What could be a more appropriate theme during the International Year of Astronomy than “Why Earth? What makes our planet the ideal cradle of life?” NSTA posed these questions last June, inviting educators and students to explore this theme in writing for NSTA’s Gallery in the National Gallery of Writing. The online gallery opens October 20, the National Day of Writing.

Writers, regardless of their age, can describe what makes Earth special from ecological or astronomical perspectives. Submissions to the NSTA Gallery will be reviewed by a panel of curators, including science educators. Submissions can be of any length and should be developmen-tally appropriate. Primary students can submit an original drawing or picture with a short paragraph or caption; high school students might submit a short essay. The curators encourage creative thinking.

“The gallery is not meant to be a contest but a place to celebrate ability, diversity, and creativity,” says Juliana Texley, curator of the NSTA Gallery, which is accepting entries throughout the school year. “Contributing to the gallery is an ideal way to inspire students to appreciate the power of their writing. NSTA’s theme was selected to offer students the widest possible space for their imagination. Asking ‘Why Earth?’ can help students focus on work for the coming year—in Earth or space science, environmental science, or anthropology. Like scientists the world over, they can begin the year with a question and use their subsequent studies to answer it, and to generate new questions.”

The National Day on Writing initiative spotlights the wide variety and importance of writing. NSTA is a partner in the National Gallery of Writing, hosted by the National Council of Teachers of English. Visit the National Gallery at www.galleryofwriting.org.