Offering interactive performances for PreK-Kindergarten and songwriting workshops grades K-5

Jennifer Islas has been a licensed Zumba Fitness Instructor since 2009. She has provided classes at many local schools and libraries for both students and teachers. Jennifer is a former educator as well and has worked with children from age 3-18 years as a Speech and Language Therapist. Her classes are high energy, interact, fun and easy to follow!

Misty Yarnall is a writer and teaching artist. She actively teaches creative writing and theatre workshops through libraries, homeschool co-ops, and nonprofit organizations. She is passionate about creating brave spaces for people of all ages to share their stories. A few examples of workshops she has led in the past are included below. World Building 101: Do you love reading adventure books with fantastical settings and magical elements? Have you ever wanted to write a story set in a place you’ve never been? In this workshop, students will master the layout of the land within their stories, no matter what genre. Students will take inspiration from real plants, animals, and cultures, and apply what they've learned to their made-up worlds. Writing for the Screen: Have you ever wondered how your favorite TV show got to the screen? Want to try your hand at writing a script made for TV? In this workshop, you will learn to write your own screenplay and collaborate on a pilot episode for a TV series. We will generate ideas, learn to use the three-act structure, and operate as if we were in our own TV writers' room. Playing with Plays: Through movement-based improv games and collaborative writing prompts, students will better understand how plays go from the page to the stage. We will learn about character motivations, use of props, scene structure, and understanding of performance. Students will end the workshop with a new play to showcase. Guided Journaling: Have you always wanted to start journaling, but aren’t sure where to start? Have you been journaling for a while and want a community to write and share with? In this workshop, participants will complete writing prompts geared towards eliminating the daunting, listy idea of journaling and replace it with interactive, fun activities for all ages and backgrounds. No prior journaling or writing experience necessary!

Award-winning, internationally renowned musical storytelling duo Barry Marshall and Jeri Burns PhD, aka, The Storycrafters, present performance, workshop and residency programs integrating storytelling with numerous areas of curriculum. Storytelling has been documented in multiple studies as a support and building block of literacy. Schools that participate in storytelling programs see marked improvement in student language, reading and creating writing abilities. Storycrafters programs work to enhance student literacy through the storytelling art form. Storytelling also acts as an active support to many areas of curriculum, including character education, history, multicultural and international studies, and more. The Storycrafters have been working in schools and other venues since 1991, building a vast repertoire of stories and workshops to introduce storytelling and use it to enhance many areas of student learning. In addition, The Storycrafters present workshops for parents and teachers introducing the many ways storytelling can enhance student development in the home and classroom. With 30+ years of experience in the storytelling art form and its many use in the classroom and school environment, The Storycrafters are a valuable resource for any school community looking to enhance literacy while supporting many areas of curriculum.

LOOKING FOR FIELD TRIP IDEAS FOR YOUR CLASS? Visit the Albany Pine Bush Preserve and experience a globally rare habitat minutes from downtown Albany and Schenectady! LET YOUR SENSE OF WONDER GROW IN THE ALBANY PINE BUSH PRESERVE At the Albany Pine Bush Preserve, students explore real-world phenomena and learn through inquiry-based investigations. • We offer programs for grades pre-k through high school, homeschool groups, colleges, Scouting groups and other special interest groups. • Visit the Discovery Center, a one-of-a-kind interpretive center with interactive exhibits, demonstration gardens, accessible outdoor Discovery Trail and more. • For information on program logistics, fees and resources visit AlbanyPineBush.org • Bus funding available through the Friends of the Pine Bush Community Ticket to Ride grant. Details at PineBushFriends.org • In-classroom teacher kits are available for loan at no cost. School Group Volunteer Opportunities We also offer community service opportunities for classes to complete in the preserve including: invasive species removal, seed collection and trash pick-up. For more info visit www.albanypinebush.org/schools or call 518-456-0655

I'm an author/illustrator who presents to elementary school students about writing and illustrating humorous picture books, graphic novels, and chapter books. Each of my programs features multimedia presentations about how I make both fiction and non-fiction books. I include a mix of info about my writing and illustrating processes as well as exciting, interactive drawing demonstrations for all ages.

