Meridian Stories Annual Digital Storytelling Competition
2024-2025
Welcome to our annual digital storytelling competitions where students are challenged to create short video and audio stories around topics in Language Arts, History, and STEAM.
Meridian Stories Competitions
From the creation of a new dystopia, to an investigative report about water corruption; from a rap about immigration, to a police drama that is resolved through trigonometry, the Digital Storytelling Competitions for Grades 5-12 (middle school through high school) begin with engagement, journey through curricular exploration and story creation, and end in media production. To see last year’s Challenges, scroll down.
This year’s Competitive Submissions are due on April 4, 2025.
Everything You Need to Know about the Competitions
2024 — 2025 Meridian Stories Competitions
Meridian Stories School Competitions FAQs
Q: What does the per school annual fee cover?
Q: How long can the digital stories be?
Q: Is there support from Meridian Stories?
- via the Digital Resources Learning Center
- via direct contact with the staff at Meridian Stories
Questions? Please contact us.
Q: What are the rights issues surrounding the publication of student work on the Meridian Stories website?
A: Each submission to the Competitions must be slated with the title of the piece, the submitting school, and the words, ‘Permission Granted.’ Those two words give Meridian Stories the rights to publish and feature the student work on the site and in related education-only contexts — such as a Newsletter. Regarding overall digital rights concerning the use of imagery, music and sound, it is expected that the teachers will supervise the rules and necessary citations that govern the use of digital content in their students’ stories. To assist, there is a Digital Rules area – including information on Public Domain, Creative Commons Licenses, and the Doctrine of Fair Use – in the Digital Resources Learning Center.
Q: How are these submissions evaluated?
Q: What is this Badging system? Do students win anything?
Q: How many entries can my school submit?
Contact Us
If your questions weren’t answered above, contact us and we’ll be sure to get your question answered.
2024 — 2025 Meridian Stories Competitions
Language Arts
Extending Literature: A News Report about The Next Chapter
Literary Plot and Character Analysis | Character and Scene Creation | Scriptwriting | Interviewing Skills | Digital Literacy | Life Skills
Imagine you are on a news show reporting on the events that take place just after the novel, play or short story you just read, ended. In other words, you are adding a new chapter or scene, and relaying this information in a news report. The news report will begin with a brief summary of what has just occurred – kind of like a previous episode summary that you see on serialized TV – and then dive into the new developments with your characters and their world. Your cast will feature an anchor, an interviewer and one to three characters from the work of literature.
Register your school to download the challenge! Already a member with access to the competitions? Log in to download the challenge. Happy storytelling!
2024 — 2025 Meridian Stories Competitions
Language Arts
Modern Poetry Visualized — Interpretive Video
Modern Poetry Exposure | Modern Poetry Analysis | Visualization of Text | Digital Literacy | Life Skills
In this Challenge, students are presented with three modern poems that have been published in a major literary magazine within the last few years. Each poem offers up a visceral vision that, like many quality poems, can be interpreted and enjoyed both on a universal and personal level.
Each team must choose one poem, study it, debate it, and find its lyricism, meaning and ambition. Then, create a visual video interpretation of their select poem to accompany a recitation of the poem. Music may be used to underscore the work.
Register your school to download the challenge! Already a member with access to the competitions? Log in to download the challenge. Happy storytelling!
2024 — 2025 Meridian Stories Competitions
Language Arts
And…Action! — Let the Camera Bring Lit to Life!
Literary Analysis and Interpretation | Script Writing | Dramatic Re-enactment | Focus on Digital Literacy Skills: Camera, Sound, and Visuals | Life Skills
Take a three-minute scene from a play or short story/novel you are studying and transcribe it into a short theatrical scene for the stage: dialogue and stage directions. Block your scene on a stage (or the classroom, or a basement, or …wherever) and shoot it. The twist here is that you must direct your scene utilizing at least five different and distinct camera angles; integrate one highly creative use of sound; and integrate one highly creative visual moment – it could be a graphic cut away or an unusual visual prop on stage.
Register your school to download the challenge! Already a member with access to the competitions? Log in to download the challenge. Happy storytelling!
2024 — 2025 Meridian Stories Competitions
Language Arts | History
Lit Obits —
Authorial/Character Research | Non-Fiction and Fictional Writing | Character Voice Development | Exploration of Subjectivity/Objectivity | Digital Literacy | Life Skills
Legacy is a potent word. How do we want to be remembered when we die? Obituaries are one of the ways in which one’s legacy is communicated to the public. But here’s the thing: they are written (and therefore, controlled) by other people. But not in this Challenge. Choose an author or character from a play, novel or short story, and have them write their own obituary; have them control exactly how they want to be remembered to the world. This will be presented as part of a radio program – the host will ‘play’ the recording of the author/character’s obituary, and provide a few comments after, to …subvert, clarify, or reinforce the perspective that person has…on their own life. (This Challenge also can be applied to an historical figure.)
Register your school to download the challenge! Already a member with access to the competitions? Log in to download the challenge. Happy storytelling!
