Sculpture/ Written Word Residency In this residency, students will work with multi-media artist Erin Eckler to construct poetry or a creative writing piece that will be transcribed onto a sculpture that visually illustrates their writing. The sculptural element will be constructed using recycled materials ranging from fiber to paper. The first half of sessions will guide the student to begin creating their written work while learning techniques for breaking down and reforming the recycled materials. The second half of sessions will be supporting the constructing of their sculptural pieces while fine tuning their poetry and prose. The students will be taught hand sewing, weaving, 3D construction, collage, and how to deconstruct recycled materials for use. Resident artist will provide technical support and problem solving as needed while the students construct their pieces.

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”

Portfolio Project Grades: 4 -12 Description: The Portfolio Project is an initiative of NYSATA (New York State Art Teachers Association) that was developed in cooperation with the New York State Education Department. It is an authentic assessment tool that is based on The New York State Learning Standards and provides students with an opportunity to present portfolios of their work at regional adjudication sites. The student portfolios provide evidence of understanding and student learning in the visual arts. Feedback is available for the student, parent, school, and community. The Portfolio Project can provide an authentic source for data on student success in the visual arts. Cost: $15 per student EXAMPLE of an approved BOCES Arts in Ed project: https://sites.google.com/btboces.org/classroom-enrichment-resources/arts-in-education/nysata Student Portfolio requirements vary by grade level: Elementary Level Portfolio (Grades 4-6) · Artist’s Statement · Selection 1 Self-Portrait · Selection 2a Resource-Based Artwork · Selection 2b Resource-Based Artwork · Reflection Written Statement · Selection 3 Student Choice Artwork · Selection 4 Student Choice Artwork · Selection 5 Student Choice Artwork · Component 6 Student Portfolio Presentation Middle Level Portfolio (Grades 7-8) · Artist’s Statement · Selection 1 Self-Portrait · Selection 2a Resource-Based Artwork · Selection 2b Resource-Based Artwork · Reflection Written Statement · Selection 3 Art from Observation · Selection 4 Student Choice Artwork · Selection 5 Student Choice Artwork · Component 6 Student Portfolio Presentation Commencement Level Portfolio (Grade 9 or intro level students) · Artist’s Statement · Selection 1 Self-Portrait · Selection 2a Resource-Based Artwork · Selection 2b Resource-Based Artwork · Reflection Written Statement · Selection 3 Art from Observation · Selection 4 Process Piece · Selection 5 Student Choice Artwork · Selection 6 Student Choice Artwork · Component 7 Student Portfolio Presentation Elective Level Portfolio (Grades 10-12) · Artist’s Statement · Selection 1 Self-Portrait · Selection 2a Resource-Based Artwork · Selection 2b Resource-Based Artwork · Reflection Written Statement · Selection 3 Art from Observation · Selection 4 Process Piece · Selection 5 Exploratory Artwork · Selection 6 Exploratory Artwork · Selection 7 Exploratory Artwork · Component 8 Student Portfolio Presentation Major Sequence Level (Grades 11-12) · Artist’s Statement · Selection 1 Self-Portrait · Selection 2a Resource-Based Artwork · Selection 2b Resource-Based Artwork · Reflection Written Statement · Selection 3 Art from Observation · Selection 4 Process Piece · Selection 5 Focused Artwork · Selection 6 Focused Artwork · Selection 7 Focused Artwork · Selection 8 Focused Artwork · Component 9 Student Portfolio Presentation This program supports the following NYS Learning Standards: Visual Arts — Creating: · Investigate, Plan, Make (generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work) · Investigate, Consider, Respect, Make (organize and develop artistic ideas and work) · Reflect, Refine, Continue (refine and complete artistic ideas and work) Visual Arts — Presenting · Select, Preserve ( analyze, interpret and select artistic work for presentation) · Curate (develop and refine artistic techniques and work for presentation) · Share, Relate (convey meaning through the presentation of artistic work) Visual Arts — Responding · Perceive, Analyze (perceive and analyze artistic work) · Interpret (interpret intent and meaning in artistic work) · Evaluate (apply criteria to evaluate artistic work) Visual Arts — Connecting · Synthesize (synthesize and relate knowledge and personal experiences to make art) · Interrelate, Extend (relate artistic ideas &works w/ societal, cultural, & historical context) Categories: Art

