The Meaning of Home Writing Contest is Back
What Does “Home” Mean to Your Students?
Every year, thousands of students across Canada share one simple yet powerful idea: what home means to them. Now, the Meaning of Home writing contest is back and it’s one of the easiest, most impactful classroom activities you can bring into your school year. Not only does it spark creativity and reflection, but every single entry submitted by a Saskatchewan school, donates $10 back to building homes across Saskatchewan!
All the details about the contest
Students in Grades 4, 5, and 6 across the country are invited to write a short poem or essay about what home means to them. Teachers submit the responses on behalf of the students by registering on meaningofhome.ca
To celebrate and support the educators who make this contest possible, Habitat Canada has added a new incentive this year: Teachers who submit student entries will be entered into a draw for one of ten $200 gift cards to help with classroom or teaching supplies.
The Meaning of Home contest also comes with exciting opportunities for student writers:
- Grand Prize: A $30,000 grant directed to a local Habitat build, plus an iPad and a pizza party for the winning class.
- Runner-Up Prizes: Each runner-up wins a $10,000 grant for their local Habitat, along with an iPad and a class pizza party.
- And remember—every entry donates $10 to your local Habitat affiliate no matter what.
We know you’re busy, so let us do the heavy lifting
Once you sign up for the contest, you’ll receive full access to a complete curriculum designed to walk your students through the writing process from start to finish. Lesson plans, activity sheets, writing prompts—we’ve got it all ready for you because we know how busy teachers already are. You bring the class; we’ll bring the structure.
Why Teachers Love This Contest
- It fits naturally into the Language Arts curriculum.
- It comes with ready-to-use teaching materials and a full learning module.
- It gives students a chance to reflect, express themselves, and contribute to community change.
- It’s meaningful, memorable, and requires minimal prep.
Ready to Join the 2026 Contest?
Teacher sign-ups are open now, with the contest running January 5 – February 20, 2026.
Visit the Meaning of Home website to learn more, access the educator toolkit, and sign up your classroom: https://www.meaningofhome.ca
