The Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum educational programs offer unique experiences, including our perforator machine that creates band organ rolls (one of the first forms of coding!) and viewing simple machines at work. In 2016, the Carrousel Museum received the Excellence in Collaboration Award from the Erie County Association of School Boards for our “T-NT (Tonawanda – North Tonawanda) STEAM is Dynamite!” program. Join us for fun, interactive tours, and brand new workshops in our Education Center. Students will have the opportunity to participate in hands on learning and see practical applications of their curriculum. Our exhibits offer the opportunity to ride a 1916 Herschell Carrousel, and tour the factory where it was originally constructed! Additionally, our programs can come to you in person or virtually.

The Junkman — the original, Grammy-nominated recycled materials percussionist — and his collection of skateboards, road signs, brake drums, and other unusual items will captivate young minds with a STEAM-driven interactive experience that will entertain while teaching about music, science, the environment, inclusiveness, and kindness. From an hour-long interactive eco-concert with a culminating JunkJam wherein kids play along with The Junkman, to a full day of instrument-making or music-making workshops, or a week to two-week long sound sculpture or music-making residency, he’ll work with you every step of the way to develop and craft a program that best suits your students AND your budget. All The Junkman's programs featured his Help Our Planet (HOP) education initiative, which has garnered awards of excellence from the United Nations, the Federation of Mexico, and the State of Vermont.

We are Lianne and Jaymee Frankel, New York State-certified teachers, sisters, and founders of Chain Reaction, an educational program centered around live music, social-emotional learning, and storytelling. Our Chain Reaction program has been performed at schools and other venues across Long Island and New York City, and teaches concepts such as creating a kindness chain reaction, the power of positive self-talk, the power of music on mental health, and mindfulness/social-emotional learning.

Local students are exposed to the presence and importance of local at-risk species and habitats and ways they can make a positive difference. Teachers can choose from a full menu of in-classroom and field trips that cover topics including adaptations, life cycles, habitats, photosynthesis, water quality, and more. Our favored field trip, “Habitats of the Saratoga Sand Plains,” highlights the Karner blue butterfly’s life cycle; its host plant, the wild blue lupine; the food chains and webs of the Saratoga Sand Plains Ecosystem; animal adaptations, freshwater life, pollution and habitat loss, and much more. These engaging programs meet criteria set forth in the state’s core curriculum for math and science. We now offer high school programming! Can’t find a program to fit to your needs? Contact us to schedule a unique program, tailored for you

Our publisher visits bring the world of publishing to your classroom or library! Technology has made publishing more accessible than ever before, and it's important that kids learn how books are made from start to finish by creative people, not machines. Our school visits: - show kids what publishers do and who is involved in the book-making process - teach kids how a picture book takes shape, from manuscript to printed book - give students the opportunity to ask questions - include real-life examples for students to interact with - demonstrate how kids can publish their work through a fun zine-making activity

Take the Stage! is our flagship 6-week, music-led performing arts program designed for every 5th grade student. Built around exciting school-wide themes like Awesome 80s! or Rock ’n Roll 4Life!, the program immerses students in early theatrical skills through an engaging classroom-based experience led by professional Teaching Artists, Musicians, and district Music Teachers. Along the way, students develop essential performance skills including projection, diction, stage awareness, and ensemble collaboration, while building the confidence to take creative risks, make bold choices, and fully commit both onstage and off. Each class learns its own themed songs, choreography, and short scripted scenes, creating a unique 35-40 minute performance that blends music, movement, and storytelling. Teaching Artists visit classrooms throughout the residency, while rehearsal videos help students continue practicing between sessions. The experience culminates in a full Performance featuring opening and closing numbers, individual class performances, and even occasional appearances from teachers and staff, with both a school assembly and an evening showcase for families. More than just a show, Take the Stage! helps students build confidence, creativity, collaboration, and the courage to step forward and be heard long after the curtain falls.

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/.

1. "Disability is O.K.!" (Openness and Kindness) is a disability awareness presentation with interactive theatre that can be modified for different age groups. Using books and resources as a launching point, sharing our story, showing our mobility devices and real life examples, we will create a safe space to ask questions, be curious and learn about difference. Students and facilitators will create good/bad scenarios about life where we learn what really matters... being OPEN and KIND. Both Sofiya Cheyenne and her friends have dwarfism and they have been sharing their story to teach youth all over New York! We bring an incredible amount of knowledge since both of our experiences are so unique. Assembly style: can do the whole student body but must be separated based on age. Must be within a 3hr window of time. (Example- 9am-9:45 prek-1st grade / 10am-10:45am 2nd and 3rd grade / 11am-11:45am 4th and 5th grade) Classroom style: smaller and more intimate conversations and play! Can do up to two to four 45 min sessions in a 4hr hour window. Must be within a 4hr window. (Example- 9am-9:45 Kindergarten / 10am-10:45am 3rd grade / 11am-11:45am 4th grade / 12-12:45pm 5th grade) Workshops are contingent on size of class / age and AV equipment materials available. 2. "And SEEN" is a student centered theatre class that will teach disability culture and access, empathy, leadership and other important life skills.. Through improvisation, I AM Poems and theatrical expression we have created a hands-on approach to learning about the self and our impact in the world. Using exercises such improv, meaningful play, creative writing, and storytelling, we build self-esteem and confidence in our students so they can tackle the world like the incredible leaders they are! With empathy and empowerment at the center of this workshop the students will be SEEN in their craft, in their peers, and in themselves. Workshops are subject to change based on age and size of group. I can even adjust my lesson to the specific needs of students ( i.e. bullying, self awareness, social awareness, social/emotional skills, confidence, leadership, team building ) Weekly rate - $2,500 for four to five 1 hr sessions with the same classroom Sofiya is a New York based multi-disciplinary performance artist, teaching artist, and disability advocate/consultant. She has appeared on television shows such as “At Home With Amy Sedaris” on TrueTV, “StartUP” on Netflix, and “Loudermilk” on AmazonPrime. She is passionate in her advocacy as her advisor roles in ADAptNYC 2030 Steering Committee, Access Council for ART NY and the Co-Chair of The Dwarf Artist Coalition of Little People of America. She has educated all school age youth about theater, disability culture and accessibility with her work at New Victory Theater, GirlBeHeard, EPIC Players and Queens Theater. Sofiya encourages the power of community, self-expression and storytelling. Her lessons are centered on themes of identity, and inclusive language and as a result, students build empathy for their friends and thinking through an anti-bullying lens. Sofiya believes engaging students about her disability and the use of “meaningful play” is the best way to bring up our future leaders of the world!! www.sofiyacheyenne.com

Prepare yourself as Planetarium Adventures takes you on a journey that will Inspire, Innovate and bring Discovery to the classroom. Planetarium Adventures is a completely portable planetarium that comes to you! No matter if you represent a school, a library or even a local community organization, Planetarium Adventures will bring the universe to the classroom. Saving you valuable time and money and the hassle of transportation. Planetarium Adventures uses proven tools to open the world of astronomy and the wonderment of our solar system to the young scientists of tomorrow! Please feel free to contact us with any questions you may have about our curriculum and procedures

We offer an interactive Author Visit for grade Prek-5 where we bring our character Farley (the world's favorite penguin!) We have three signature songs that we incorporate into our visit. We teach the children the process on becoming an author and getting your book published which we focus more on with the older grades. We offer a bundle pack where the children can get a book and a Farley plush for a discounted price. The class that has the most book order forms can win a pizza party with Farley.

Like Spanish traditional Flamenco dancers and Flamenco guitarists did in the Middle Ages,, students move their bodies in fun, new ways to create triumph over any troubles. Miss Coco Flamenco’s fabulously funny flair for character education will have your students stomping out bullying “ultimate fast,” soaring with power and peace, making hilarious music together, grabbing their goals, and sharing each other’s creative awesomeness. All audience members are encouraged to get up and get moving to infectious dancing, hand claps, and Spanish guitar. All with a professor’s approach that’s so high-energy, even teachers and staff love to join in! Sharing SEL Strategies through Simple Body Movement, Fun Rhythm, and Triumphant Dance Social Awareness >> Stomping out bullying – Flamenco Feet (Taconeo) Responsible Decision-Making >> Choose both power and peace – Flamenco Falcon and Dove Arms (Brazeo) Relationship Skills >> Make music together – Flamenco-style Clapping (Palmas) Self-Awareness >> Be self-confident and grab your goals – Flamenco Bullfighter Moves (Postura) Self-Management >> Create beauty and share it with a neighbor – Flamenco Hands (Floreo)

Sasha Kahn offers author visits virtually or in-person for preschool and K-5th. Pre-K and K focus on readings and art activities and are 20-30 minutes. Author visits for grades 1-5 are 45-minute presentations or assemblies, including Q+A. Designed to inspire and invite children into the creative process, author visits provide a glimpse of Sasha’s path as an author/illustrator, how to turn an idea into a story, how the words and pictures move the story along, how a book gets made, and more. She offers two programs, one for grades 1-3 with an emphasis on story and one for grades 3 and up with an emphasis on STEM topics, research and revision.