Slapstick Science shows are REAL science demonstration-lectures; not random acts of science, but true lessons that cover an entire UNIT from an IPS textbook. All programs were written by and are presented by Ted Lawrence (a.k.a. Dr. Quinton Quark who has been visiting elementary schools since 1992)– they are spectacular and funny shows, but while each lecture is jam-packed with the most memorable science demos, they teach basic principles and concepts intended to make kids realize that science is fun and embrace pursuit of "hard" science. All Slapstick Science shows start with a lesson plan written by a certified high school chemistry, physics, and math teacher (Ted Lawrence) and are presented by a gifted teacher with a knack for thrilling an audience (also, Ted Lawrence). “Much Work with Little Effort” teaches about Kinetic Energy, Potential Energy, Friction, and Simple Machines. “The Notion of Motion” teaches Newton’s Laws of Motion – Inertia, Force and Acceleration, Action & Reaction – as well as the use of a hypothesis and units. “Flight” teaches K – 8th graders how an airplane flies and uses the audience to show off genuine Madgeburg spheres, the Bournelli Effect, and the classic “Guinea and Shuttlecock” demonstration that establish the foundation for understanding how air has pressure and is strong enough to lift heavy airplanes. “Kiddie Chem” teaches about solids, liquids, gases, and chemical reactions using exotic chemicals for K -2, and “Combustion” is a spectacular chemistry lecture teaching basic fire safety that EVERYBODY should know before cooking dinner on a stove top or lighting a backyard grill. Circus skills and humor abound, but the lessons-including “Science is FUN”-are what’s important. Guaranteed to excite even the most science-phobic students (and teachers) as evidenced by a 30+ year-long experience hearing "that was the best assembly" frequently after each school visit.

We offer an experience of what it was like to be a child during the American Revolutionary War.

We provide high-quality, interactive live music concerts/performances for children 5-12 years old. FIESTA WITH FLOR is a multicultural musical celebration! Kids and families will join in the fun as they learn about different musical genres through dance, storytelling and songs, traveling with Latin GRAMMY® nominee Flor Bromley to the countries where the rhythms were born. This is not your typical children’s concert, it’s a whole family fiesta!

Nasia’s performances do more than just entertain; they serve as a relatable, inspiring touchstone for young people. By sharing her own journey as an artist, she encourages students to embrace their passions, build self-confidence, and pursue their goals with resilience. Her relatable stage presence shows adolescents that they can use their voices to share their stories and enact positive change. She connects very well for a 16 year old.

I offer an entertaining and educational group presentation, Mind, Body and Spirit, focused on how I develop the Mind, the Body and the Spirit for success. I perform poetry from my books and show each attribute's role in my life and work. There is no audience size limit. I also offer poetry and photography workshops and a popular new addition, Becoming a Ninja: The Secret to My Success, which focuses on goal setting and achievement. Due to the participatory nature of the workshops, participant size is limited to 30 students. I can also do virtual visits, which can be customized to your needs.

Megan Litwin is an award-winning children's book author and former educator with over ten years of classroom experience. She believes that reading is magic, writing is fun, and creativity is contagious! Megan offers a range of programs from curriculum-connected, hands-on classroom workshops centered around poetry or catching ideas to inspirational and interactive assemblies focused on the journey of a book from idea to publication. She also offers professional development workshops on the power of poetry and picture books in the classroom, singing/movement-based storytimes for preschool or kindergarten, and much more. Born and raised in the Capital Region, Megan loves coming back to work with New York schools.