2024 — 2025 Meridian Stories Competitions
History
Sportscasting History
Historical Research (Primary and Secondary Source) | Historical Analysis | Historical Character and Scene Re-creation | Video Production | 21st Century Skills
Imagine being a sportscaster, reporting live, based on images being streamed to you from a GoPro camera on Paul Revere’s hat? Fun, right? What if you were there in 1521 in what is now Germany as Martin Luther confronted the Roman Catholic Church about his ‘reformed’ views of the Church? Or a sportscasting fly-on-the-wall as Jefferson negotiated the Louisiana Purchase? How about at the Soviet dacha in 1991 preparing to sign the Belavezha Accords, dissolving the Soviet Union?
In this Challenge, your team must pick a key moment in history — one which did not happen in public — and create a verbal, play-by-play account of the action, with a broadcaster and color commentator. The final deliverable should include the use of still photos, drawings and/or actual footage (historical recreations, if desired), intercut with shots of the sportscasters.
Register your school to download the challenge! Already a member with access to the competitions? Log in to download the challenge. Happy storytelling!
2024 — 2025 Meridian Stories Competitions
History
Flag Designing: Telling a Visual Story of Place
Research Flag and World Country History | Primary and Secondary Source Research of Local/Regional History | Flag Designing | Scriptwriting | Digital Literacy | Life Skills
The history of flags is a story of multiple societies, often existing in isolation of each other, using first just cloth, and then eventually adding symbols on the cloth, to create banners representing different things. In this Challenge, you are being asked to design a new town, state, or national flag, and then tell us the story of your design. Your team begins by finding a world flag that attracts your attention and researching that flag’s story. That research will inform your new flag design, which will be shaped by your understanding of the past, present and the future of your chosen place, be it your town, state, or country.
Register your school to download the challenge! Already a member with access to the competitions? Log in to download the challenge. Happy storytelling!
2024 — 2025 Meridian Stories Competitions
History | Language Arts
The Meaning of AI: A Graphic Novel Strip
Research: Contemporary Studies and Essays | Interviewing Skills | Scene and Character Creation | Graphic Novel Strips (words and images) Creation | Digital Literacy | Life Skills
In this Challenge, you will create one or two different graphic novel strips in which you showcase your thoughts on the growing impact of Artificial Intelligence in society and the use of this technology in the future. Combining research with interviews of your peers, your team will create one or two short scenes that finish sentences like, “Is that really what you believe about AI in our world today?” and “Where is artificial intelligence heading?” There will be four such prompts from which to choose, and each story should be between 8 and 12 frames.
Register your school to download the challenge! Already a member with access to the competitions? Log in to download the challenge. Happy storytelling!
2024 — 2025 Meridian Stories Competitions
History
Both Sides Now: An Historical Podcast
Primary and Secondary Source Historical Research | Focus on Differing Historical Perspectives | Historical Character Creation | Scriptwriting | Digital Literacy | Life Skills
In this Challenge, your team is asked to conduct research on one of the key events from the American Revolution, the Civil War or any conflict that involves US forces, and select a spokesperson for that side. Then, select a historical figure to represent the opposing perspective. These will be the guests on your podcast – a program that you will need to title and create a graphic/logo for — and the third character will be the host: the interviewer. What are the ramifications of the event you have selected and why is each side willing to sacrifice their lives for their beliefs, for or against this moment in history? In short, what’s the whole story?
Register your school to download the challenge! Already a member with access to the competitions? Log in to download the challenge. Happy storytelling!
2024 — 2025 Meridian Stories Competitions
STEAM
Rube Goldberg: Defying Gravity — A Documentary
Historical Research | Creative and Scientific Brainstorming | Forces and Motions, Energy Transitions | Physics | Contraption Creation | Design, Construction, Testing, Re-Testing | Digital Literacy | Life Skills
Car jack, forklift, pulley and dumbbell curl: there are lots of ways to hoist an object off the ground cleanly and efficiently. Not here! In the tradition of the famous Rube Goldberg, you and your team must create a device that opposes gravity using at least two separate machines that handle the load in sequence to raise an object (or multiple objects) two meters off the ground. The project begins with a very brief overview of the man himself — Rube Goldberg — and then documents your process for creating the most scientifically complex machine…to accomplish the simplest of tasks.
Register your school to download the challenge! Already a member with access to the competitions? Log in to download the challenge. Happy storytelling!
2024 — 2025 Meridian Stories Competitions
History | Language Arts |Art
Designing Community Public Art: A Video Pitch
Primary and Secondary Source Research | Community Polling | Visual Arts Designing and Planning | Script Writing to Persuade | Digital Literacy | Life Skills
Create a pitch film that is targeted toward the local school board about the design and creation of a new work of public art that will be displayed on school grounds. The public art should be designed to reflect the identity of your school and the history of your community, as well as engage the youth of your community in a positive and thought-provoking way. This Challenge begins with research: research about what the community wants; what the Administration wants; what kind of ‘public art’ might work in a school setting and where this work should be displayed. The design needs to reflect at least three different elements of the history or character of your school and your team must include at least one interview in the pitch.
