Asian Studies Supplemented in the Pioneer Valley
Exhibit, Educator Workshop, Guided Tours, Performance Art & Free Family Day
Image credit: Yue Minjun. Chinese, born 1962. The Grassland Series Woodcut 1 (Diving Figure), 2008 Woodcut on medium weight lightly textured cream wove paper. Gift of Pace Editions Incorporated and Ethan Cohen Fine Arts courtesy of Ann and Richard Solomon (Ann Weinbaum, class of 1959) and Ethan Cohen Photograph by Petegorsky/Gipe.
Educational opportunities are numerous over the next few months for those interested in teaching and learning about Asian art! The Smith College Museum of Art in Northampton, MA will be opening a new exhibit on Asian art beginning February 1st through May 26th, 2013. Titled, Collecting Art of Asia, the exhibit celebrates the 100th anniversary of the museum’s first acquisition of Asian art and includes work from the museum’s permanent collection, as well as promised gifts to the museum. Work included in the two-floor exhibit comes from China, Japan, Korea, and much of south and southeastern Asia, and highlights significant movements and people in the history of Asian art, as well as significant and historic gifts to the museum’s collection.
Educators can attend a workshop hosted by the museum that will share suggestions for teaching about the interdisciplinary connections found between Asian and Western art objects. Open to K-12 teachers, the workshop will also include an overview of “Collecting Art of Asia,” and resources for teaching shared by Five College Center for East Asian Studies director Anne Prescott. The workshop takes place on February 6th from 10am-3pm ($). Registration required – call 413-585-2781 or e-mail museduc@smith.edu to sign up.
The Smith College Museum of Art welcomes groups of students to visit, and offers guided tours of the museum. Classes, homeschool groups, and other groups of learners from PreK-12th grade can visit the museum to supplement their studies of Asian art, culture, and history. Tours can be designed to fit specific needs, or groups can participate in the general tour designed to accompany the exhibit. Educators can use a visit to the museum to supplement explorations into the history of Asian art, as well as studies of Asian culture and history.
On Saturday, March 2nd from 10am-3pm, Smith College Museum of Art will host a free family day. Billed as “Art of Asia,” families can participate in hands-on projects that were inspired by fishermen, flowers and fireworks, all on view in the Collecting Art of Asia exhibition. Projects are perfect for families with PreK-12th youth and their guardians.
Finally, at the UMass Fine Arts Center in Amherst will host Chinese Theater Works performing Toy Theater Peony Pavilion as part of the Global Arts: Performances for Schools series. The performance, open to grades 3-8, will take place at 10am on March 7th, 2013. The show combines the 16th century Chinese Kun Opera with modern Western styles of puppetry to create a unique and beautiful story, following a young maiden through her dreams.
Studies of Asian art and performance can provide a window through which to examine Asian history and culture, and can help provide students with a critical understanding of the evolution of Asian cultures. A look at Asian traditions can also help older students put relations between the United States and east Asian countries such as China and Japan into cultural context. For more information on either the exhibit or the performance, contact the Smith College museum of Arts at 413-585-2781 or the UMass FAC at 413-545-2511.
Sophia Flips the Classroom with New Social Education Platform
Are there topics that you want your kids to learn that haven’t yet been (or aren’t) covered in their school’s curriculum? Are you a teacher looking for online information to supplement your student’s textbook or classroom notes, or a place to share your own curriculum? Are you a homeschool or unschool learning facilitator wishing you had a map of topics in multiple disciplines? Sophia, an online learning resource, offers validated crowdsourced educational material that supports all these needs, and much more!
The site (www.sophia.org) offers a wealth of information – presented in a way that is social and conducive to learning – and is divided up into categories based on discipline, then broken down by specific topics and grade level appropriateness. You can find anything from a unit on molecular structure for 10th-12th graders to a tutorial on the preterite and imperfect tenses of the Portuguese language!
Each topic section is also divided into units (arranged in a logical order) that, if followed closely, can lead a learner to a much deeper understanding of a topic. The site isn’t, however, just another online textbook-style resource. Within each topic are a variety of ways to learn, and users are able to choose which structure best fits their goals and/or learning style. Within the website’s solid structure is a surprising amount of freedom! Users can simply read up on a topic, or dig deeper by taking quizzes, playing games, create their own flashcards, etc. The site is a great resource for parents, teachers, and students – especially as a supplement to other learning materials! Check out this video to learn more:
Hurricane Sandy and Halloween Offer Learning Opportunities Online
Hurricane Sandy might have schools closed while we await her arrival, but the learning can continue at home (so long as you have power!). Check out these online resources to brush up on math, chemistry, physiology, language arts and world & local history:
MATH
After you’ve battening down the shutters and have prepared your home & family for Hurricane Sandy (and still have power), let’s to use this event for real-world applications for learning. One online resource is “Math in the News” who takes current events as seen through the prism of mathematics every week. They are currently looking a probability maps for Hurricane Sandy. Take a look with your kids at Math in the News and practice math skills:
CHEMISTRY
Who has Halloween candy laying around right now from events this past weekend or for passing out on Halloween night? Did you know you can use candy to conduct science experiments in the kitchen with your kids! Experiments include Acid Test using Pixy Stixs, Chromatography using M&M’s, Density experiment with Skittles, and many others! Check out our post from last year, “Science Experiments with Candy” for ideas.
WORLD HISTORY
Here’s a succinct video about the history of Halloween produced by the History Channel: “Straddling the line between fall and winter, plenty and paucity, life and death, Halloween is a time of celebration and superstition. It is thought to have originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off roaming ghosts. In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1 as a time to honor all saints and martyrs; the holiday, All Saints’ Day, incorporated some of the traditions of Samhain. The evening before was known as All Hallows’ Eve and later Halloween. Over time, Halloween evolved into a secular, community-based event characterized by child-friendly activities such as trick-or-treating. In a number of countries around the world, as the days grow shorter and the nights get colder, people continue to usher in the winter season with gatherings, costumes and sweet treats.”
PHYSIOLOGY
Are your kids all about Zombies this Halloween? In this animated video from TEDed, Tim Verstynen & Bradley Voytek apply the various human medical possibilities that make zombies…zombies. Find out the physiology behind what’s happening in their brains to make them act as they do. After watching this video check out the full lesson.
LANGUAGE ARTS
H-A-Double L-O-W-Double E-N spells Halloween! Remember that song when you were a kid just learning to spell? Here’s a cool video for this song for your young kids to watch for a fun way to learn how to spell Halloween
LOCAL HISTORY
Are your kids learning about or interested in the Salem Witch Trials? National Geographic has an interactive resource on the Salem Witch Hunt, Discovery Education has tips for teachers and home educators on the Salem Witch Trials for grade level 5-8, the National Teacher Training Institute offers lesson plans on the The Salem Witchcraft Trials and The Crucible for grades 5-12, and Historian Elizabeth Reis uses primary sources in an education video on the history of the Salem Witch Trials at Teaching History. The History Channel offers this short video to help tell the tale of this event in Massachusetts history:
Students Can Discover the Symphony During Free Friday Mornings at Tanglewood: Summer 2012
(Photo credit: Sienna Wildfield)
This summer, the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Tanglewood are offering a unique FREE musical learning opportunity for kids in Lenox. MA! Every Friday morning through August, the orchestra rehearses – and families, educators, homeschool groups, musicians, and other community members are invited to attend the rehearsals for free!
