Doodle4Google facts for kids
Doodle 4 Google is an exciting art competition held every year by Google. It invites children and young people from different countries to create their own special Google doodle. A doodle is a unique drawing or design that changes the Google logo on its homepage. The best part? 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 the homepage to celebrate important days, events, or famous people. These special logos are called "doodles." For example, Google might have a doodle to celebrate the start of spring, the anniversary of discovering 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 drew a stick figure behind the Google logo to show they were at the Burning Man Festival and "out of office." This fun idea grew into the amazing doodles we see today!
Doodle 4 Google in the US
The Doodle 4 Google competition in the U.S. is open to all students from kindergarten all the way up to twelfth grade. Parents or teachers help students submit their creative doodles.
Cool Prizes
The student who wins the competition gets some amazing prizes! Their doodle is shown on the Google homepage for a day. They also receive a $30,000 scholarship to help pay for college. Plus, their school gets a $100,000 technology grant, which means lots of new tablets or Chromebooks for their classrooms! Winners also get a special T-shirt with their doodle on it, a Google Chromebook, and a Wacom digital drawing tablet.
Fun Themes to Draw About
Each year, Google chooses a new and interesting theme for the doodles. Students then create their artwork based on that theme. Here are some past themes:
- "My Wish for the Next 25 Years" (2024)
- “I am grateful for…” (2023)
- “I care for myself by…” (2022)
- "I am strong because..." (2021)
- "I show kindness by..." (2020)
- "When I grow up I hope..." (2019)
- "What inspires me..." (2018)
- "What I see for the future..." (2016)
- "What makes me...ME." (2015)
- "If I could invent one thing to make the world a better place" (2014)
- "My Best Day Ever..." (2013)
- "If I could travel in time, I'd visit..." (2012)
- "What I'd Like To Do Someday..." (2011)
- "If I Could Do Anything, I Would..." (2010)
- "What I Wish For The World" (2009)
- "What if..." (2008)
Doodle 4 Google in Canada
Google Canada also hosts its own Doodle 4 Google competition. The winning doodle from Canada gets featured on the Canadian Google homepage.
First Competition in 2014
The first Doodle 4 Google Canada competition happened in 2014. The theme was “If I could invent anything, I would invent...”. The winner was Cindy Tang, a high school student from Toronto. Her doodle was shown on the Google homepage on February 26, 2014.
2017 Theme
In 2017, the theme for the Canadian competition was “What I see for Canada's future is...”. Google wanted young artists to imagine what Canada would be like 150 years later.
Doodle 4 Google in India
Google India also organizes a Doodle 4 Google contest, and the winning artwork appears on the Google India homepage.
Starting in 2009
The first Doodle 4 Google India competition took place in 2009. The theme was ‘My India’. Puru Pratap Singh, a 4th-grade student, won and his doodle was featured on Children's Day.
Dreams for India in 2010
In 2010, the theme was 'My Dream for India'. Children were asked to show what they hoped India would be like in 20 years. Ideas included:
- A cleaner, greener India
- Freedom from poverty
- Education for everyone
- India as a technology leader
- Better roads and modern cities
Akshay Raj, a 9th-grade student, won this year's contest.
India's Gift to the World in 2011
The 2011 theme was 'India's gift to the world'. Students imagined how India could contribute to the world. Varsha Gupta from Ryan International School, Greater Noida, won this competition. The public even got to vote online for their favorite doodles!
Sky's the Limit for Indian Women in 2013
In 2013, the theme was 'Sky's the limit for Indian women'. Gayatri Ketharaman, a 15-year-old from Pune, was the overall winner.
Favorite Places in 2014
The 2014 theme was 'A place in India I wish to visit'. Vaidehi Reddy won with her doodle called 'Natural and Cultural Paradise – Assam'. It was shown on Google's homepage on Indian Children's Day, November 14.
Creating for India in 2015
For 2015, the theme was "If I could create something for India it would be...". Nine-year-old P. Karthik from Visakhapatnam won with his doodle titled "Plastic to Earth Machine." His doodle was featured on November 14 to celebrate Children's Day.