Lucky's Adventure Series are heartwarming stories about my rescue pup, Lucky, and is inspired by the true story of when Lucky was lost for 4 days. Lucky attends the presentations with me. Students will learn life lessons through Lucky's eyes- making new friends, accepting others, and the importance of community, kindness, gratitude, and teamwork. The kids love to meet the star and inspiration of the books and I feel it really helps to further strengthen the messages. (Lucky sits in her stroller during the presentation). I have created presentations that are both engaging and educational that work well for large assemblies or smaller classroom/library settings. In addition to info specifically related to each of my books, I discuss the inspiration for the books, the writing process, and how a picture book is made. We also discuss the themes of kindness and gratitude. Also a reading of the selected book and Q&A.

From color-changing creatures to extreme environments to far-out foods, Alicia Klepeis loves to research fun and out-of-the-ordinary topics that bring the world to young readers. Alicia began her career at the National Geographic Society in Washington, D.C. She is the author of over 200 children’s books, the majority of which are nonfiction. Her recent nonfiction titles include Go Wild! Frogs; Gutsy Girls Go For Science: Astronauts; and Polar Bears & Penguins: A Pretty Cool Introduction to the Arctic and Antarctic. She was featured on PBS Books’ Author Talk for Kids series about her book The Science And Technology Of Ben Franklin. Her fiction works include the wildlife-focused collections Secrets of the Forest and Secrets of the Ocean: 15 Bedtime Stories Inspired By Nature. She is also the author of the picture book Francisco’s Kites/Las cometas de Francisco, which was named to the Tejas Star Reading List. A former middle school teacher, Alicia loves doing author visits and regularly presents to kids from PreK – Grade 8. Her programs include Amazing Animals, Making Nonfiction Fun, and Let’s Go There! She is more than happy to tailor her presentations to a school’s interests and curricula. She is currently working on projects on the topics of nocturnal animals, popular musicians, and world history. She lives with her family in upstate New York where she can often be found eating fruity candy while reading a book or writing a letter to one of her many penpals.

The Write Kellys: A Unique Blend of Education and Entertainment for K-5 Classrooms The Write Kellys (Rebecca and Kevin Kelly) are an award-winning author and illustrator duo with a knack for crafting engaging, educational, and highly entertaining stories. With four published books, including Finder’s Creatures and The Awesome Impossible Unstoppable Gadget, they have created a captivating universe where young readers solve mysteries, explore creative thinking, and dive into STEM-based adventures. How we approach our Workshops and Presentations using : 1. Design Thinking & Critical Thinking Expertise: The Write Kellys embed design and critical thinking into every story, helping students develop essential problem-solving skills while they’re having fun. With over 25 years of teaching, writing and design experience, we prepare young readers for future learning in a way that no other author does. 2. STEM & Arts-Based Storytelling Workshops: We don’t just read stories; we transform them into interactive experiences. Our workshops blend STEM and art seamlessly, making subjects like science and engineering approachable and exciting for K-5 students. 3. Interactive Author Q&A and Writing Workshops: We offer personalized sessions where students can ask questions, participate in creative writing exercises, and even explore the process of illustration. This interactive approach fosters a deeper connection to the material and encourages creative thinking. 4. Character Development & Design: Our stories go beyond simple narratives. We emphasize character education, teaching values like empathy, kindness, and perseverance through engaging and relatable characters. 5. Custom Events: From mystery-themed events featuring our alter ego P. Knuckle Jones to tailored workshops that meet specific curriculum goals, we work with schools to create custom experiences that resonate with both students and educators. What Others are Saying: “Two hilarious investigations in one!” — Kirkus “A strong recommendation for budding readers and detectives” — School Library Journal “A delightful read for children who enjoy solving mysteries, offering a perfect mix of intrigue, laughs, and memorable moments” — Reader’s Favorite