Before each rehearsal, there will be a Youth Music Presentation (including a “Quiz the Kid” Q+A), an engaging and informational tour of Tanglewood, and a pre-rehearsal talk on the music to be played, instruments in the orchestra, and fun facts about the music! Those participating in the program are offered shed seating at the rehearsal, though kids under the age of 8 are asked to enjoy the show with their grown-ups from the lawn.
Attending the Free Friday Mornings program can teach kids about classical music, and its place within music history (and modern music!). Kids will also learn about the many different instruments that make up the orchestra’s beautiful sound. Older students can use the program to supplement studies of physics (think sound waves!), history, and material culture (take a look at how instruments have evolved over time, and how pieces reflect certain cultural eras).
Education highlights include:
A pre-rehearsal youth music presentation and instrument demonstration.
An engaging and informative Tanglewood tour—different each week!
High level musician educators will give a talk about specific music topics directly related to the upcoming rehearsal (geared for middle school to adults)
Shed seating for a closed rehearsal of a Boston Symphony Orchestra performance.
All ages are welcome, bring the whole family! (Children 3rd grade and up may listen in the Shed, while younger children are invited to enjoy the music from the lawn)
Following the rehearsal, guests are welcome explore the grounds, listen to a second hour of rehearsal music from the lawn, or enjoy a picnic lunch under the trees
HOW TO SIGN UP
It is ultra easy to come to a rehearsal, it is done by email. To reserve free Shed seating, simply EMAIL your request to Darlene White at dwhite@bso.org with the number of participants in your party. If you are a parent, educator or a community or youth leader, simply email your request, be sure to include phone and contact information, and your affiliation (such as teacher, parent, etc.). Also include what Friday (or Fridays) you would like to attend, and how many persons will be attending in your group. If some in your group will be listening from the lawn, let Darlene know that as well. If you like, you can reserve more than one week in advance.
SPECIAL NOTE FOR TEACHERS
The education program runs year round and they have some great education resources, so If you are a teacher, let Darlene know your school, grade level, and subject.
SHED SEATING IS LIMITED
Because Shed seating is limited, reservations are confirmed on a first-come-first-serves basis. Groups are welcome, and it is best – especially for groups – to reserve early.
For more information, email Darlene White at the Boston Symphony Orchestra Berkshire Education and Community Programs Office: dwhite@bso.org.
Discovering New England History with
The Freedom Trail Foundation Daily Video Series
Are your kids interested in Colonial History? Boston’s Freedom Trail Foundation offers a daily dose of history on their YouTube channel! Every day, the group debuts a new clip (generally 30-40 seconds) offering information about an event that took place on that day in early American history! Centered around the Revolutionary War, the clips feature historical re-enactors dressed in period costumes. The information they offer covers a variety of topics- everything from the aftermath of the Boston Massacre to the settling of new areas surrounding Boston.
Of course the videos are presented in chronological order, but you don’t have to see every single one! Watching a few a week can provide a way for families to learn about history together and extend their study of the American Revolution and Colonial Studies throughout the entire year. Even watching the videos occasionally can be a fun learning activity- think together about all of the changes that have taken place in American society between the event discussed in the video and the events taking place today!
For the 12th consecutive year, MASS MoCA presents a series of student programming, featuring live music, dance, storytelling, film, and theater performances that give regional students the opportunity to see world-class performers, including Lady Bee, Alloy Orchestra and Zany Umbrella Circus. (Courtesy photo)
MASS MoCA has released this year’s schedule of performances for kids! The shows are designed to allow students a chance to learn about the arts, and the museum offers free curriculum materials for educators to use before and after the performances. This year’s shows include music and dance with Lady Bee, musical ensemble Alloy Orchestra, and the Zany Umbrella Circus! Educators can use the performances as a platform for discussion that touches on topics in language arts, history, social studies, and perhaps even science! (Talk about the physics of music, for example!)
All school choices are welcomed. “Registering in advance is helpful, because there are study guide companions for each performance,” writes Courtney Parker, Assistant to the Managing Director of Performing Arts + Film at MASS MoCA. “If you are unable to register in advance, we are happy to include you and your children on the day of the performance. Not a problem.”
For more information, call 413-664-4481 or e-mail Courtney at cparker@massmoca.org.
Westfield State University ‘Discovers the World’ through Geographic Information Systems
Braun, a Geography and Regional Planning/Environmental Science Professor, who also acts as the Campus GIS Coordinator, emphasizes of the importance of understanding modern technology. “Many people still think geography means drawing maps and memorizing the atlas. Today, we make maps using a GIS and we use maps more than ever as tools,” Braun said, citing that the power outage maps seen during last week’s storm were from GIS.g “I hope that folks realize that this technology is already part of our daily lives and that we can, fairly easily, use this technology ourselves,” he said. “GIS and the related technologies (GPS, Google Earth, Smart Phones) are cool and fun to use and give us a way to hopefully get folks interested in geography and regional planning.”
More than 10,000 organizations and 80 countries hold local events for GIS Day, which illustrates how GIS technology can be applied to our everyday lives. Global Positioning Systems (GPS), Google Earth, and Smart Phones are commonly used, related technologies.
On Wednesday from 7-9pm and Thursday from 5-7pm, there will be several events, including informal workshops teachings on how to use Google Earth to create 3D maps with embedded videos and photographs. These will take place in Bates Hall 022 and seats are limited by computer availability. Contact Carsten Braun at cbraun@westfield.ma.edu to reserve your seat.
A GPS Treasure Hunt around campus from 12-5pm and a GIST Center Open House from 3-5pm in Bates 022 also will be offered on Thursday.
All events are free and open to the public.
Learn more about GIS in the short informative video:
Youth Against Hunger (YAH!)
Curriculum for Teaching About Hunger
The YAH! curriculum is designed for students grades K-12. Activities help pave the way for service projects and discussion addressing hunger and inequity in the United States.
The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts provides food and resources for people all over the region, and involvement with the organization is a great service learning opportunity for kids. The Food Bank’s website includes a section for educators on ways to use involvement with the food bank to help kids learn about food insecurity and issues of inequality and socioeconomic status.
On their website is a curriculum, called Youth Against Hunger (YAH!), which can be used in classrooms or families supplementing their children’s education at home to raise awareness and knowledge of how hunger affects their community- it would be particularly effective in conjunction with a visit to the food bank and/or a classroom, family, or neighborhood food drive or fundraiser.
They have also put together a suggested reading list for children to further supplement hunger education.
Educational Programs for Kids at the Springfield Museums
One educational program the museums host is "Eye Spy." This program encourages young artists to look beyond the canvas into the details, textures, materials and stories that make up a work of art. Curriculum connections include discussion, questioning, listening and vocabulary/concept development. Click on the image to see all programs offered at the Springfield Museums!
There are numerous educational opportunities and adventures to be had at the Springfield Museums!
Visitors can explore topics and ideas anywhere from important figures in local history to coral reef ecosystems.
There are five different museums, each with a theme of local history, natural science, and art. The museums offer guided tours as well as self-guided tours (which are really educational odysseys!) to groups both big and small. Classrooms, schools, homeschool groups, youth groups, etc. can all benefit from a museum tour tailored specifically to fit the group’s needs!
