply Draw app and inspired by their reading. It’s a fun way to give students an opportunity to engage with text, think creatively, and show what they understand in a completely different way.
Enter your students’ illustrations for a chance to win a free annual subscription to the suite of Simply apps including Simply Draw, Simply Piano, and more, a $25 gift card, and a fun merch package mailed to your home or school!
How to Enter:
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Step 1: READ
Grades 1-6 students should read both of the following passages before deciding which one to illustrate:
Grades 1-6 students should read both of the following passages before deciding which one to illustrate:
1st Grade
2nd grade
3rd grade
5th grade
6th grade
Step 2: DRAW
Bring the Halloween Stories to Life with Simply Draw! To help students create their contest illustrations, we’ve partnered with Simply Draw to provide fun, free step-by-step Halloween drawing tutorials to add to your student's ideas! This is optional but encouraged.
The drawing tutorials are leveled to match the grade level of the related reading passage.
The tutorials include how to draw:
How to Access the Simply Draw Drawing Tutorials
Make It a Classroom Activity
Teachers are encouraged to project or AirPlay the step-by-step drawing tutorials from a mobile device to create a whole-class lesson or small-group activity. The tutorials can help students build their drawing skills while bringing the texts they read to life.
Encourage students to get creative! They can experiment with colors, backgrounds, and environments. We especially want to see details from the ReadWorks article reflected in their illustrations.
Share the Contest
We’ve also created this flyer that you can download, email, or print and share with an art teacher or the parent or caregiver of any student who may be interested in entering the contest.
We can’t wait to see what your students create!
Bring the Halloween Stories to Life with Simply Draw! To help students create their contest illustrations, we’ve partnered with Simply Draw to provide fun, free step-by-step Halloween drawing tutorials to add to your student's ideas! This is optional but encouraged.
The drawing tutorials are leveled to match the grade level of the related reading passage.
The tutorials include how to draw:
- Bats
- Skeletons
- Jack-O-Lanterns
- Spiders
- Aliens
- Black Cats
How to Access the Simply Draw Drawing Tutorials
- Use a mobile device or tablet. Simply Draw must be accessed on a phone or iPad for this activity. A desktop version is not available.
- Click here to download the Simply Draw app.
- Once installed, log in using the email [email protected] and enter the access code 1234.
- You’ll be automatically directed to Halloween-themed, step-by-step drawing tutorials that connect with the ReadWorks articles. Students can learn how to draw bats, jack-o’-lanterns, spiders, aliens, and more! If a lesson doesn't start at the beginning, just drag the slider bar back to the start before beginning.
Make It a Classroom Activity
Teachers are encouraged to project or AirPlay the step-by-step drawing tutorials from a mobile device to create a whole-class lesson or small-group activity. The tutorials can help students build their drawing skills while bringing the texts they read to life.
Encourage students to get creative! They can experiment with colors, backgrounds, and environments. We especially want to see details from the ReadWorks article reflected in their illustrations.
Share the Contest
We’ve also created this flyer that you can download, email, or print and share with an art teacher or the parent or caregiver of any student who may be interested in entering the contest.
We can’t wait to see what your students create!
Step 3: SUBMIT
All illustrations must be submitted by teachers, parents, or guardians.
Review these steps to submit entries to ReadWorks:
No entries will be accepted for judging after midnight Eastern Time on Friday, November 6th.
ReadWorks has assembled a panel of judges to pick the winning illustration. All images will be judged collectively, resulting in six winning entries, one for each grade level.
Judging and Awards
No entries will be accepted for judging after midnight Eastern Time on Friday, November 6th. We've created this honoree certificate template in Canva for you to customize with your students' names for participation.
ReadWorks has assembled a panel of judges to pick the winning illustration. All images will be judged collectively, resulting in six winning entries, one for each grade level.
Entries will be judged by a panel of experts from ReadWorks and Simply Draw on the following criteria:
Winners will receive an email by be announced by Monday, November 23rd. Educators will be notified of winning students via the email provided.
The ReadWorks team will announce six winners total. Each winner student winner and their teacher or parent will be awarded a ReadWorks and Simply Draw merchandise package, as well as two $25 gift cards, and a free annual subscription to the Simply suite of products, including Simply Draw, Simply Piano, and more...
All illustrations must be submitted by teachers, parents, or guardians.
