The Naperville Area Humane Society invited local students to participate in its annual story contest in honor of Be Kind to Animals Week. A record 208 students participated in this year’s contest with their imaginative story endings and accompanying illustrations.
This creative writing project invited students to finish the story of assisting Duke, a lonely and frightened chained dog. While providing a solution, student authors were able to learn the lessons of empathy, kindness and compassion for animals. This writing activity was developed to meet the Illinois Learning Standards for English Language Arts. Participating students were encouraged to recognize and investigate problems, along with formulating and proposing solutions.
Winners by grade
3rd Grade: Lauren Lukitsh of Naperville, IL
4th Grade: Caroline Gardner of Naperville, IL
5th Grade: Julia Janicek of Aurora, IL
The winners of “Breaking the Chain” earned a behind-the-scenes tour of the Naperville Area Humane Society, along with a T-shirt, lunch with the NAHS staff, and time with the shelter animals. Duke’s story and the winning story endings can be read by visiting www.napervilleareahumanesociety.org.
Naperville Area Humane Society is a private, not-for-profit organization founded in 1979 to develop and implement animal welfare programs and services within Naperville and surrounding communities. NAHS’ goal is to protect animals and prevent animal suffering.