Hancock Shaker Village in Pittsfield is a fantastic resource for learning about local history and Shaker culture, and the village even offers educational group tours! Designed specifically to fit within the state’s learning standards, the tours teach kids all about life during the 19th century. Though the tours are designed for classes, homeschool groups, scout troops, and other groups of kids can do the tours, too! During November, 90 minute guided tours of the village are available by appointment. This is a great way to supplement learning about local pioneers! To learn more, visit www.hancockshakervillage.org.
Medieval Faire & Armored Tournament
Ventfort Hall in Lenox, MA
Sunday, October 9 from 10am-5pm
3rd Annual Medieval Faire with displays of armored combat; equestrian demonstrations; medieval arts, crafts, and clothing; strolling troubadours; and lectures on feudalism and medieval society. (Courtesy Photo, Kevin Sprague)
Medieval chivalry comes alive in the Berkshires at the Ventfort Hall 3rd Annual Medieval Faire & Armored Tournament in Lenox, MA on Sunday, October 9th from 10am-5pm … and Hilltown Families has a family 4-pack of tickets to giveaway to one lucky family!
The Medieval Faire & Armored Tournament is an excellent way to learn about medieval society through demonstrations and enactments. There will be strolling troubadours, lectures, people dressed in period costumes, medieval arts, armored combat demonstrations and much more!
Enter to win a family 4-pack of tickets. Deadline to enter to win is Wednesday, 09/28/11 @ 7pm (EST). Details below.
ABOUT The Medieval Faire & Armored Tournament
Medieval chivalry and armored tournaments are not dead, but alive and thriving. Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum will host the 3rd annual Medieval Faire at the historic Jacobean-Revival mansion in Lenox on Sunday, October 9 from 10am to 5pm. The series of events will include exciting displays of armored combat every hour, equestrian demonstrations, medieval arts, crafts and clothing, strolling troubadours and musicians, and lectures on feudalism and medieval society. Men in armor and women in period costumes will take part in the action.
Heading the program is Jeffrey Mann, a member of the Society for Creative Anachronism, one of the world’s largest medieval living history organizations, for nearly 30 years. Mann’s specialty is the study of the evolution of armor through the Middle Ages, how it is made and tournament combat. For over 20 years, Mann, his squire and retainers have taken their interest and knowledge of medieval life to schools, nursing homes and scouting organizations, bringing the Middle Ages alive.
Mann states, “Our lively presentation helps sort fact from fiction and explain how many of our modern customs evolved from then till now.”
ABOUT VENTFORT HALL
Ventfort Hall is an imposing Jacobean Revival-style mansion built in 1893 for Sarah Morgan, the sister of J. P. Morgan. Designed by the architects Rotch & Tilden, it is located in Lenox, Massachusetts. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and declared an official project of “Save America’s Treasures,” a Millennium program of Hillary Rodham Clinton and the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Ventfort Hall is the home of The Museum of the Gilded Age.
Ventfort Hall was one of the approximately seventy-five so-called “Cottages” built in Lenox in the last century when the village became a popular Gilded Age resort. Through lectures, exhibits, theatrical performances and other events, The Museum of the Gilded Age interprets the great changes that occurred in American life, industry, and society during the Nineteenth Century, a fascinating period of American history. For more information visit www.gildedage.org.
HOW TO WIN
Your chance to win a family 4-pack of free tickets to the 3rd Annual Medieval Faire & Armored Tournament at the Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum on Sunday, October 9 from 10am-5pm in Lenox, MA is as easy as 1-2-3 (4, 5)!
To enter to win simply:
CONSIDER SHARING ON FACEBOOK by selecting the Facebook icon below.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR FAVORITE WAY TO SPEND AN AUTUMN DAY IN THE BERKSHIRES WITH YOUR KIDS below (one entry per household), and be sure to tell us your
FULL NAME and where you
LIVE (TOWN/STATE). Must include your town to be eligible.
ACCURATE EMAIL IN THE EMAIL FIELD BELOW (we never share your email address).
IT’S THAT SIMPLE! We’ll randomly draw a winner and will share the results below.— Deadline is Wednesday, 09/28/11 @ 7pm (EST)
Beneski Museum of Natural History at Amherst College. A young visitor looks up at the Ice Age mammals skeletons. (Photo credit: Sam Masinter, courtesy The Trustees of Amherst College)
This fall as area colleges and schools get ready to welcome students and families, Museums10, a collaboration of 10 college-affiliated museums in the Pioneer Valley of western Massachusetts, announces fall activities to interest visitors of all ages.
“Museums10 is an excellent resource and destination for area educators and students to explore the worlds of art, history, literature and science,” said Alexandra Kennedy, Executive Director of The Eric Carle Museum, who also chairs Museums10′s executive committee. “Six out of the ten museums are free and all welcome field trips. The variety of hands on workshops, classes, programming, exhibitions, and teacher training offered by Museums10 members is unparalleled.”
Highlights for the fall are:
GEOLOGY: Discover the Connecticut River Valley geological phenomena and the world’s largest collection of dinosaur tracks at the Beneski Museum of Natural History at Amherst College in Amherst, MA. Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 11am-4 pm, also Thursdays 6 pm-10 pm. Tel: 413-542-2165. Free Admission.
LANGUAGE & CULINARY ARTS: Participate in the annual Poetry Marathon and Baking Contest, September 24th at the Emily Dickinson Museum in Amherst, MA. Hours: Wednesdays-Sundays,11am-4 pm. Tel: 413-542-8161.
PICTURE BOOK ART: See the original art from Eric Carle’s new book: The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse (Sept. 20, 2011 – Mar 20, 2012) and Growing Every Which Way But Up: The Children’s Book Art of Jules Feiffer (Oct 25, 2011 – Jan 22, 2012) at The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst, MA. Hours: Tuesday-Friday 10 am- 4 pm, Saturday 10 am-5 pm, Sunday 12-5 pm. Tel: 413-658-1100.
CONTEMPORARY ART: View contemporary art at the Hampshire College Art Gallery in Amherst, MA. Hours: Monday-Friday 10:30am-4:30pm. Closed in August. Tel: 413-559-5544. Free Admission.
HISTORY: Attend Open Hearth Cooking or Made-by Hand: Trades of the Past demonstrations or join the Harvest Baskets family activities at Historic Deerfield in Deerfield, MA. Open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tel: 413-775-7214.
HISTORY: See Disunion! The American Civil War 150 Years Later, a special installation of 15 paintings, sculptures, photographs and prints marking the sesquicentennial of our country’s bloodiest conflict. Until December 31 at the Mead Art Museum at Amherst College in Amherst, MA. Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 9am-5pm. Tel: 413-542-2335. Free Admission.
SOCIAL STUDIES: Explore Life in the Ancient World: Egypt, Greece, and Rome. Special workshops for school groups offer direct experience with artifacts and original works of art and the opportunity to learn about history, world cultures, art, and archaeology. Mount Holyoke College Art Museum in South Hadley, MA. Hours: Tuesday-Friday 11am-5 pm, Saturday-Sunday 1-5 pm. Tel: 413-538-2245. Free Admission.
LANGUAGE ARTS: Visit the new family exhibit You Know More Yiddish Than You Think opening September 18 at the Yiddish Book Centerin Amherst, MA. Hours: Monday-Friday: 10am- 4pm, Sunday 11am – 4pm. Tel: 413-256-4900.
WORLD ART: Discover Art from at least four continents on display this fall: Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas. Join the Free World Art! Family Day, November 5, with hands-on art projects for kids inspired by works from each of these continents. The Smith College Museum of Art in Northamtpon, MA. Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 10am-4pm, Sunday 12pm-4pm. Tel: 413-585-2760.
ART: Watch the video exhibition by renowned Korean artist Kimsooja, Sept 21 through Dec 11, 2011. Kimsooja’s work combines performance, video, and installation, addressing issues of the displaced self. University Museum of Contemporary Art in Amherst, MA. Hours: Tuesday – Friday: 11:00am-4:30pm, Saturday-Sunday: 2pm-5pm. Closed in August. Tel: 413-545-3670. Free Admission.
Redcoats & Rebels
at Old Sturbridge Village
Weekend of August 6th & 7th
History comes alive for families at one of our local living history museums! Enter to win a family 4-pack of tickets to "Redcoats & Rebels" at Old Sturbridge Village for the weekend of August 6th & 7th, 2011. Details on how to enter to win below. Deadline to enter: August 3rd.
History comes alive as Redcoats & Rebels, New England’s largest military reenactment, returns to Old Sturbridge on August 6th & 7th … and Hilltown Families has a family 4-pack of tickets to giveaway to one family for the weekend!
Redcoats & Rebels is an excellent way to explore early American history with the family at one of our local living museums, including fashions and customs from Colonial America, marching and drill demos, fife and drum music, medical procedures, Revolutionary War reenactments, and much more!
Enter to win a family 4-pack of tickets for the weekend. Deadline to enter to win is Wednesday, 08/03/11 @ 7pm (EST). Details below.
ABOUT REDCOATS & REBELS
See the largest military re-enactment in New England — nearly 1,000 soldiers portraying British, Irish, Welsh, German, Scottish, French and Colonial troops. The Village is transformed into a military camp from the time of the War for Independence, as it was known in early New England. Come see what it was really like for those who fought to win America’s freedoms.
Following a parade of British troops through the town, the Village fields will become the site of a mock battle each afternoon. Troops will reenact a battle scenario where Americans and their allies attack a British-occupied town. Visitors can see surgeons “treat the wounded” and see the American troops get their smallpox inoculations. Throughout the day they can tour behind-the-scenes in both the British and American camps to learn what life was really like for these 18th-century soldiers. See how laundry was done, and meet the surgeons who tended to the wounded and administered smallpox inoculations.
Other events designed to provide a look into the lives of soldiers include reconnoitering with a Ranger from Peter’s Corps, and a prisoner exchange between the Americans and British (Saturday only). Special events on Sunday include a Sunday Service for the troops, the arrival of American soldier’s pay and uniforms, and a court martial trial with the HMS Somerset. Young visitors will enjoy learning the real words to “Yankee Doodle,” making tri-cornered hats, and drilling with the Second Massachusetts Regiment.
In addition, visitors can learn about the fashions and customs of the time during programs like “Mrs. Peabody’s Levee” – a look at 18th-century foundation garments presented by the group “Ladies of Refined Taste,” which will also present “Runaway Runway” – a look at civilian clothes in the late 1700s. Military fashions through the years will be presented by the Tenth Massachusetts Light Infantry. On Saturday, music, dancing, and ball games will be featured. A complete schedule of activities can be found at www.osv.org.
ABOUT OLD STURBRIDGE VILLAGE
Old Sturbridge Village celebrates life in early New England from 1790 – 1840. Located just off the Massachusetts Turnpike and Routes I-84 and 20 in Sturbridge, Mass., OSV is open year-round, but hours vary seasonally. Currently, the Village is open seven days a week from 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Admission is: $20 for adults; $18 for seniors; $7 for children ages 3-17; children under 3 are admitted free. Each admission includes free parking and a free second-day visit within 10 days. For details, visit www.osv.org or call 800-733-1830.
HOW TO WIN
Your chance to win a a family 4-pack of tickets to Redcoats & Rebels for the weekend of August 6th & 7th at Old Sturbridge Village in Sturbridge, MA is as easy as 1-2-3 (4)!
To enter to win simply:
CONSIDER SHARING ON FACEBOOK by selecting “Like” below
TELL US ABOUT YOUR FAVORITE WAY TO SPEND A DAY OUT AND ABOUT IN WESTERN MA WITH YOUR KIDS (any season) below (one entry per household) and be sure to tell us your
FULL NAME and where you
LIVE (TOWN/STATE) Must include your town to be eligible.
ACCURATE EMAIL IN THE EMAIL FIELD BELOW (we never share your email address).
We’ll randomly draw a winner and will share the results below.
IT’S THAT SIMPLE! — Deadline is Wednesday, 08/03/11 @ 7pm (EST).
Students Can Discover the Symphony During Free Friday Mornings at Tanglewood: Summer 2011
The Boston Symphony Orchestra's Education and Community Programs will be offering a weekly FREE kid-friendly education program every Friday morning at Tanglewood in Lenox, MA for students ages 8 and up. (Photo credit: Sienna Wildfield)
Families, homeschoolers, educators, and community and youth groups in Western MA are invited to reserve Shed seating for a closed rehearsal of the Boston Symphony Orchestra at Tanglewood (Main Gate, 297 West St, Lenox, MA). It’s called the Friday Morning Rehearsal, and happens each Friday beginning July 8th at the Tanglewood Main gate 9-11am, running through August 26th, 2011. It is a festive morning education program for families that offers a free, fun, and kid friendly approach to classical music.
Each week children and adults are treated to a delightful music presentation by a young musician from the area, a brief tour, and a few words about the upcoming rehearsal, before entering the Shed for a closed session–all free of charge. The Shed is open to third grade age and up, as the intensity of quiet and stillness required is often to much for younger kids. But this is a family friendly program where parents with young children often bring a picnic or just relax on the lawn. Children love to listen from the lawn, and can often be seen twirling to the music.
Education highlights include:
A pre-rehearsal youth music presentation and instrument demonstration.
An engaging and informative Tanglewood tour—different each week!
High level musician educators will give a talk about specific music topics directly related to the upcoming rehearsal (geared for middle school to adults)
Shed seating for a closed rehearsal of a Boston Symphony Orchestra performance.
All ages are welcome, bring the whole family! (Children 3rd grade and up may listen in the Shed, while younger children are invited to enjoy the music from the lawn)
Following the rehearsal, guests are welcome explore the grounds, listen to a second hour of rehearsal music from the lawn, or enjoy a picnic lunch under the trees
HOW TO SIGN UP
It is ultra easy to come to a rehearsal, it is done by email. To reserve free Shed seating, simply EMAIL your request to Darlene White at dwhite@bso.org with the number of participants in your party. If you are a parent, educator or a community or youth leader, simply email your request, be sure to include phone and contact information, and your affiliation (such as teacher, parent, etc.). Also include what Friday (or Fridays) you would like to attend, and how many persons will be attending in your group. If some in your group will be listening from the lawn, let Darlene know that as well. If you like, you can reserve more than one week in advance.
SPECIAL NOTE FOR TEACHERS
The education program runs year round and they have some great education resources, so If you are a teacher, let Darlene know your school, grade level, and subject.
SHED SEATING IS LIMITED
Because Shed seating is limited, reservations are confirmed on a first-come-first-serves basis. Groups are welcome, and it is best – especially for groups – to reserve early.
For more information, email Darlene White at the Boston Symphony Orchestra Berkshire Education and Community Programs Office: dwhite@bso.org.
Ellen Jackson’s book, The Winter Solstice, (published by Millbrook Press) takes a look at the many different cultures throughout history who have celebrated the Winter Solstice and developed customs for this shortest day of the year.
With a simple storyline and attractive watercolor illustrations by Jan Davey Ellis, Jackson’s book is a nice addition to a social studies curriculum for children ages 4-8 this time of the year. The Scottish, Romans, Scandinavians, Celts, Northern Europeans, Peruvians, Pueblo Indians, and the Kwakiutl Indians are presented with their customs and beliefs; in addition to a scientific look and simple experiment to illustrate the planetary alignment that creates this seasonal change.
The Trash Musuem has educational kits for loan, including a worm composting bin. This kit includes material to discover how compost is made by vermicomposting worms. The kit is available for a month loan. Click on the photo to discover the other educational loan kits the Trash Museum has to offer. (Photo credit: Karen Bayne)
Late autumn here in New England and the light is leaving us. The sun is down almost as soon as we have eaten our after school snack. Everyone in my house becomes slightly grumpy as the light fades and we spend less time outdoors. The boys know their screen time allowance goes up and I fight my own lack of energy to keep us out, about and moving.
We turn inside ourselves a bit: we craft, we bake, we bang on our instruments to make a joyful noise in the midst of the settled routine feeling we have this far into the school term. At times, the boys are grouchy, like Oscar the Grouch grouchy. So, we went to the Trash Museum In Hartford, CT.
The Trash Museum is free to visitors and open Wednesday – Friday from noon-4pm. It is the perfect day trip for families with young kids at home, or for a mama like me who was struck with multiple half days and professionals days this Fall. The Trash Museum is a sweet low-key outing. Younger and older kids will have an opportunity to engage the available curriculum about recycling, composting and waste reducing. We arrived with some friends in a bit of a gaggle and the museum seemed well prepared to greet us -and mentioned they receive visits from preschools, elementary schools and homeschooling families.
My kids played a nice long round of I Spy in the dump sculpture. We then had a chance to talk about other ways of dealing with trash. They played in the recycling center, where they got to make the conveyor belt go themselves and had our first introduction to composting worms. One of the staff took time to sit down on the floor with the five children we brought. Anyone who was brave enough could hold the worms. She gave a positive, age-appropriate lesson on the values of composting. I think all five kids really appreciated the attention. There were many areas to explore. My littlest boy would have happily stood in the observation deck all day, where you can watch actual trucks and dudes with trucks compacting, trash, sending recycling down the conveyor belts. It was more like living in a Richard Scarry book than anything else we have ever experienced.
I know it may seem far afield from Western MA, but the Trash Museum is 6500 feet of education and fun. It was a great afternoon. The kids were warm, busy and very engaged. For all the caregivers, it is a straight shot down I-91 and there are multiple coffee shops between here and there.
I’d love to hear from all of you. Where do you take your kids in the winter months that is fun, free – nearly free – and they don’t moan and demand more television?
Karen grew up in Manhattan and lived in Connecticut before moving to Northampton with her husband Matt to raise their boys. Her sons Isaac, Henry and Theo are 11, 6 and 4, leaving Karen on a search for all the “just right adventures” that will wow them and wear them out. She works as a birth doula, childbirth and parent educator in the greater Northampton area. She writes about mothering at Needs New Batteries and about birth in our culture at Gentle Balance Birth.
Kurt Heidinger, Executive Director of Biocitizen School of Westhampton, MA writes:
Identifying a sample of benthic macro invertebrates (water bugs) taken from the Westfield River in West Chesterfield, MA. (Photo credit: Sienna Wildfield)
How many times have you looked at a river thinking, how beautiful—and pulled out your camera to capture the swells of whitewater, a striking blue heron, or blazing maple tree in the autumn overhanging its banks?
A river is not just beautiful, though; it’s alive, and those who witness this life, this bios, never look at or appreciate a river the same way again. Based out of Westhampton, MA, the Biocitizen School has been training volunteers to see and understand the bios that a river is, by teaching them how to do Rapid Bioassessments. We net the benthic macro invertebrates (underwater bugs) and, by inventorying them, we can quickly assess how alive the river is.
Kurt helps kids sort through a sample that included stonefly nymphs. Stoneflies give an abundance of food to trout, feeding the Bald Eagles on the river. (Photo credit: Sienna Wildfield)
Stonefly nymphs are a bug we want to catch. They are a primary food source for brook trout and, like trout, require clear, clean, cold oxygen-rich water. If there is too much nitrogen or potassium (from fertilizer run off) in the water, algae will bloom and suck the oxygen out of the river. You won’t find many stonefly nymphs—and therefore trout.
By doing a Rapid Bioassessment, you can monitor a river that is dear to you, year after year, to ensure that it’s healthy—and stays that way. Once you have been trained (this year), you can conduct the assessment yourself (next year); Biocitizen collects and sends your bug inventory to DEP, where it is checked and logged, becoming part of the public historical record. Such records are invaluable for scientific research and land-use decision-making.
Families inventoried their samples, giving proof that the oxygen-rich water was of exceptional quality! (Photo credit: Sienna Wildfield)
I had the pleasure of training a few families on the Westfield river this past weekend, just downstream from the RT 143 bridge in West Chesterfield, MA. One of my favorite moments occurred at the end, after we had identified our last worm species and had the proof we needed to judge the water of “exceptional quality.” “We have bald eagles on the Westfield,” I was told; “They fly up and down the river: must have a five foot wingspans, seem almost as big as a person!” Yes. All of us lucky families have big beautiful eagles living near us. Because the water is oxygen rich, there’s an abundance of stoneflies, which gives us an abundance of trout which the eagles find yummy: enough fish so they can nest and raise their families here too!
Find out more about Biocitizens and how your family can get involved with Rapid Bioassessment, visit www.biocitizen.org.
The Boston Symphony Orchestra’s Education and Community Programs Present Free Friday Mornings for the Tanglewood 2010 Season
Free kid-friendly education program every Friday morning at Tanglewood in Lenox, MA for students ages 8 and up. (Photo credit: Sienna Wildfield)
Homeschool parents, educators, and community and youth groups in Western MA are invited to reserve Shed seating for a closed rehearsal of the Boston Symphony Orchestra at Tanglewood (Main Gate, 297 West St, Lenox, MA). It’s called the Friday Morning Rehearsal, and happens each Friday at the Tanglewood Main gate at 8:30am. It is a festive morning education program for families that offers a free, fun, and kid friendly approach to classical music.
Each week children and adults are treated to a delightful music presentation by a young musician from the area, a brief tour, and a few words about the upcoming rehearsal, before entering the Shed for a closed session–all free of charge. The Shed is open to third grade age and up, as the intensity of quiet and stillness required is often to much for younger kids. But this is a family friendly program where parents with young children often bring a picnic or just relax on the lawn. Children love to listen from the lawn, and can often be seen twirling to the music.
HOW TO SIGN UP
It is ultra easy to come to a rehearsal, it is done by email. The person to contact is education manager Darlene White at dwhite@bso.org. If you are a parent, educator or a community or youth leader, simply email your request, be sure to include phone and contact information, and your affiliation (such as teacher, parent, etc.). Also include what Friday (or Fridays) you would like to attend, and how many persons will be attending in your group. If some in your group will be listening from the lawn, let Darlene know that as well. If you like, you can reserve more than one week in advance.
SPECIAL NOTE FOR TEACHERS
The education program runs year round and they have some great education resources, so If you are a teacher, let Darlene know your school, grade level, and subject.
SHED SEATING IS LIMITED
Because Shed seating is limited, reservations are confirmed on a first-come-first-serves basis. Groups are welcome, and it is best – especially for groups – to reserve early.
For more information, email Darlene White at the Boston Symphony Orchestra Berkshire Education and Community Programs Office: dwhite@bso.org.
Fall 2010 Programs for Home School Families at Old Sturbridge Village
At OSV, children can learn about the transportation revolution in the 19th century. (Photo credit: OSV)
“Hop into History” overnight program August 14th
Home School Days September 14th and November 10th
Living history museum Old Sturbridge Village (OSV) will offer programs just for home school families, beginning with a Hop into History Overnight sleepover on Sat., August 14th, and continuing with a special September 14th Home School Day on Travel: People and Goods in Motion, and a November 10th Home School Day on The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.
Newly introduced by OSV, Hop into History Overnight are designed for groups of young people ages 6-12, giving them an exciting “night at the museum.” The August 14th overnight program for home school families includes an evening tour of the Village, 45-minute hands-on activities, storytelling, 1830s games, two-day admission to the museum, and a Continental breakfast. Learn more.
Theme for the September 14th Home School Day at Old Sturbridge Village is Travel: People and Goods in Motion, giving children the opportunity to learn about the transportation revolution in the 19th century: new roads, canals, stagecoach routes and railways, which allowed for easier transport of people and goods all over New England and beyond. Registration for this Home School Day opens August 16th.
At the November 10th OSV Home School Day, children can learn more about The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Washington Irving’s famous tale of a headless Hessian soldier returning to haunt a rural community. Storytelling, demonstrations, and hands-on activities will be offered, along with shadow puppet performances and workshops by visiting artist, Andrea Caspari. Online registration will be available one month in advance.
Old Sturbridge Village celebrates New England life in the 1830s and is open year-round. Hours vary seasonally. Parking is free and visitors get a free second-day return visit within 10 days. For information: www.osv.org or call 1-800-733-1830. A calendar of additional days when home school families can receive discounted admission will be announced in September. For details call 508-347-0285; http://www.osv.org. For a summary of OSV offerings for home school groups: learn more.
Discover fun and educational events happening this weekend in Western Mass, along with announcements, upcoming events, links, resources and the HFVS podcast.
SUGGEST AN EVENT
Fresh baked croissants from Bread Euphoria at the Ashfield Farmers' Market. (Photo credit: Sienna Wildfield)
If you have a family friendly event or educational program happening in Western Massachusetts that you’d like to let us know about, post your event on our “Suggest An Event” page. The events below are “suggested.” Please take the time to confirm that these events are happening, along with time, place, age appropriateness and costs before attending.
DINNER IN THE HILLTOWNS
Friday, June 18th at Blue House Cafe in Haydenville: Tex-Mex Chalupa: grilled burrito with organic beans, rice, spinach, cheese, sour cream and homemade vegan sloppy joe mix. – Macaroni & Cheese – Indian Split Lentil Soup (Daal) – Gluten-free and vegan dishes too. BYOB. 268-7441
Friday, June 18th at Elmer’s Store in Ashfield: Grilled lemon chicken or grilled lemon tofu; Grilled red onion; Locally raised Swiss chard with golden raisins and tamari roasted almonds; Oven roasted potatoes; Locally raised mixed green salad. Kids aged 6 and under eat free from 5 to 6:30! BYOB 628-4003
Friday & Saturday, June 18th-19th at Bread Euphoria in Haydenville: Flank steak satay with peanut sauce and fresh cumber salad. Sandwiches, salads, soups and pizza (including Gluten-Free pizza!). Beer & wine available. 268-7757
FEATURED SUMMER CAMPS
THEATER CAMP: Look no further than Ashfield Community Theater Full Day Summer Arts Programat Sanderson Academy for affordable children’s Arts programs! NOW SAVE $15 each when you sign up with a friend or sibling! There are 4 great Visual & Theater Arts sessions this year, but this discount applies only to Session #1 (TAKE STAGE: WRITING COMES ALIVE- July 12-16) or #2 (ART OUTDOORS/BATIK & UKRANIAN EGGS-July 19-23). Both feature talented teaching artists, small groups, and lots of fun– from T-shirt design, to nature sculptures and photos, Word Collages, improv games, stage craft, and performances—this is a chance to learn through doing in creative and inspiring ways. M-F, 9am-3:30pm. Regular Tuition: $180. Call 413-626-1976. Scholarships available!
GIRLS ART CAMP: ArtStar Girl’s Camp, July 5th-9th, for girls 8-12yo in Williamsburg, MA. Spend the day (10am-2pm) creating with batik, silkscreening and tie dye as well as experiencing hand sewing and book making! Girls will be encouraged to explore their own artist expression in a relaxed lounge like environment at the private home studio of Marie Westburg, artist and Art Therapist. Sessions are limited to eight so sign up now! Cost is $180 per child. See artstarlounge.com for more info. or email artstarmarie@verizon.net
BEST BET
Saturday, June 19th in Amherst: Family Concert with Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem at The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Arts on Saturday (6/19) at 1pm. The proceeds from the concert go to benefit the Northampton Community Music Center. More info here.
BULLETIN BOARD
Warm welcome to Hilltown Families newest sponsor, PaintBox Theatre, Northampton's own innovative theatre of imagination and improvisation for the young and young at heart, in residence at New Century Theatre at Smith College for it's 7th year! - Interested in joining PaintBox Theatre in the support of the work of Hilltown Families? Find out how to become a sponsor too! Inquiries can be emailed to hilltownfamilies@gmail.com.
ADVERTISING & ANNOUNCEMENTS: Deliver your message to a large local family based audience while supporting the work of Hilltown Families. Advertise your event, camp, workshop, fundraiser, business or announcement here in the Bulletin Board section of our List of Weekly Suggested Events.
Marie Westburg of Williamsburg, MA writes: Did you know that the Center for Ecological Technology is offering free air sealing of homes! Call MassSave for an energy audit. Also, click here for info about Deep-energy Retro-fits that can make your home 80-90% more energy efficient.
Candy Bird Laflam of Goshen, MA writes: I wanted to “put it out there”, that the Goshen Women’s Softball Team is looking for players for our summer games. Anyone from 17-70 is welcome! Skill level isn’t as important as having fun. We play on Tuesday and Thursday evenings starting June 22- August 1st. Please email me Candy.Laflam@gmail.com or call me at 695-0427.
FREE CHILDBIRTH ED CLASS: The Hilltown Community Health Center will be offering a free childbirth education class next Saturday, June 19th, from 10am-2pm. This day-long format will prepare families for the childbirth experience in one session. Ann Buscemi, certified childbirth educator, will talk about what to expect in labor and delivery, as well as breathing and relaxation techniques. Call Lee at 238-5511 x155 for more information on location and to register.
