DAVID ZUCKER'S "Poetry in Motion"

Poetry comes to life in David Zucker’s masterful performance of acting, mime, vocal gymnastics, humor, audience participation, and a trunk full of costumes, puppets, and props. David’s irresistible cast of characters, recreated from the poems by A.A. Milne, Lewis Carroll, Langston Hughes, Shel Silverstein, Edgar Allen Poe, and James Whitcomb Riley, are not to be missed.  David is an actor, director, playwright, teacher, and mime. He has performed thousands of programs for hundreds of thousands of children with Young Audiences since 1977. In 1996 David was chosen from over 900 ensembles across the country and honored with Young Audience's National Artist of the Year award. Mr. Zucker is the author of two original plays and of the children’s book, Uncle Carmello, has taught T'ai Chi since 1973 and travels inter- nationally conducting workshops. He holds a 6th degree black belt in the Zen martial art of Shim Gum Do and has a M.F.A. degree in Acting from Brandeis University. For more information, visit www.poetry-in-motion.com or to view some of his past performances go to http://poetry-in-motion.com/video-links.html.

VALERIE TUTSON'S “Tales from African Traditions”

Join internationally-known storyteller Valerie Tutson as she brings to life a combination of tales from Africa, the Caribbean, and the Americas. Valerie draws upon her travel experiences to help students discover the rich beauty, humor, and enchantment of myths, folktales, and historical pieces, as well as stories indigenous to these areas.  Valerie is a graduate of Brown University with a Masters Degree in Theater Arts and a degree in a self-designed major - Storytelling As A Communications Art.  She not only delights listeners with her tale-telling, she also teaches workshops and classes to students of all ages and hosts CULTURAL TAPESTRY, an award-winning show for COX 3 celebrating the diverse cultures around us.  Valerie has most recently serviced as the co-Director of the National Black Storytelling Festival in Providence, RI.  For more information, visit www.valerietutson.com.

MUSEUM OF SCIENCE “Weather”

Through a variety of hands-on experiments, students will learn about the relationship between air temperature and air pressure and how wind and fronts are effects of different zones of air pressure; the Earth’s position and orientation determines seasonal changes in weather; sunlight heats different surfaces; land and water change temperature at different rates; air and water currents move heat around the Earth in observable patterns; and about weather-dependent behaviors of water such as cloud formation.

MUSEUM OF SCIENCE “Electromagnetism”

Using electrical demonstration equipment such as Van de Graaff generators, Tesla Coil, and Jacobs Ladder, students explore static electricity and current electricity, voltage, amperage, and resistance and the relationship between them (Ohm’s Law); electrical energy changes into other forms of energy like light, heat, sound, and magnetism; the fundamental relationship between electricity and magnetism; and electromagnetic technologies such as motors, batteries, and radios.

The above programs are funded in part by a grant from the North Andover Cultural Council, a local agency that is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency, and brought to you by the North Andover School Enrichment Council.

ODDS BODKIN: "The Rage of Hercules"

The real Hercules wasn't who you think he was...

Hercules. Heroic strongman? Kind do-gooder? In some ways, yes. But the real Hercules was also haunted by rages he could not control. He was the strongest adventurer in the world, yet in the end his towering ego was crushed by that very strength.  Brought to life with an immense voice only a master storyteller could create, accompanied by virtuoso music on 12-string guitar. Here is the genuine myth of Hercules. His loves. His madness. His guilt. His epic Twelve Labors. And much more.

”…listeners will learn invaluable lessons from this three thousand year old story as they connect Hercules' behavior with road rage, workplace rage, school shootings. "

Learn more from the Odds Bodkin website:  http://www.oddsbodkin.com

AUTHOR WORKSHOP WITH MITALI PERKINS

For 3 days in February 6^th graders will have an amazing opportunity to engage with a visiting author who is also a highly effective educator.  Mitali Perkins will bring her presentation the sixth graders in an assembly, and then will meet in 1-hour workshops with each of the 6^th grade teams.

Born in Kolkata (Calcutta) India, Mitali lived in Ghana, Cameroon, London, New York and Mexico before settling in California just in time for middle school.  In the assembly, Mitali shares candidly about her experience of growing up between two cultures, exploring some of the tensions immigrant kids face, and introducing some of the richness of Bengali culture.  During the teen years, one thing's for sure: your life story gets much more interesting. Of course, that might mean your heart ends up a bit scorched in places. Good stories have the power to heal those burns.

In the workshop, students consider how good writing engages all five senses, underlines a literary theme, and takes readers on journeys to other places. A directed exercise allows participants to apply and demonstrate what they've gained from the workshop.

For more information visit Mitali’s website:  www.mitaliperkins.com

MAINELY STARS PLANETARIUM:

Scott Negley, director of Mainely Stars Planetarium, brings a unique experience to schools with his inflatable planetarium, “Helping Children Reach for the Stars.”  In "The Changing Moon" program, third grade students explore the cause of the moon’s changing appearance during its monthly cycle of phases.  Students follow the moon’s nightly progression, using observations to predict its next stage.  Using hands-on moon model and lamp, each child demonstrates the cause of the phases and shows how lunar and solar eclipses occur when the sun and moon are perfectly aligned.  In the program "The Universe," seventh grade students learn about the structure and dynamics of the universe beginning with our home galaxy and extending outward for billions of light years to super clusters of galaxies.

ART QUEST:

Perry Pomeroy of ArtQuest brings art to our children!  With her help children compare and contrast works of art from the 18^thcentury to contemporary times, and from different geographical areas in the U.S.  They study and analyze paintings and works of art for location and historical context. As they view each piece of art they discuss the American region that it represents, resulting in discussions about its unique history, environment, geography, industry and lifestyles.  Featured artists include George Inness, Martin Johnson Heade, Grant Wood, Thomas Hart Benton, John Steuart Curry, Albert Bierstadt, and Georgia O’Keefe.

PAULETTE MORIN:

Paulette has been an amateur paleontologist since early childhood. She created the “Having Fun with Pyramids and Pharaohs” program as a way to bring her interest and knowledge into the classroom to augment the traditional ancient history curriculum. She brings a PowerPoint presentation and a large display of ancient Egyptian replicas and jewelry into the classroom. Paulette, as an amateur Egyptologist, is an active member of the American Research Center in Egypt, ARCE; the American Institute of Archaeology, AIA; and the Friends of Egyptian Art at Brown University. In 1999 Paulette produced her first educational video, Exploring Egypt with Paulette Morin, which was designed to complement school curriculum. In addition, she developed Millennium Tours and during the past 6 year she has led tours to Egypt especially designed for teachers. Over the past 18 years Paulette has traveled throughout New England as a performance educator.  For more information visit www.fwsp.com.