Tag Archives: Content Providers

International Wolf Center

Today Chikaming Elementary connected to the International Wolf Center for their program Wolf Tales. After a tour of the wolf center (6 remote cameras to see them live), the session focuses in on several books about wolves.

For example, students identify what things the wolf does in the story that makes us feel he is bad, or they identify the fiction in the story.

Finally the program ended with a time for students to ask questions. This is a great new provider! Check them out if you haven’t visited yet!

Arizona Memorial Museum Association

Today a Galien Alternative High School history class is talking to Pearl Harbor survivors at the Arizona Memorial Museum Association. Students listen to the stories of World War II Veterans who were at Pearl Harbor, and then they take some time to ask questions. The stories of the veterans were interspersed with historical photos and artifacts. This is an incredible experience for history students. Visually rich, riveting stories, personal interviews. And free! Really free! They only have access to ISDN, and they prefer to call out to us! This was our first time connecting to the Arizona Memorial Museum and we definitely will be connecting again.

I imagine though, that if you want to connect on Dec. 7, you have to schedule WAY in advance! In addition, due to the 5 hour time difference between EST and Hawaii time, you’ll have to be flexible and willing to connect later in the day.

I think it’s really important, especially when students are interviewing veterans, to teach them to be a good respectful listening audience, and to thank the veterans for their service. In our previous videoconferences with our local veterans, they really appreciate those gestures from the students.

So try out this content provider if you haven’t yet!

NASA Video Clip

If you’re not reading Scott Merrick’s blog, you should check out this video clip he posted of their session with NASA on the solar system. Thanks Scott for putting this online to give us a taste of NASA programs! (The picture is from Scott’s blog too.)

Let's Go to the Show

This morning Galien Elementary is connecting to The Cleveland Insitute of Music for the Let’s Go to the Show program. This program is one of my favorites for Kindergarten students. You clear the floor and students learn about high and low, loud and soft, fast and slow, and other simple musical concepts. The program is filled with music, movement, interaction, singing, and dancing. Featured songs include Head and Shoulders, Knees and Toes and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. It’s a great exercse in following directions too!

Live VC with a Court Reporter

This morning we are excited to be connecting to the St. Louis County Courthouse in St. Louis, MO. Students from our Niles High School and Ottawa ISD Careerline Tech Center are learning about the career of court reporter.

The program began with a simulation of a guilty plea, showing what each role is and what things are said. If the classes had transcribing machines, they would have been encouraged to transcribe the event. But they didn’t, so today they are just listening. We heard from two court reporters, a bailiff, and a judge.

Next the judge explained carefully and clearly what the court reporters do and how they fit into the courtroom. Then the students asked questions of the bailiff and the judge before they had to leave. The remainder of the time was spent asking questions of the two court reporters.

This program was coordinated by Cooperating School Districts and Tim Gore and Jim Sturm, who brought us the Lewis & Clark VCs the last few years. Our career tech classes want to see more than just a talking head in an expert career interview, and so this is the first of several programs we’ve requested CSD coordinate for us and others. Tim and Jim are great at facilitating VCs, and have good ideas of what students can see onsite in various career settings. So watch the listservs so you can sign up for the next ones! The sessions are $150 per interactive site (so far).

Dalcroze Eurhythmics

This afternoon Lighthouse Education Center is connecting to the Cleveland Institute of Music for the program Dalcroze Eurhythmics. We already love programs from CIM, but hadn’t seen this program yet.

The program began with clearing the floor of tables and chairs. Students learned about opposites in music (high/low, sound/no sound) while practicing following instructions. Stopping when the music stops. Jumping a a high trill. Touching toes with the bass notes. Marching to quarter notes. Jogging to eighth notes. Running to sixteenth notes.

The instructor plays the piano and gives the students various instructions and movements to do to express the music. In the next activity the students are divided into groups and each group is assigned a different speed.

Next the students apply what they experienced in running and jogging and marching to seeing the various types of notes and what they look like. In the next activity, students practice having feet move at one speed and hands at another speed.

This program is full of activity, learning, listening, and following instructions. We loved it!

Talking to Mrs. Claus

Thanks to CESA #7, we have several classes this year connecting to Mrs. Claus in the North Pole. The session starts with questions from the students such as:

  • What’s your favorite cookie?
  • What’s the weather like in the North Pole?
  • What do you like to cook for Santa?
  • What is your favorite color?

Next the program includes a couple of stories and songs. A great first VC for young students, and covers language arts skills too. I think CESA #7 has a few slots left if you want to participate this year. What a fun connection!

ASK: Daniel's Story

On Monday, Marcellus Middle School participated in their first ASK program. Students read Daniel’s Story and prepared questions for Charles Sacavage, a holocaust expert from Intermediate Unit 29 in Pennsylvania. The classes were also studying World War II.

Mr. Sacavage is a perfect expert for this ASK program because he has a wealth of knowledge and photo resources to share based on the questions the students ask.

If you’re thinking of starting your own ASK program, this works well with both Anne Frank and Daniel’s Story.

International Wolf Center

I just did a test call with the International Wolf Center in Minnesota. This is a new provider – they just started offering programming this fall. Last Friday I heard a report on their programs from Aaron Schippert, Saginaw ISD (and a TWICE board member). Aaron raved about the quality of their programming and the connection. They have several cameras out in their facility so they can show you the wolves. So I grabbed a quick snapshot to share with you. Looks like another great new provider!