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2026 -2027 Theme
2026 -2027 Theme
“What My Culture Means to Me”
“What My Culture Means to Me”
Each year, the PTA Reflections program offers students a platform to express their unique perspectives and interpretation of a student-created theme.
Artworks are submitted first to local unit PTAs, where they are first recognized, celebrated and judged by grade-level divisions. Local unit PTAs then send a selection of entries on to county councils for judging. The final artworks submitted to Florida PTA by county councils are then considered for Awards of Excellence or Awards of Merit. Award of Excellence entries are then forwarded to National PTA to represent Florida at the National level.
Understanding this year's theme: “What My Culture Means to Me”
Understanding this year's theme: “What My Culture Means to Me”
Culture is what makes you and your family unique. It can include your family's traditions, holidays, food, language, music, clothing, beliefs, and values. It can also include the community you belong to and the experiences that help shape who you are.
For this theme, think about what is special about your culture and why it is important to you. Ask yourself questions like:
What traditions does my family celebrate?
What foods, music, or activities remind me of my culture?
What values have I learned from my family or community?
What makes me proud of who I am?
How has my culture helped shape my life?
There is no right or wrong answer. Everyone's culture is different. Your artwork should tell your own story and show what your culture means to you in a creative and personal way.
Here are some discussion questions for families to explore the theme of “What My Culture Means to Me” together:
Here are some discussion questions for families to explore the theme of “What My Culture Means to Me” together:
🌟 Roots & Traditions
🌟 Roots & Traditions
Ancestral Journeys: What are the stories behind where our family originally came from? How have our ancestors shaped who we are today?
Holiday Magic: Which cultural holiday or celebration is your favorite, and why? What specific sensory memory (a smell, a song, a decoration) stands out the most?
Passing the Torch: Is there a specific family tradition, ritual, or value you hope to pass down to future generations?
🍲 Food, Language & Art
🍲 Food, Language & Art
Family Recipes: If you had to choose one traditional dish that represents our family's heritage, what is it and what memories does it bring up?
Words & Wisdom: Is there a favorite word, phrase, or proverb in our native language (or family dialect) that you love? What does it translate to in English?
Melodies & Moves: What types of music, dance, or art are deeply connected to our cultural background? How do they make you feel when you experience them?
🗺️ Identity & Today
🗺️ Identity & Today
Proudest Moments: What is something you are most proud of about our cultural background?
Navigating the World: How do the values of our culture influence the way you treat others, make decisions, or view the world?
Blended Worlds: For those who navigate multiple cultures (e.g., heritage culture vs. local/school culture), how do you blend or balance them in your daily life?
Creative Ways to Explore “What My Culture Means to Me”
Creative Ways to Explore “What My Culture Means to Me”
🎨 Creative Arts & Expression
🎨 Creative Arts & Expression
The Living Artifact Museum: Have each family member pick one item from the house that represents their culture. Display them on a table and take turns giving a 2-minute "curator speech" about why it matters.
Cultural Collage Canvas: Gather old magazines, print out family photos, or use fabrics. Work together on a giant poster board to create a visual collage representing your family’s shared heritage and individual identities.
Family Playlist Project: Collaborate on a digital playlist featuring songs, traditional music, or modern tracks from your heritage. Listen to it during family dinners or road trips.
🍳 Sensory & Culinary Experiences
🍳 Sensory & Culinary Experiences
Recipe Revival & Scrapbooking: Cook a traditional meal together. Instead of just eating, document the process by writing down the recipe, taking photos, and adding notes about who taught you to make it.
Blind Taste Test Challenge: Set up a fun guessing game with traditional spices, fruits, snacks, or ingredients unique to your culture. Have family members wear blindfolds and guess the item by smell or taste.
The "Guest Chef" Night: Let a family member pick a cultural dish they’ve never made before, research its history, and act as the "Head Chef" to teach the rest of the family how to prepare it.
📝 Storytelling & History
📝 Storytelling & History
The Grandparent Podcast: Have kids or teens use a smartphone to "interview" an elder in the family. Treat it like a professional podcast recording, focusing on stories of their childhood, immigration, or early family life.
Time Capsule Creation: Box up items, letters, or drawings that show what your culture looks like to you right now in 2026. Seal it up to be opened by the family in 10 or 20 years.
