I offer hands-on creative writing workshops in poetry and prose (3-5 days each---3 workshops per day---across a chosen grade level, where each class gets 3-5 visits each). I meet with teachers to discuss their curriculum needs and thematic requests, suggesting various workshop ideas tailored to their requests. Teachers then choose what works best for them---for example: Assistance with reluctant writers, adding details, word choice, adjective strength, voice---in whatever current learning theme is paramount, such as animals, environment, feelings, character development, social studies, etc. I support teachers throughout the residency where they will be present and interact whenever their insight is needed as I teach. During and after the residency, I check in (over lunch, etc.) to ascertain how teachers are feeling about their students' progress, and also to offer many resources from both my books, stories, poems, and teacher oriented publications (nine books with Scholastic Professional Books for teachers) where they might copy any lessons they wish to use in the future. I also offer follow-up ideas at the end of every residency for those who wish to continue using the writing "tools/ideas" I present to their students. And there are always numerous options! I love to work with the core levels to help develop a stronger writing momentum with students (for example, 2nd grades in fall, same students in 3rd grade with different themes/format the following year, 4th grade added on or begun simultaneously--always building on previous workshop skills, etc. Districts have booked me in various schools for 25 plus years, often having me conduct workshops from year to year in multiple levels, as teachers love the support and boost my energy brings to their classrooms and students from which they springboard after I leave. The sky's the limit! I am here to serve educationally and creatively.

Jordan Taylor Hill & Ensemble: Celebrating Rhythms from the Diaspora Join Jordan Taylor Hill & Ensemble for a vibrant journey through the rich tapestry of African Diasporic music and dance. As a seasoned educator and performer, Jordan Taylor Hill brings to your school an interactive exploration of traditional drumming, dance, and song that illuminates the cultural heritage and historical significance of these art forms. Jordan's workshops and performances are designed to engage students of all ages, providing them with a hands-on learning experience that enhances their understanding of world cultures, rhythm, and movement. Our offerings are tailored to complement educational curricula in arts and humanities, aiming to foster an appreciation for cultural diversity and inspire creativity among students. We are available for bookings across multiple regions, ready to bring our dynamic and educational presentations directly to your school. Whether it's a one-time assembly, a detailed workshop, or a short-term residency, Jordan Taylor Hill & Ensemble are prepared to create a memorable and enriching experience for both students and faculty. For bookings or more information on how we can tailor our programs to meet your educational goals, please reach out to us. Let's make learning unforgettable through the power of live performance and active participation!

We are a professional baseball team located in the Capital District of New York, more specifically, Troy. Each year we offer multiple Education Day games which are special matinee games aimed to incorporate learning with the game of baseball. We create a unique curriculum that covers things from spending money at the concession stand, geography and location of our opponents, baseball terminology and more. For these games we reach out to all of our local schools and invite them to attend this game which is typically $12 per person and includes admission as well as a lunch. We kick off the game with an Anti-Bullying peace pledge, and the concourse features tables from our sponsors with STEM centric activities. Many schools attend each of these games and look for assistance to ensure they can be a part of it.

Daryl Cobb is the author of 18 books for children, and a premier children's educational presenter. Daryl's experience as a professional actor, musician and singer makes him one of the most imaginative and dynamic author presenters in the country. Daryl's versatility makes him the perfect choice for in school author visits at every age level. Very few authors can captivate children the way Daryl does. His music instantly grabs everyone's attention, and he keeps them on the edge of their seats with his storytelling. His interaction with the student body is playful and fun. And his life experiences (in baseball, with bullies and ADHD) make him relatable to all and his literacy message very powerful. His author visits programs are inspiring! Daryl's programs are interactive and include his "Music, Sign-along & Storytelling" assembly for K-2 and his interactive "A Writer's Journey" assembly that uses storytelling, music, graphics and live action readings to teach the kids about the writing process.

