Third-grade students in Pennsylvania will be asked to put their artistic skills to use this February during the Pennsylvania Dental Association's annual poster contest in celebration of National Children's Dental Health Month. Those who participate will have a chance to win different prizes.

Three statewide winners will be selected from the entries. The first-place winner will be awarded $500. In addition, the first-place winner's school and teacher will each receive a $250 prize. The grand prize will be awarded to the first-place winner at a school function. The second place winner will receive $250, while the third-place winner will receive $100.

The NCDHM lesson plan kits are being distributed electronically this year. The kits are designed for third-grade teachers in Pennsylvania public, private and charter schools, and contain a lesson plan featuring information on dental health topics, fun classroom activities and instructions for the PDA-sponsored poster contest.

Contact Sara Mattrick at slm@padental.org to receive these materials and to request a complimentary NCDHM poster for your participating classroom.

All entries for the poster contest must be submitted by March 14. Teachers will select only one classroom winner and submit the winning entry to: Pennsylvania Dental Association, Attn: NCDHM Poster Contest, 3501 N. Front Street, Harrisburg, 17110. PDA will announce the top three winners in April.