Review these steps to submit entries to ReadWorks:
- Make sure to follow all guidelines presented on this page
- Submit your students’ drawings to ReadWorks
- Teachers may submit ONE entry per student
No entries will be accepted for judging after midnight Eastern Time on Friday, November 6th.
ReadWorks has assembled a panel of judges to pick the winning illustration. All images will be judged collectively, resulting in six winning entries, one for each grade level.
Judging and Awards
No entries will be accepted for judging after midnight Eastern Time on Friday, November 6th. We've created this honoree certificate template in Canva for you to customize with your students' names for participation.
ReadWorks has assembled a panel of judges to pick the winning illustration. All images will be judged collectively, resulting in six winning entries, one for each grade level.
Entries will be judged by a panel of experts from ReadWorks and Simply Draw on the following criteria:
- Demonstrated Understanding of Passage: Does the illustration draw upon ideas covered in the passage?
- Creativity and originality: Is the material thoughtfully and uniquely presented?
- Accuracy: Does the illustration demonstrate elements of design and drawing skills?
Winners will receive an email by be announced by Monday, November 23rd. Educators will be notified of winning students via the email provided.
The ReadWorks team will announce six winners total. Each winner student winner and their teacher or parent will be awarded a ReadWorks and Simply Draw merchandise package, as well as two $25 gift cards, and a free annual subscription to the Simply suite of products, including Simply Draw, Simply Piano, and more...
Frequently Asked Questions
legal terms & RuLEs
Due to privacy and data capabilities, educators must be in the United States to participate.
Original Content: By participating in the Contest, each Participant guarantees that their submission is original, authored by them, and not encumbered by any copyright or 3rd party ownership.
Rights Granted by Contest Participants: By winning this Contest you understand and agree to submit your photo and that ReadWorks has the right, where permitted by law, to use the content and personal information for any promotional purposes without limitation and without any further compensation, notice, review, or consent.
Assignment of Rights: Student Entrant acknowledges that the Contest Entry and all other materials of every kind whatsoever created by contestant for the Contest (collectively, the “Work”) are a “work made for hire” (as that term is used in the United States Copyright Act) for ReadWorks, and assigns to ReadWorks limited rights, title and interest in and to such Work, including, without limitation, all rights of every kind and nature for all purposes, in any and all media.
Privacy Policy: Information submitted with an entry is subject to the Privacy Policy stated on the ReadWorks website. To read the Privacy Policy, click here.
Original Content: By participating in the Contest, each Participant guarantees that their submission is original, authored by them, and not encumbered by any copyright or 3rd party ownership.
Rights Granted by Contest Participants: By winning this Contest you understand and agree to submit your photo and that ReadWorks has the right, where permitted by law, to use the content and personal information for any promotional purposes without limitation and without any further compensation, notice, review, or consent.
Assignment of Rights: Student Entrant acknowledges that the Contest Entry and all other materials of every kind whatsoever created by contestant for the Contest (collectively, the “Work”) are a “work made for hire” (as that term is used in the United States Copyright Act) for ReadWorks, and assigns to ReadWorks limited rights, title and interest in and to such Work, including, without limitation, all rights of every kind and nature for all purposes, in any and all media.
Privacy Policy: Information submitted with an entry is subject to the Privacy Policy stated on the ReadWorks website. To read the Privacy Policy, click here.
Can parents/guardians participate with children?
Yes! If you would like to participate with your children, we encourage parents/guardians to submit on behalf of their children.
Can students in grade levels outside of 1st through 6th grade participate?
At this time, our contest is only for students in 1st through 6th grade. This is based on the level of articles and Simply Draw drawing tutorials we are able to offer for this contest.
Can we choose a different passage than those listed?
To ensure fairness in the judging process, please only submit illustrations for the selected passages above.
How will I know the status of my submission?
Winning submissions will be notified in November 2026. There will be one winner per grade 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th. The level of article read is at the discretion of the teacher or parent who is submitting the illustration. You can choose to move to a different level if that is what is best for your student.
What will my student(s) receive for participating?
We encourage teachers to use this template to celebrate all students’ drawings.
Can students submit digital illustrations?
We encourage you to try the Simply Draw app to help the drawing process whether is is on paper or on a device. Please free free to use digital tools is that is what is best for your students!
Generative AI illustrations are not accepted in the contest.
Generative AI illustrations are not accepted in the contest.
Is there a size requirement for the illustration/paper?
Typically, submissions are 8 1/2 x 11, but we will accept other sizes!
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