The Buffalo Zoo's Education team is here to provide your students with a WILD educational experience! Whether you're looking for a virtual program that will take you inside some of our animal exhibits, a presentation to enhance your Zoo field trip, or the Zoomobile to bring the Zoo to You, we can meet your group's learning needs. There are so many topics to choose from, including unique habitats, amazing adaptations, conservation, and so much more!

Bring a theater-style grand-illusion show to your school in this interactive magic experience! Not your typical "magic show"... A little about the show..."The Extreme Magic of Eric" is one of the largest illusion shows in the country (but based out of New York!)! Combining cutting-edge illusions, escapes, cool music, customized lighting, and humorous audience participation, Eric and his assistant bring an illusion show experience to your school! Eric's performances have been seen on NBC's America's Got Talent, live with Jimmy Fallon, at MSG for the Knicks and Rangers, and in Europe, the Caribbean, Times Square and Las Vegas! We make a student float in the air, make someone disappear while surrounded by students, a Houdini escape, etc. Each show would be appropriately geared to the age of the audience (elementary, middle, or high school). The illusion show is 100% interactive (one of the only in the country!) with every routine involving student participation…volunteers from the audience assisting onstage and by their seats! Our website www.ExtremeMagicOfEric.com has more info and videos too! You can also google search "Eric Wilzig" and reads tons of only 5 star reviews from schools across the country. The #1 Entertainment Choice for your schools: PTA/PTO Family Fun Night School Day Assembly Fundraiser Event Holiday Program End of Year “Field Day”

On Monday they’re cast as characters. By Saturday, they’ve GAINED CHARACTER. The kind that really counts! A week-long residency STARRING 50-60 of your local school age children in a full-scale musical. A tour team arrives in your town in their Red Truck loaded with a set, lights, costumes, and props, everything it takes to put on a play…except the cast. The team holds an open audition and casts 50-60 local students to perform in the production. The show is rehearsed throughout the week and two public performances are presented at the end of the week! Our Mission: Empowering children and adults through theatre education and performance to develop lifelong skills while enriching communities worldwide through live productions.

Brian Zickafoose is an award-winning Hudson Valley muralist, illustrator, and educator whose work bridges fine art and community engagement. As founder of Splash Art Murals, he transforms storefronts and public spaces across New York with vibrant seasonal and thematic designs that celebrate creativity, collaboration, and local identity. His large-scale projects—such as the Seeds of Connection mural at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds and the Art Day in the Village community banner series—demonstrate how art can activate public spaces and inspire collective pride. Through interactive workshops and artist-in-residence programs, Brian guides students in exploring visual storytelling, symbolism, and design thinking while building confidence and teamwork. His programs align with Visual Arts and SEL standards and can be adapted for grades 3–12 in classroom, assembly, or mural formats.

Celebrate the Erie Canal Bicentennial with "The Erie Canal: A Story of Building the Impossible," Sandy Schuman's presentation with more than 275 informative images. Learn about the Great Depression through songs and stories of those times. Marvel at the story of "Lead Belly: Singer, Songwriter, Murderer; King of the 12 String Guitar." Sing along to songs from the Great American Songbook and hear the stories about how they came to be written with "Familiar Songs and their Unfamiliar Stories."

The Ultimate Human Board Game features a LIFE-SIZE game board with three color-coded sides! The board is made up of 16 squares, each representing a different exciting activity. The entire group is divided into three teams (green, blue, and red). The game begins when one team rolls the dice and lands on an activity in which all three teams compete to win. The Ultimate Human Board Game is based on character building, teamwork, sportsmanship, and total participation. Activities such as the Silly Dance and Lip Sync Challenge are audio-enhanced. This fast and spirited game is sure to generate a level of excitement and teamwork in students which will amaze you! Indoors preferred. Indoor backup plan required for inclement weather.