Deadline to enter to win: June 22nd
ARENA CIVIC THEATRE will hold auditions for its fall musical ANNIE Friday June 25 at 6:30 pm at the Jones Library (Amherst) and Saturday June 26 at 5:30 pm at Artspace (Greenfield). Roles for 15 girls ages 7-14, 2 boys and 20 men and women ages 15-70. For more information contact director Martha King-Devine at devinekingmartha@gmail.com or http://www.arenacivictheatre.org. Annie will be produced at the Shea Theater in Turners Falls. Directed by Martha King-Devine with musical direction by Susanne Anderson and choreography by Melanie Reneris and Cara Leach.
FAMILY WELLNESS RESOURCE: Healthy Families is a statewide home visiting program for first-time mothers and fathers under the age of 21. They work with families beginning in pregnancy until their first baby turns three years old. They offer a range of services including home visiting, support groups, and help with resumes and job applications. They provide transportation to important appointments for parents and their infants/toddlers, parenting education information, referrals for community resources, general case management, and a non-judgmental listening ear. They work with both mothers and fathers, even if they are not living with their child. Be the best parent you can be, join Healthy Families today! Call 413-584-5690 x130, or email edlugosz@gcfcma.org.
Deadline to enter to win: July 11th
KIDS PHOTO CONTEST: MA 4-H Photography Contest. For current 4-H club members who are 8 to 18 years of age. Categories: action, people, animals, landscape, nature, waterscape, design, architecture, formal portrait. You may enter up to five photos that are unmounted, no smaller than 5″ x 7″ and no larger than 8″ x 10″, and each in a sheet protector. Up to 10 photos will be selected to be mounted and laminated for exhibit in the New England Center during the Big E. Entries are due in Waltham on July 5. Check out the entry guidelines on the 4-H website www.mass4h.org , click on News & Events, and then Upcoming Events.
HILLTOWN FAMILY VARIETY SHOW
Tune in every Saturday & Sunday - or anytime via Podcast!
This week on the HFVS, Yosi and the Superdads with be Guest DJing with a special Father’s Day Show, featuring music off of their new album, Super Kids Rock, along with their favorites by Brady Rymer, The Hipwaders, Steve Songs, Sara Hickman, and Dr. Noize.
Tune in on Saturdays from 9-10am, or listen to our podcasts HERE.Encore episodes are aired every Sunday from 7-8am. Families have several ways to tune in to the Hilltown Family Variety Show:
Streaming Audio: Surf on over to ValleyFreeRadio.org on Saturday & Sunday mornings and listen to us live via streaming audio.
On Your FM Dial: Tune in to WXOJ 103.3FM if you live near Northampton, MA.
PODCAST: Listen to the most recent episodes of the Hilltown Family Variety Show anytime you wish! Click here to see our current select of episodes, and be sure to subscribe to our podcast too!
7:30am-9am – NATURE STUDIES: Notchview’s Nests at Notchview. Join naturalist John Green for a bird walk exploring a variety of habitats during nesting season. Call The Trustees of Reservations at 413 532-1631 x13 Windsor, MA (>$)
9am-12Noon - LOCAL FOOD: Want to learn how to make jam with all those strawberries you’re picking? North Amherst community Farm is having a Making Jam workshop in the Community Room Kitchen at Pulpit Hill Co-Housing. Space is limited so call Beth at 259-1972 Amherst, MA ($)
10am-2pm – SAFETY DAY: Child safety seat checks, SAFE house demos, Sheriff’s office iris scan, and much more. Food and fun too at the Anne Dunphy School (1 Petticoat Hill Rd.) 268-7237 Williamsburg, MA (FREE)
10am – OUTDOOR ADVENTURES: A Wheelie Good Time on the Manhan Rail Trail – Bring Strollers, wagon, bikes, trikes or just your feet for a child friendly stroll along the Manhan Rail Trail with the Easthampton Family Center. Meet on Payson Ave at the Easthampton Safety Complex. Picnic Snack provided after the stroll. 563-7672 Easthampton, MA (FREE)
10am-1pm – HIKE: Native Treasures of Bear Swamp. Experience vista views, diverse native flowers and ferns, towering trees, rocky outcrops, streams and wet meadows on this 3-mile moderate hike. Trustees of Reservations members and Ashfield residents free. To register call The Trustees of Reservations at 413 532-1631 x13 Ashfield, MA
1-3pm – CHESS: Drop-in Chess at the Forbes Library Mezzanine. Casual meets every Saturday the library is open. All competition levels are welcome. Drop in for part or all of the session. Bring your own set if you have one or use one of the library’s. Northampton, MA (FREE)
The talk will be presented by historian Steve Strimer of the David Ruggles Center for Early Florence History and Underground Railroad Studies. The Ruggles Center, named for an early abolitionist, documents the movement and settlement of fugitive slaves in the Connecticut River corridor of Massachusetts. Strimer will discuss what has been preserved and uncovered about the Underground Railroad, particularly in Florence and Springfield.
For older kids studying the California Gold Rush, there will be a talk “Springfield and the California Gold Rush” on April 25th.
The series is co-sponsored by the Pioneer Valley History Network, a coalition of historical museums, libraries, and societies. The Museum of Springfield History is located on the Quadrangle at 21 Edwards Street in downtown Springfield. Free parking is available in the Edwards Street parking lots. Hours are Tuesday through Sunday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Admission is $12.50 for adults, $9 for seniors and college students, $6.50 for children 3-17, and free for children under three and museum members. Springfield residents are free with proof of address. The fee provides admission to all four Springfield Museums at the Quadrangle. For information, call 413-263-6800 or visit http://www.springfieldmuseums.org.
RH Conwell Community Education Center
A Homeschooling Co-Op in Worthington
Parents of R.H Conwell Students are invited to learn more about an option to start a Community Education Center in the town of Worthington, MA this fall. A group of parents and town members will be hosting a meeting to discuss their goal to provide a local, community directed educational experience for Worthington area elementary students (preschool-6th).
The meeting will be at the Worthington Town Hall on Saturday, February 27th at 10am.
RH Conwell Community Education Center
Philosophy
Our goal is to provide a local, community directed educational experience for Worthington area elementary students. We will focus on elementary education in the tradition of the school that just closed. To make next year feel as comfortable to parents and students as they feel this year is a primary goal. Community members and parents will be directly involved in the educational process. This could be a transition program to a new public school or a program we wish to continue for the foreseeable future.
Regulations
We will follow the education laws of Massachusetts by organizing as a homeschooling cooperative. This means that before the school year starts, each parent and child meets with Conwell’s education specialist and develops an education plan. The plan can be a standard grade level plan or individualized for each student. Families send the plans to the child’s local school district which will then certify the child as a homeschooler. School districts can ask for more information, but have very little right to deny the homeschooling plans.
Organization
Depending on the number of families involved, there will be at least two paid staff members; one coordinator and one educational specialist who will have a teaching degree. We envision serving children from kindergarten to sixth grade. Volunteers will work under the direction of the educational specialist to allow for small groups and individual attention. We are assuming that the center would be open during the traditional school day. Based on families needs, children could attend part time or full time.
Daily Structure
Mornings will be spent on subjects such as math and language arts, either individually or in small groups. Afternoons will be spent applying skills to in depth projects or field trips. We plan to collaborate with local organizations and individuals to offer a variety of courses. Meals could provide an opportunity to apply math skills to planning and preparation.
