Doodle4Google facts for kids
Doodle 4 Google is a fun yearly art contest held by Google in many countries. It invites children to create their own special Google doodle. The winning doodle gets to be shown on the local Google homepage for everyone to see!
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What are Google Doodles?
Google often changes its logo on its homepage to celebrate important days or events. These special logos are called "doodles." For example, Google has made doodles for the start of spring, the anniversary of understanding DNA, or the invention of the laser. The very first Google doodle was made in 1998 by Google's founders, Sergey Brin and Lawrence E. Page. They were at the Burning Man Festival and used the doodle to show they were away from the office.
Doodle 4 Google in the United States
This contest is open to all students in U.S. schools, from kindergarten all the way to twelfth grade. Parents or teachers need to submit the doodles for their students.
Prizes for Winners
The student who wins the Doodle 4 Google contest gets some amazing prizes!
- Their doodle is shown on the Google homepage for a day.
- They receive a $30,000 scholarship to help pay for college.
- They get a T-shirt with their winning doodle on it.
- They also receive a Google Chromebook and a Wacom digital design tablet.
- Their school receives a $100,000 technology grant for new tablets or Chromebooks!
In 2019, the winner received a $30,000 college scholarship and a $50,000 technology grant for their school. Before that, winners also got a trip to Google's main office in California and other cool Google gifts.
Past Contest Themes
Google chooses a new theme each year for the doodles. Here are some past themes and their winners:
- "My Wish for the Next 25 Years" (2024), Winner: Maisie Derlega, Washington, D.C.
- “I am grateful for…” (2023), Winner: Rebecca Wu, Washington, 6-7 grade level
- “I care for myself by…” (2022), Winner: Sophie Araque-Liu, Florida
- "I am strong because..." (2021), Winner: Milo Golding, Kentucky
- "I show kindness by..." (2020), Winner: Sharon Kaur Sara, Texas, 4-5 grade level
- "When I grow up I hope..." (2019), Winner: Arantza Peña Popo, Georgia, 10-12 grade level
- "What inspires me..." (2018), Winner: Sarah Gomez-Lane, Virginia, K-3 grade level
- "What I see for the future..." (2016), Winner: Sarah Harrison, Connecticut, 10-12 grade level
- "What makes me...ME." (2015), Winner: Akilah Johnson, Washington, D.C., 10-12 grade level
- "If I could invent one thing to make the world a better place" (2014), Winner: Audrey Zhang, New York, 4-5 grade level
- "My Best Day Ever..." (2013), Winner: Sabrina Brady, Wisconsin, 10-12 grade level
- "If I could travel in time, I'd visit..." (2012), Winner: Dylan Hoffman, Wisconsin, K-3 grade level
- "What I'd Like To Do Someday..." (2011), Winner: Matteo Lopez, California, K-3 grade level
- "If I Could Do Anything, I Would..." (2010), Winner: Makenzie Melton, Missouri, K-3 grade level
- "What I Wish For The World" (2009), Winner: Cristin Engelberth, Texas, 4-6 grade level
- "What if..." (2008), Winner: Grace Moon, California, 4-6 grade level
Regions in the U.S. Contest
The U.S. competition is divided into 10 regions:
- Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont
- New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania
- Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia
- Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina
- Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin
- Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota
- Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee
- Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas
- Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming
- Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington
Doodle 4 Google in Canada
Google Canada also organizes its own Doodle 4 Google contest. The winning doodle from Canada also gets featured on the Google homepage there.
Canada's First Contest (2014)
The first Doodle 4 Google Canada contest happened in 2014. The theme was “If I could invent anything, I would invent...”. Cindy Tang, a grade 11 student from Dr. Norman Bethune Collegiate Institute in Toronto, won. Her doodle was shown on the Google homepage on February 26, 2014.
Canada's 2017 Contest
The theme for the 2017 Doodle 4 Google competition in Canada was “What I see for Canada's future is...”. Google wanted children to imagine what Canada would be like 150 years from then.
Doodle 4 Google in India
Google India also holds a Doodle 4 Google contest, and the winning picture appears on the Google homepage in India.
India's First Contest (2009)
The first Doodle 4 Google India contest was in 2009. The theme was ‘My India’. Puru Pratap Singh, a 4th-grade student from Amity International School in Gurgaon, won. His doodle was shown on the Google homepage on Children's Day in 2009.
India's 2010 Contest
The theme for the 2010 contest was 'My Dream for India'. Google asked children to show what they thought India would be like 20 years in the future. Some ideas given were:
- A cleaner, greener India
- Freedom from poverty
- Education for everyone
- The world's center of technology
- Better roads and modern cities
Akshay Raj, a 9th-grade student from St Aloysius High School, Mangalore, won this contest.
India's 2011 Contest
The theme for the 2011 Doodle 4 Google competition was 'India's gift to the world'. Children were asked to create their own Google logo based on this idea. Varsha Gupta won this year's contest. The top doodles in India were put up for an online vote, where the public helped choose the winners. Any student from class 1 to 10 in India could join. Varsha Gupta from Ryan International School, Greater Noida, was the winner.
India's 2013 Contest
The theme for 2013 was 'Sky's the limit for Indian women'. Gayatri Ketharaman, a 15-year-old from Pune, was the overall winner for this contest.
India's 2014 Contest
The theme for the 2014 Doodle 4 Google competition was 'A place in India I wish to visit'. Vaidehi Reddy was chosen as the winner on November 12, 2014. Her doodle, titled 'Natural and Cultural Paradise – Assam', was shown on Google's homepage in India on Children's Day, November 14, 2014.
India's 2015 Contest
The theme for the 2015 Doodle 4 Google competition was '"If I could create something for India it would be...". Nine-year-old P. Karthik from Visakhapatnam won with his doodle called "Plastic to Earth Machine." Karthik's Doodle was featured on the Google India homepage on November 14, 2015, to celebrate Children's Day.
Doodle 4 Google in Latin America
The contest has also been held in these Latin American countries:
Doodle 4 Google in Asia
The contest has also been held in these Asian countries:
