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.

Judd Sunshine – Teaching Artist since 1985 Judd Sunshine began his career as a teaching artist with the renowned school assembly group known as The Hill Brothers. Between 1985 and 2022, The Hill Brothers performed thousands of educational concerts for students all over New York State, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and New Jersey. Following the retirement of his fellow Hill Brothers and Sister Susie Hill, he continues the tradition of presenting quality, theme driven, educational, and entertaining programs as a solo performer. His 5 themed shows are comprised of songs and messages delivered with gentle humor and loads of audience participation: Anti Bully Literacy Character Ed (Respect and responsibility) Wellness (safe choices!) Americana and Erie Canal Songs Judd also offers an Erie Canal Songwriting residency as well as non themed shows just for the pure fun of it (great for the end of the school year or summer programs/camps!)

The mission of The Vanaver Caravan is to inspire, through dance and music, the harmonious co-existence of world cultures and traditions, to promote peace and celebrate our humanity. Artistic directors, Bill and Livia Vanaver, have dedicated over 50 years to learning and sharing dance traditions from every corner of the earth. They have traveled across the globe, creating lasting life-long friendships along the way. Our international collective of professional Teaching Artists are trained with an extensive knowledge in our world dance and music repertoire. All of our faculty learn The Vanaver Caravan's holistic, gentle teaching philosophy: keeping students focused and disciplined in a positive and respectful way. Students are given space to learn and grow in an environment that fosters curiosity, creative thinking skills, and self-esteem through kinesthetic learning.

Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site offers a wide range of on-site and outreach programming related to the fascinating history of the Erie Canal, the Mohawk Valley, and the Haudenosaunee people. Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site is dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of the Erie Canal as one of the 19th century's greatest commercial and engineering projects. The Visitor Center Museum exhibit traces the history of the Erie Canal and its impact on the growth of New York State and the nation. Within the site's boundaries are many structures dating from the three eras of the canal's development. At the eastern end of the site is the Putman Lock Stand at Yankee Hill that houses an exhibit on Erie Canal stores. The site's largest structure is the remains of the Schoharie Aqueduct, which carried the water of the Enlarged Erie Canal over the Schoharie Creek. Schoharie Crossing is also the location of 18th century Fort Hunter and the Lower Castle Mohawk village. See artifacts from that portion of our history on display at the Visitor Center. Facilities: Stop into the Visitor Center to orient yourself to the site, check out the exhibit space and gift shop. Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site offers educational outreach programs as well as an on-site school field trips and special events. Services & Amenities: Within Park Bicycle Riding, Boat Launch, Cross Country Skiing, Educational Programs, Historical Areas & Structures, Horseback Riding, Info Center, Museum, Park Office, Parking, Picnic Area, Picnic Tables, Playground, Restroom, Walking

Over the past 25 years, I’ve had the honor and privilege of inspiring students all over the world to create and write stories. My presentations are approximately 45 to 60 minutes of high energy, immersing students in my story creation process. Using time-lapse video, music, and digital technology, I discuss writing, biology, research, illustration, and editing while addressing how and where I get my ideas. I keep a journal full of ideas and drawings. My stories start from those ideas, and I show the process from idea seed to finished story. I narrate a new or previously published story to the students, engaging them with video and music. I follow with a live computer drawing demonstration, usually projected onto a screen or big TV behind me. In most instances, it’s a simple drawing created from scratch that contains many concepts learned in curricula: insect biology, the difference between a bug and a beetle, primary and opposite colors, symmetry, and horizontal/ vertical placement. It also has just the right touch of humor :-) I airdrop a digital copy to the teachers to take back to their classrooms afterward. I like to take questions from the students at the end of the presentation. I appreciate the efforts of all the librarians, PTOs, and school administrators who have made my visits possible. My presentations have been described as engaging, educational, and a lot of fun.

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.

The Arch Stanton Quartet offers two presentations that bring together music and literature. Both are inspired by classic American novels. “Shadow & Act: Music Inspired by Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man” presents a program of original jazz compositions and readings based on Ralph Ellison's “Invisible Man,” a classic American novel published in 1952, offering a first-person fictional account of an unnamed narrator’s attempts to navigate complex racial and social relations in the first quarter of the twentieth century. ASQ’s program includes three original jazz compositions inspired by scenes or motifs from “Invisible Man,” along with a rendition of Fats Waller's “Black and Blue” – a tune which figures prominently as a literary device in the novel. The performance also includes readings from Ellison’s book. "Exploring the Sheltering Sky: The Music and Words of Paul Bowles" is a presentation of music, readings, and reflections inspired by Paul Bowles’ celebrated 1949 novel “The Sheltering Sky.” Through original compositions of their own – as well as readings from the novel and adaptations of Bowles’ own musical compositions – the Arch Stanton Quartet weaves together a performance experience as mysterious and captivating as the novel itself. The programs are suitable for school assemblies or more intimate classroom presentations, and the band can also work with students and ensembles in a tailored workshop setting, if desired, exploring topics such as composition, improvisation, ensemble playing, and how music intersects with other art forms. Longtime fixtures of the Capital Region jazz scene, ASQ performs original jazz that is experimental, yet rooted in bop and post-bop traditions. The band’s debut album, Along For The Ride, was released in November 2012 on WEPA Records. In March 2013, ASQ embarked on an exploration of its own in North Africa. The band’s jazz-diplomacy tour of Egypt included performances and workshops sponsored by the educational organization AMIDEAST, the U.S. Embassy Cairo, and the Center for American Studies at the American University in Cairo. That experience inspired a second album of original compositions, Blues For Soli, and its “Lady Egypt” suite, also released on WEPA Records.

Prismatic Magic Laser Programs is a pioneer in educational and entertaining school assemblies and library programs. Our mission is to inspire children to learn in new ways and to use fun to unlock children’s desire to learn. With two decades of performing at thousands of schools, we are experts at presenting laser light assemblies to create an unforgettably fun learning environment. Our laser programs all feature hit music and stunning laser animation to excite and inspire every student, making it a surefire school assembly idea. Your kids will be singing and cheering throughout, all while wanting to learn more! We offer the following programs/themes: American Pride Black History Laser Tribute Bullying Prevention Halloween Spooktacular Kindness Quest Laser Reader Laser Safari Lasermania Preschool Sing-Along Prismatica Space Explorer Spring Jam STEM Expansion Winter Holiday Adventure Be sure to visit our website at www.prismaticmagic.com, click on SHOWS, then on each program to watch videos and learn more about each program, get pricing, etc.

The Children's Museum at Saratoga is dedicated to creating an interactive community that inspires curiosity, sparks imagination, and nurtures discovery. We are committed to serving as a resource for Capital Region school districts and to ensuring that programs and services are accessible to all children. The Museum offers outreach and field trip programs for students from preschool to 6th grade. Each program is designed to meet the needs of each classroom with plenty of opportunities for unique hands-on experiences. Programs correlate to Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards. They are wonderful additions to classroom curriculum as either an introduction to a lesson or to enhance current classroom units. The Museum's priority is to make educational programs accessible to all students. We ask that you please share any special needs your students may have ahead of time so that we can accommodate their needs. For more information about the Museum's program catalog and prices, please check out https://cmssny.org/education/.

Wendy and DB Duo and Band - Get your Sunny Side UP with Grammy nominated and award-winning kindie duo from Chicago, with two vocals, guitar and a ukulele, Wendy and DB blend their powerful voices, write and perform songs about science, nature, diversity, animals, safety, and the arts. Their unique style is reflected in the music and catchy lyrics along with their vocal harmonies. They examine the world with curiosity and what you experience is just plain fun!  Wendy and DB Pioneers of Blues for kids and families concerts are high energy and get everyone moving, singing, and dancing.   Grammy Nominated in 2023 in the Best Children’s category for their album “Into the Little Blue House” a blues album for children and families. “Get your Sunny Side Side UP” is the bands 8th album filled with positive pop songs that will light up the whole neighbor with sunshine.

Project MOVE is charged with the mission of nurturing the leaders of tomorrow, while bringing communities together through the arts. Our pedagogy is taught through an SEL and Culturally Responsive and Sustainable lens. Our workshops are interactive, collaborative and involve the community learning and performing together, no matter the physical or intellectual ability.

The Farmers' Museum and Historic Village has lots to offer for School groups. We have a variety of tours and workshops, most of which can be tailored to a specific age group. We offer guided and self-guided tour options, as well as workshops in the Fall and Early Spring. We are also the permanent home of the Empire State Carousel, a carousel all about New York State, one of the only museums you can ride! Please feel free to reach out via phone or email with any questions.