Finances
This program will have costs that are not yet known. There will be expenses for the use of the school, material costs, salaries, insurance etc. We are planning to raise funds and apply for grants to lower costs. We also will be working with the Lewis’s It Takes a Community Foundation. Volunteer services could be traded for some expenses.
Other Programs
We are hoping to use the school as a hub for other community activities such as before and after school childcare and preschool. This would also allow local children who attend other schools to remain connected with the community. We envision the school as a place where intergenerational groups could collaborate.
Advisors
Leona Arthen – Worthington library director
Debbie Carnes – longtime school aide and volunteer, certified guidance councilor
Valerie Casterline- lifelong Worthington resident, professional working parent
Vanessa Lewis – school volunteer and fundraising coordinator
Kathy MacLean- retired fourth grade teacher at RH Conwell
Richard Mansfield –former school board member
Michele Sawyer- parent and school volunteer
Susan Warner- child care provider
Judith Williams- retired fourth grade teacher and principle at RH Conwell
Families interested in discovering more about Martin Luther King, Jr. and the civil rights movement with their children might enjoy the following resources:
National Science and Engineering Competition for Third to Sixth Graders
Created by Jim Metzner and funded by a four-year grant from The National Science Foundation, the Kids’ Science Challenge will continue for the second year to offer third to sixth graders the opportunity to practice real science and work directly with cutting-edge scientists and engineers. Students are asked to propose an original question, problem or experiment that relates to the group of scientists involved with the competition. Winning students in each category will then have the opportunity to meet and work with these scientists, in addition to winning great prizes.
Participating scientists and challenges in Year 2 of the Kids’ Science Challenge include:
Bio-Inspired Designs
Using nature to give us ideas for new inventions. The winner in this category will work with scientists and engineers at UC Berkeley and UC Merced to create a new product or idea, inspired by the natural world. Birds inspired airplanes; seed burrs were the inspiration for Velcro!
Imagining Sports on Mars
Working with engineers from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, CA; the budding scientist(s) will come up with a game suitable for playing on the mysterious Red Planet. Low-gravity frisbee, anyone?
Detective Science
Future Columbos will work with scientists from the Forensic Science Department at Syracuse University to create an experiment where they employ the scientific techniques used in the science of detection to solve everyday mysteries. So who really did leave the bathroom light on?
Seven Car-Time Activities to Do with the Kids While Traveling
Diane Flynn Keith, author of Carschooling, recently wrote an article, Turn Holiday Travel Time Into Learning Time!In her article she shares fun activities that will not only entertain your young passengers, but will “boost your kids’ brain power” too. In her article she include the classic car game, Alphabet Hunt, along with some simple games that incorporate concepts of speech, geometry, art, zoology and community studies. Click here to read her article over at RoadTripJournal.com. It’s worth printing out and tucking it in your glove compartment!
Homeschool Harvest Day at the Historic Deerfield Museum
Kids can weave on a loom, learn how farm families lived in the early 1800's, take a 19th-century school lesson, cook on an open hearth, and much more. (Photo credit: Sienna Wildfield)
Homeschool families are invited for an educational celebration of the fall harvest on Wednesday, September 16th, 2009.
Go on an agricultural walking tour, card wool, weave on a loom, and help hearth cooks make seasonal foods.
Visit the Sheldon House to see how a farm family lived between 1790 and 1810.
The Wapping Schoolhouse will be open for early 19th-century lessons.
Enjoy a scavenger hunt in the Flynt Center of Early New England Life.
Bring a picnic, and have your lunch near the Cooks’ Garden.
Homeschool Harvest Day will be from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm on September 16, 2009 at the Historic Deerfield Museum in Deerfield, MA. Pre-registration is required. Please email Claire Carlson, Education Program Coordinator or call 413-775-7217.
If you’re set up with satellite TV here in the hilltowns and have access to the History Channel, tonight (Wed. 11/21) they will be airing their special Thanksgiving presentation, The History of Thanksgiving at 7pm (EST). This documentary may be a useful addition to home studies on Native American History and the history of American culture as it relates to this holiday.
Turkey dinners, footballs and parades–these are the modern-day trappings of the holiday celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November each year. But Thanksgiving is more than just a day of food and festivity. This documentary traces the history of Thanksgiving, from early festivals and rituals of thanks to the feasts Americans celebrate today. The History of Thanksgiving explores different tales of the Thanksgiving holiday, examining how and why the story of the Pilgrims sharing bounty with Native Americans became the symbol of Thanksgiving. Using primary sources, expert historians and authentic reenactments, this program untangles some Thanksgiving myths and recounts the story of how it became recognized as a federal holiday. Students will find that this documentary gives them new historical insights into this popular holiday, and an opportunity to discuss its meaning and significance in our society today.
Welcome to Hilltown Families, a grassroots communication network for families living in Western Mass, established in 2005 by hilltown mother and long time activist Sienna Wildfield.
"Hilltown Families keeps us connected with all the amazing educational and cultural activities and resources that abound here in W. Mass and curates them in a way to let us know just what’s out there for the many varied interests of our young families and communities,while creating networks of support and growth." - Kara Kitchen (Plainfield, MA)
The Hilltown Family Variety Show (HFVS) airs Saturday mornings on Valley Free Radio, 103.3FM WXOJ, Northampton, MA from 9-10am with encores on Sunday from 7-8am. Playlist and podcasts are posted immediately following broadcast. Listen to our archived shows at any time: HFVS Archived Shows.
Hilltown Families Sponsors
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disclaimer
Information provided on Hilltown Families (HF) is for informational and entertainment purposes only. Reasonable efforts are made to provide the most accurate information, but no guarantees of any kind can be made. Information can be changed without prior notice. Please check with 3rd parties to confirm all listings for date/time, cost, location and age appropriateness before attending. Opinions expressed on HF are that of the writer and not necessarily that of HF. In no event shall HF be liable (directly or indirectly) for any losses or damages causes (or allegedly caused) in connection with HF. All health and wellness related information is for entertainment purposes only and should not be used to substitute for professional medical advice or diagnosis. All provided links are provided as a courtesy and not as an endorsement.
The exhibit will be on display at the Forbes Library in Northampton for the month of February 2013, and at the City Hall Gallery in Easthampton from Sept 13-Dec 11, 2013. - We're currently booking shows for the Spring/Summer of 2013 and for 2014. Each exhibit is a unique showcase of images that correspond with the season and venue. Contact us to inquire about hosting this fundraising exhibit for Hilltown Families in your town/venue.
Are there topics that you want your kids to learn that haven’t yet been (or aren’t) covered in their school’s curriculum? Are you a teacher looking for online information to supplement your student’s textbook or classroom notes, or a place to share your own curriculum? Are you a homeschool or unschool learning facilitator wishing you had a map of topics in multiple disciplines? Sophia, an online learning resource, offers validated crowdsourced educational material that supports all these needs, and much more!
DINNER IN THE HILLTOWNS
THEATER CAMP: Look no further than 
ADVERTISING & ANNOUNCEMENTS: Deliver your message to a large local family based audience while supporting the work of Hilltown Families. Advertise your event, camp, workshop, fundraiser, business or announcement here in the Bulletin Board section of our 