James Bruchac was raised in the Adirondack foothills town of Greenfield Center, New York. A citizen of the Nulhegan Abenaki Tribe, and eldest son of acclaimed author and storyteller Dr. Joseph Bruchac III, James grew up immersed in the natural world, storytelling, and native culture. James has both authored and co-authored books for all ages. Children’s books include How Chipmunk Got His Stripes (Dial), Turtle’s Race with Beaver, Rabbit’s Snow Dance (Dial) When the Chenoo Howls (Walker), Be Good, a True Cautionary Tale (Bowman Books), and Native American Games and Stories (Fulcrum) and The Stories He Tells, The Story of Joseph Bruchac. General public titles include Scats and Tracks of the Northeast, Scats, and Tracks of the Southeast, Scats, and Tracks of the Mid-Atlantic (Falcon), and The Girl Who Helped Thunder, an anthology of Native American tales (Sterling). James is a member and former president of the Wordcraft Circle of Native Writers and Storytellers. Upcoming releases include Kids in the Woods (Bowman Books), Trails and Tales of The Grizzly, and Trails and Tales of The Wolf (fulcrum) Building on his family’s tradition, for over thirty years, James has shared stories at hundreds of schools and libraries across the country. Whether telling an interactive animal story or a monster tale, he keeps listeners of all ages on the edge of their seats as well as part of the action. James has performed at many festivals, museums including the Smithsonian Discovery Theater (Washington DC), the Corn Island Storytelling Festival (KY), Noble Tales Festival and the Connor Prairie Museum (IN), Indian Summer and Riverbend Festivals (WI), The Boston Children’s Museum and the John F. Kennedy Library and Museum (MA), the Hudson River Clearwater Festival, the Noteworthy Indian Museum, and The Old Songs Festival. James and other members of his family were featured on the PBS special Adirondack Storytellers (WMHT/PBS). James studied exercise science and English at Ithaca College and has a degree in American Studies from Skidmore College. Active in both high school and college athletics, Mr. Bruchac was a member of the 1988 Ithaca College National Championship football team and went on to be an Empire League Semi-pro All-star defensive end in 1991. He has studied martial arts since the age of ten, currently holding the rank of Shihan (5th-degree black belt) in Kyokushin Karate as well as being a third degree black belt in Brazilian Jui-Jitsu. Father Joseph and brother Jesse also hold black belts in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. All three working together to run Alliance Saratoga Jiu-Jitsu, and The Saratoga Academy of Elite Martial Arts.

Daniel Carlton is a multiple award-winning actor, storyteller, playwright, poet, lyricist, director, and teaching artist. His performances and workshops, for practically every age level, address a vast variety of topics including poetry, storytelling, history through drama, life skills through dramatic role plays, and so much more. He is also a published author. Recent performances include productions of “Finding North”(with David Gonzalez) and “The Meeting”, in addition to seventeen Off-Broadway productions, multiple solo shows, and performances with the Children of War Theater Project. Directing credits include “Jabari Dreams of Freedom” (New Victory Theater NYC, National tour), “Hero: Boy From Troy" (First Woman Productions.National Tour), “48 Hours in Harlem" (Harlem 9 Theater Co.), “Freedom Riders” (Mad River Theater Works), and “What If” (Negro Ensemble Company). An enthusiastic creator of new works, Daniel wrote and directed the national tour of “Keep Marching” (Mad River Theater Works), “March On” (Apollo Theater), “Pigfoot Mary Says Goodbye To The Harlem Renaissance” (Schomburg Center For Research and Black Culture), “Night Train 57” (Kennedy Center workshop), and “Freedom Flight” (national tour), as well as penning “A Whistle in Mississippi”, (with Micheal Green )“Check Yo Invite Parts 1 and 2”( Live Theater and Radio Play HarlemStage) and “Timeless Journeys (various tours)”. With Nambi E. Kelley, he also co-wrote “Hidden Inside”, “This Ability”, and “So Journey To The Truth”. Daniel’s work as a Storyteller has been presented in places as varied as Summerstage Kids and Family Series( Parks throughout the 5 boroughs), The Museum For The City Of NY, The Brooklyn Museum, The BrooklynChildren’s Museum, hundred of libraries, schools, temporary housing facilities, and even war zones. Solo Storytelling For Family audiences shows Include:The Eagle in Harlem and Other Tales.” Urban “Folktales Remixed” Memories of Self Journey To Weeksville, and many more. Daniel teaches acting to all ages, poetry for both the page and performance , life skills, public speaking, playwriting ,and devised theater for organizations that include : Apollo Theater Education , Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation, Community Works, Blackberry Productions, MadRiver Theater Works, YAFFA Performing Arts, JazzMobile, CityParks Foundation , First Woman Productions , NYU, University Of Iowa, and many more. Daniel can perform solo or, depending on budget, in duo or trio format. There are other videos on YouTube. Here's video of an interview explaining the Finding North project he performs with David Gonzalez. Daniel can perform this solo. https://youtu.be/uj7KZ4SF4nQ?si=qSk4SjB7cLr9hqFv Daniel has several other shows which we can send you information about upon request.

I’ll start each workshop with a slide show of my personal journey into the arts. This will start from my entrance into the arts back in high school where I was guided away from the arts by guidance counselors and administration. I’ve found this to be helpful to mention as many students can relate to this. My entrance into the arts started in ceramics and has led me to Mould Making, Metal Casting, Fiber & Silversmithing. I’ll discuss how perseverance, determination, hard work, and elbow grease has awarded me with scholarships, grants, shows, and teaching opportunities that enable me to travel to craft schools and residencies to continue making work. I’ll show the evolution of my work and include photos of in-process works from different studios throughout the years. This introduction will last about 30 minutes concluding with 15 minutes of questions. I’ll continue with about 20 minutes of demonstrations and disperse materials for hands-on building. At this point, I’ll make my rounds to meet with each student and troubleshoot their project ideas and the best way to construct them. I’ll call the class over to discuss which method of building would be best depending on the desired outcome as there is no one way to make something. Program Descriptions Workshop 1: Personification of an Object First steps into the world of Abstract art by warping reality one object at a time. Students are prompted to give humanistic features/characteristics to inanimate objects to create something that’s never existed before. Workshop 2: Re-Create Everyday Objects Students will be asked to bring in 3-5 everyday objects. We’ll discuss different methods of construction, play with scale, and explore the surface through color and texture. Refrain from bringing in objects that are made out of ceramic materials. Workshop 3: Large Forms inspired by the Ancient World and Today This workshop focuses on giving students the necessary skills to create large vessels. Students will be asked to find references of Vessels from Ancient Egypt, China, Mesopotamia, or contemporary artists. -hand-building on a larger scale helps beginner students quickly adapt to the properties of clay and respond to the material quicker than something small. This method of construction [coil-building] is the oldest method of building with clay, allows for lots of adjustments to form and scale for a beginner student, causes you to be attentive to the material. -Discuss the benefits of hand-building and the freedom/ability to build in a gestural way, why this is helpful. -Ask students to choose or draw a silhouette to mimic for their vessel – A blueprint/reference photo is VITAL to making a successful shape, make this mandatory, this will help assist them in achieving the shape they want to. -brief demo on darting– show them how to edit a shape that’s not going in the direction (shape-wise) that they’re going for. Workshop 4: Advanced Techniques Ask students to make an object (sculptural or functional) using the extruder and slab roller. These can be very gestural, architectural, or realistic. -Demo how to construct a form using slabs slumping/wrapping/template techniques (cut-outs slipped and scored together) -Emphasize that the appearance of the object will be determined by what method of construction students wish to use (explain and show examples of architectural vs. gestural, organic vs geometric forms, etc.) -Demo how to use an extruder and how to attach extruded shapes securely together/to the form. Clay & tools can be provided for an additional fee.

Over 10 educational school assemblies featuring Reading, Math, Science and Character Education

At Howe Caverns, our experienced guides will teach your students about: Your students’ amazing learning experience begins when they descend 156 feet below the Earth’s surface on a 90-Minute guided cave tour and step out of the elevator into a six million year old cavern, carved by a subterranean river that continues to sculpt the cave today. During the field trip, they will see countless layers of sedimentary limestone, the floor of an ancient sea, and navigate the 500 foot serpentine passage known as the Winding Way, one of the world’s best examples of underground water erosion. Simply put . . . a field trip to Howe Caverns exposes students to aspects of the natural world they simply can’t experience anywhere else. So whether you’re teaching a classroom of students or homeschooling your own, Howe Caverns is the fun field trip you don’t want your students to miss! Sedimentation Calcification Erosion Geologic evolution Stalagmites and Stalactites Prehistoric seas Continental upheaval The power of time and water

Scuba Steve will read and discuss portions of his book(s) with students, there will be video and photos to bring the books to life. Scuba Steve will engage with the students, speaking and answering questions about what inspired him to become a professional scuba diver and environmental conservationist and how he was able to redirect this passion into writing books as well as his writing process. Additional topics will include current issues facing the marine environment, its inhabitants, and what each of us, even children, can do to help. Proceeds from book sales go to his “Read4Reefs” program to help ensure their sustainability and future.

Expand your students' marine science experience via live, interactive presentations! Our 1-hour videoconference sessions incorporate live animal observations (whenever possible) and current research projects happening right here at the Alaska SeaLife Center. The materials for each program include a teacher's guide with background information and activity ideas, as well as supplies for the session's hands-on activities.

BubbleMania: Science, Art & Comedy! An extremely "pop"ular assembly that combines bubbling skills, clean humor and toe-tapping tunes with an exploration of the natural sciences to amaze, amuse and inspire. This show connects the dots between creativity and scientific know-how. Students K-5 learn how bubbles form, how to use simple tools to create jaw-dropping bubble sculpture at home (spaceship, bubble cube, bubble disco ball), the science of bubble bursting, secret formulas and more. Includes eye-popping, artistic routines choreographed to jazzy music and a finale that finds a student trapped inside a giant bubble. Developed by Casey Carle, international award-winning bubble manipulator with credits that include Cirque du Soleil, Sesame Street and The Smithsonian Institute. Thousands of shows presented at schools across New York & New England for two decades. Brains will whirl, eyes will go wide and jaws will drop for students and staff alike. Amaze, amuse and inspire with BubbleMania!