FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT
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MISSING CHILDREN
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INFORMATION CLEARINGHOUSE
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Presents the
2006 FLORIDA MISSING CHILDREN’S DAY
STATEWIDE FIFTH GRADE ESSAY CONTEST
Theme: “How Can I Be Safe on the Internet?”
PURPOSE:
To promote safety awareness among Florida’s children and encourage
them to proactively think of ways to keep themselves safe.
The Internet is fast becoming a tool used by many people to communicate with
others and research numerous topics. Today, many children have access to the
Internet whether at home, at school, at the library, or at a friend’s house. While
surfing the Internet from time to time, they may be directed to an unsafe website,
or while in a “chat room,” they may find themselves chatting with someone who may
ask for personal information. Children do not know the real identity of the person
with whom they are chatting. This year, we would like children to research the
above subject and write a one-page essay about how they can be safe on the
Internet. Attachment # 1 of this document provides websites children can use to
conduct their research. We encourage teachers and parents to review these sites
and hold discussions with the children. Doing so will ensure that the children have
the correct thinking on the subject and will arm them with good safety techniques
while using the Internet. Listed below are helpful hints you can use in the
discussion to help them compile their thoughts.
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What would you do if you were on the Internet and you saw a picture that
made you feel uncomfortable?
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What would you do if you were in a “chat room” and you received a message
asking for your name, address, and/or phone number?
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If you received a message asking you to meet someone somewhere, what
would you do with the message?
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Do you always know who you are communicating with when on the Internet?
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CONTEST GUIDELINES:
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The contest is open to all fifth grade students in the state of Florida. Children
who might not have a computer at home are still encouraged to participate.
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We encourage all schools to hold an essay contest among their fifth grade
students. Each school must choose only one “School Winner.”
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The School Winner’s essay must be submitted to the Essay Contest
Coordinators by the deadline in order to be considered for the regional and
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statewide winner. ONLY ONE ESSAY FROM EACH SCHOOL CAN BE
SUBMITTED TO THE ESSAY CONTEST COORDINATORS.
Essay topics must focus on safety tips for using the Internet whether at home,
at school, at a library, at a friend’s house, or any place a child may have access
to a computer.
Essays may be based upon, but are not limited to:
Personal experiences dealing with surfing the Internet.
A report on interviews held w th people who could assist them if they should
encounter unsafe websites or are asked to give out personal information.
A research report about Internet safety that all students could use.
Participants should develop thoughts into an essay no longer than one (1)
typewritten or two (2) handwritten pages. If it is typewritten, the font and
font size must be Times New Roman, size 12 or 14.
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The submission form (see Attachment # 4) with complete school contact
information must accompany each essay when it is submitted.
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Essays must be grammatically correct and free of spelling errors. They must
demonstrate clear thought processes and be based on realistic scenarios.
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AWARDS:
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School W n er
– Each participating school must select
one (1) winner
. The
winning essay must be submitted to the contest coordinators, Patricia
Rutherford or Dawn Mikola, by
Monday, April 10, 2006
. A certificate of
participation will be given to all of the school winners. The school contact
person can submit the school winner’s essay in one of the following ways:
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E-mail from school: Forward the following to mcic@fdle.state.fl.us
Submission Form
A copy of the school’s winning essay
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Fax: (850) 410-8599
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Mail: FDLE, Missing Children Information Clearinghouse, PO Box 1489,
Tallahassee, FL 32302-1489, ATTN: Essay Contest Coordinator
2.
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Regional Winner
– All essays received by April 10, 2006, will be reviewed by
a committee. One winner from the seven FDLE regions will be chosen as
Regional Winners. Please see the map on Attachment # 2 to determine the
region in which your county is listed. The seven FDLE regions are:
(1) Tallahassee Region
(2) Jacksonville Region
(3) Tampa Region
(4) Orlando Region
(5) Miami Region
(6) Ft. Myers Region
(7) Pensacola Region
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Each regional winner will receive:
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A $100 check;
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Recognition at the formal Florida Missing Children’s Day ceremony by
having his/her name announced; and
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A chance to be selected as the statewide winner.
e W nne
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Statewid i r
– The statewide winner will be selected from among the
regional winners and will receive the following:
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A trip to Tallahassee to read the winning essay at the Capitol during the
formal Missing Children’s Day Ceremony on September 11, 2006;
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An additional $250 Cash Award;
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A trophy; and
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A Universal Studios VIP package.
**** Winners will be announced prior to the close of the 2005-2006 school year.
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SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES:
STUDENTS
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You can use the interview sheet (see Attachment # 3) to conduct interviews
with individuals who can provide helpful hints for Internet safety.
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Discuss the subject with friends and classmates. Find out if anyone has
been in a situation where he or she has been asked to provide personal
information.
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Discuss whether your friends and classmates have received messages from
someone they do not know and find out what they did with the message.
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Go to the library or visit the Internet to research ways to stay safe. See
Attachment # 1 to find helpful websites about Internet safety.
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Be sure to ask permission from your parents before you conduct interviews
or go on the Internet.