Register your school to download the challenge! Already a member with access to the competitions? Log in to download the challenge. Happy storytelling!
2024 — 2025 Meridian Stories Competitions
History | Language Arts | STEAM
Game of Teens: A Video Pitch
Investigating the Essence of Being a Teenager from A Scientific, Historical and/or Literary Perspective | Game Design Principles and Prototyping | Scriptwriting | Digital Literacy | Life Skills
In this Challenge, participants will design a game that answers the question: what does it mean to be a teenager today? This game can be physical or digital, and your final video will be a ‘proof of concept’ video targeting the online crowdfunding community. However, the game must approach the idea of being a teen from a neurological, historical/anthropological or literary perspective, drawing on recent studies — or novels — for insight into what it is to be a teen today.
Register your school to download the challenge! Already a member with access to the competitions? Log in to download the challenge. Happy storytelling!
2024 — 2025 Meridian Stories Competitions
STEAM | Language Arts
What If? …A Climate Change Radio Game Show
Research Scientific Forecasting Models | Data Analysis | Creative Organization of Content | Digital Literacy | Life Skills
In this Challenge, your team is going to create a short radio game show about climate change based on the question, What If…? Teams will design three questions, that all begin with that phrase, and all of which have three multiple choice answers. After a run through with your class, the game will be played and recorded live with new players. Finally, at the end, the team will come together and for 60 unscripted seconds, talk about the experience and what they learned about …climate change and what their peers know …and don’t know.
Register your school to download the challenge! Already a member with access to the competitions? Log in to download the challenge. Happy storytelling!
2024 — 2025 Meridian Stories Competitions
STEAM | History | Language Arts
New Tech Perspectives: A Vlog
Research the History of Technology | Research and Analyze Singular Aspect of Tech Today | Analyze Personal Tech Usage and Impact | Script Writing | Voice Development | Digital Literacy – Life Skills
Take a three-minute scene from a play or short story/novel you are studying and transcribe it into a short theatrical scene for the stage: dialogue and stage directions. Block your scene on a stage (or the classroom, or a basement, or …wherever) and shoot it. The twist here is that you must direct your scene utilizing at least five different and distinct camera angles; integrate one highly creative use of sound; and integrate one highly creative visual moment – it could be a graphic cut away or an unusual visual prop on stage.
Register your school to download the challenge! Already a member with access to the competitions? Log in to download the challenge. Happy storytelling!
2024 — 2025 Meridian Stories Competitions
Language Arts | History
I Am Who I Am Because… A Digital Self-Portrait
Personal Essay | Family Heritage Research | Creative Storytelling | Digital Literacy | Life Skills
In this digital storytelling challenge, you will create a digital personal essay – a self-portrait (as an individual or a group) – exploring three key themes: family heritage, personal passions, and defining aspects of your identity (ex. religion, culture, gender, sexuality, etc.). The storytelling format is wide-open and the endgame is to create a personal essay that also functions as a work of digital art.
Register your school to download the challenge! Already a member with access to the competitions? Log in to download the challenge. Happy storytelling!
2024 — 2025 Meridian Stories Competitions
History | Language Arts | STEAM
Social Media and Your Mental Health: A Dramatic Monologue
Research Technology/Social Media and Mental Health | Personal Exploration of Relationship Between Tech and Self | Character Creation | Script Writing | Interviewing Skills | Digital Literacy | Life Skills
We all know that being ‘connected’ through social media and technology can have its consequences. This is a particularly hot topic now with the controversial publication of Jonathan Haidt’s book, The Anxious Generation. But let’s take control of this topic away from the adults and put it in your hands. Your team is challenged with researching this issue and interviewing your peers, with the intent of creating a singular, fictional character who embodies the multiple perspectives gathered about one’s relationship with their mobile device(s). You will then write a monologue for this character and shoot him/her/them. It’s a dramatic monologue, one of the most fascinating narrative forms to explore.
Register your school to download the challenge! Already a member with access to the competitions? Log in to download the challenge. Happy storytelling!
2024 — 2025 Meridian Stories Competitions
Language Arts
Team Moth: A Podcast
Development and Creation of Personal Narrative | Exploration of College Common App Questions | Extemporaneous Speaking | Digital Literacy | Life Skills
In this Challenge your team will create a podcast of your entire team telling a true story in ‘Moth style’. What is a ‘Moth’? A Moth is the telling of a true story that happened to the presenter and is told extemporaneously. The Moth format comes to us from National Public Radio (NPR). For Meridian Stories, you have to present a ‘Team Moth’ and the deliverable is an audio podcast of the team performance…in front of a live audience. Teams will respond to prompts taken directly from the 2024-2025 Common Application that many students use to apply to college.
Register your school to download the challenge! Already a member with access to the competitions? Log in to download the challenge. Happy storytelling!
Notify Me!
Complete the form below and we’ll notify you when the 2022-2023 Meridian Stories Competitions are posted.