Mapping the Journey: Hang a world map on the wall. Use different colored pins and strings to trace the geographical journeys of different branches of your family tree
2026-2027 National PTA Reflections Program Guidelines
2026-2027 National PTA Reflections Program Guidelines
Visual Arts
Visual Arts
VISUAL ARTS includes many art forms that are visual in nature. Through combined elements like color, shape, and texture, visual artwork is not only pleasing to look at but also expresses an idea or thought. Collections are not accepted.
To Portray Your Original Artwork
Consider the following accepted forms of visual arts: Architecture (2D/3D), carpentry, ceramics, collages (combined non-photographic and/or photographic elements), digital art and graphics (drawings/paintings/illustration), crafts, design, dioramas, drawing, fiberwork, jewelry, kites, metal etching/punch work, mobiles, painting, printmaking, sculpture and wind chimes.
Avoid the following unaccepted forms of visual: Reproductions or enlargements of other artwork are not accepted.
Show a clear relation to the theme using art form, use of color, texture, shape, proportion etc. to show a clear relation to the theme.
Dance Choreography
Dance Choreography
DANCE CHOREOGRAPHY is the act of creating movement, usually coordinated with music, to represent an idea through dance (e.g., your interpretation of the Reflections theme).
Portray Your Original Choreography
Consider the following styles and ensembles, Ballet, Contemporary, Hip Hop, Jazz, Tap, Folk Dance, Religious Dance, Dance Ensembles (color guard/indoor guard), Ice Skating/Dancing and Gymnastics-Floor Routine.
Show clear relation between choreography and the theme with choreographic style and techniques, background song(s), props and the location to show a clear relation of the dance choreography to the theme.
Film Production
Film Production
FILM PRODUCTION is the process of making a film. The producer (student submitting the entry) is not required to appear in the film but if the student chooses a tripod may be used. All screenwriting, directing and editing must be done by the student producer. Digital slide presentations (PowerPoint) are not allowed.
To Portray Your Original Film
Consider creating your film in using the following styles:
Animation: Demonstrates motion by sequencing still objects or using computer-generated graphics.
Narrative: Tells a fictional story developed by the student.
Documentary: Presents facts and information.
Experimental: Explores movement, light and montage.
Multimedia: Uses a combination of different contents (text, audio, still images, animation, etc.).
To show a clear relation to the theme, develop a work of fiction or nonfiction and make use of plot and characters, visuals (setting, costumes, animation), sound and background music, editing, etc.
Literature
Literature
LITERATURE is the art of writing. The author (e.g., student submitting the entry) is a person who expresses their own thoughts and ideas through the use of words. Collections of literary work, such as multiple poems or short stories are not accepted.
To Portray Your Original Writing
Consider the following literary styles, Prose, Poetry, Drama, Reflective Essay, Narrative, Short Story.
To show a clear relation to the theme, use fiction or non-fiction, plot and characterization, setting and imagery, style, symbolism, etc.
Music Composition
Music Composition
MUSIC COMPOSITION is the process of creating a new piece of music. The composer (e.g., student submitting entry) is a person who expresses their own thoughts and ideas through the use of sound. Entries in the middle and high school grade divisions must include music score/notation.
To Portray Your Original Composition
Consider the following musical styles and instruments, A Cappella, Blues, Choral, Country, Electronic, Hip hop, Jazz, Latin, Musical, Orchestral, Pop, R&B, Religious, Rock, Symphonic/Concert Band and Traditional.
To show a clear relation to the theme, use structure, melody, rhythm, instruments, lyrics, emotion, etc. to show a clear relation to the theme.
Explore new methods and make use of instruments, sounds, styles and combinations. All are accepted.
Photography
Photography
PHOTOGRAPHY is the process of creating an image. By focusing on objects using various lenses, filters and light sources, photographers may demonstrate the use of photographic techniques conventionally or digitally. Collages and collections of photos are not accepted.
To Portray Your Original Artwork
Consider the following accepted forms of photography: a single photo, panoramic, photomontage (one print of multiple original photos), a multiple exposure, negative sandwich or photogram and original black-and-white and color images.
Avoid the following unaccepted forms of photography: entries with added graphics and/or non-photographic elements (e.g., lettering, icons), collages and collections of photos, original film (negatives or transparencies) and multidimensional pieces.
To show a clear relation of the photo to the theme, use objects, lighting and the location.
Accessible Arts*
Accessible Arts*
ACCESSIBLE ARTS Division is an option for students who identify as having a disability and may receive services under IDEA or ADA: Section 504. The division welcomes students of all ages and offers division-specific accommodations to ensure that every student has the chance to participate fully in the program.
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