TEACHERS/FAMILIES
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For your use, a promotional flyer has been created and an electronic copy is
included with this information. You may duplicate the flyer and post it to
advertise this contest to all of your fifth grade students. You can use the
essay topic as a daily journal entry or writing prompt. Some suggested
topics are:
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What would you do if you were on the Internet and you saw a picture
that made you feel uncomfortable?
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What would you do if you were in a chat room and you received a
message asking for your name, address, and/or phone number?
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If you received a message asking you to meet someone somewhere,
what would you do with the message?
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Do you always know who you are communicating with when on the
Internet?
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Conduct a class discussion to explore different dangers that children face
using the Internet. Have students break into groups to discuss safety
measures to take while on the Internet.
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Have students make a safety “quilt” that shows ways to be safe. Have each
square represent a danger and the solution to overcome it.
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Suggest that students discuss the essay topic during dinner, while traveling
in the car, or at any time a “teachable” moment arises. Suggest they include
all siblings as much as possible.
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If a child opts to conduct interviews, help devise a plan so that the
information gathered can be helpful.
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We hope that this will assist in encouraging student participation.
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WEB SITES WITH INTERNET SAFETY INFORMATION:
The following is a brief list of web sites that are available to provide information
concerning Internet safety. Each of these sites has appropriate information for
students, teachers, and parents to learn more about various areas of Internet
safety.
1.
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FDLE, Missing Children Information Clearinghouse
www3.fdle.state.fl.us/MCICSearch/
(click on the “Safety Tips” tab)
www.fdle.state.fl.us/Publications/safety_forum/rules.htm
2.
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Jimmy Ryce Center for Victims of Predatory Abduction
www.jimmyryce.org/
Provides tips on how to be a predator smart kid.
3.
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National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
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www.ncmec.org/
(Click “Child Safety” link on left)
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www.safekids.com/contract_kid.htm
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safekids.com/kidsrules.htm
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www.netsmartz.org/
Provides information about Internet Safety
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4.
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National Crime Prevention Council – McGruff the Crime Fighting Dog
mcgruff.org/FunStuff/InternetSafety.htm
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Office of the Attorney General of Florida
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www.myfloridalegal.com/
(Click “Child Safety” link on left)
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Department of Education Office of Safe and Healthy Schools
http://www.isafe.org/
ATTACHMENT # 1
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Map of the 7 FDLE Regions
ATTACHMENT # 2
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_____________________________________________________________________________________
INTERVIEW SHEET
If you decide to interview someone, you may use this sheet. Be sure to interview
adults who can provide helpful tips on the theme
How Can I Be Safe on the
Internet?
Be sure to get permission from your family prior to contacting these
people. You may duplicate this form if you have additional people to interview. The
information you gather can be used to write your essay.
Suggested people to interview: school resource officers, family members, school
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officials, security officers, law enforcement officers, etc.
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Name ____________________________________________
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What is your name and what is your occupation?
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When are you available?
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What tips can you prov de to help me stay safe while on the Internet?
How can I get in touch with you if I need help?
If you are not available, who else can I contact for help?
Parent/Guardian’s Signature
ATTACHMENT # 3
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SUBMISSION FORM
2006 FLORIDA MISSING CHILDREN’S DAY
STATEWIDE FIFTH GRADE ESSAY CONTEST
THEME: “How to Be Safe While on the Internet”
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What would you do if you were on the Internet and you saw a picture that
made you feel uncomfortable?
•
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What would you do if you were in a chat room and you received a message
asking for your name, address, and/or phone number?
•
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If you received a message asking you to meet someone somewhere, what
would you do with the message?
•
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Do you always know who you are communicating with when on the Internet?
***Remember – this information must accompany the essay whether
e-mailed, faxed, or mailed.
School
School
School County
PLEASE PRINT
Student Name
Name
Address
Teacher/School Contact Name
Phone Number
Fax
Number
Alternate School Contact Name
Phone Number
Fax Number
ATTACHMENT # 4
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What would you do if you were on the Internet and you saw a picture that made you feel
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•
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What would you do if you were in a chat room and you received a message asking for
your name, address, and/or phone number?
•
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If you received a message asking you to meet someone somewhere, what would you do
A TRIP TO TALLAHASSEE to read your essay at the Capitol
during the formal Florida Missing Children’s Day Ceremony,
September 11, 2006,
AND
a $250 CASH AWARD
AND
a Trophy
AND
a Universal Studios VIP PACKAGE!
with the message?
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Do you always know who you are communicating with when on the Internet?
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Contest is open to all Florida 5th grade students
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Each school is encouraged to hold an essay contest among their 5
th grade students.
Only the school’s winning essay can be submitted to the Essay Contest Coordinators.
•
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Essays must focus on Internet safety tips
•
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Essays may be based upon, but are not limited to:
•
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Personal experiences dealing with surfing the Internet.
•
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A report on interviews held with people who could assist them if they should
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encounter unsafe websites or asked to give out personal information.
?
•
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A research report about Internet safety that all students could use.
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Essays must be no longer than one (1) typewritten using Times New Roman font sizes 12
10
or 14, or two (2) handwritten pages
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For more information, contact
Patricia Rutherford or Dawn Mikola
at (888) 356-4774.
