I have been a fan of aquariums for years. But getting to all the great ones throughout the country is impossible. The next best thing is taking virtual aquarium tours. It is so much fun to see things that you probably will not ever see in face to face. If your are ready to take a deep dive without leaving your chair, check out some of the virtual aquariums below.
Many of the experiences allow you to click and drag images to navigate your way around and use arrows, the maps, or scenes to explore various exhibits. Many of the aquariums have webcams of small and big sea animals. The Aquarium of the Pacific will even take you into the world of sharks. Happy exploring!
These aquarium resources are accessible 24-7 and FREE. Can’t beat that! Check back again to see upcoming posts on resources for virtual trips to zoos, museums, and National Parks.
Learning occurs in day to day activities. So, look for and create learning opportunities throughout your day. Stay safe and be well.
Isn’t education All about reaching the kids in the classroom and at home?
Grants can help provide high quality classroom resources.
Classroom grant winners were just announced for the Community Foundation of the Hudson Valley. Congrats to Mrs. J (Grade K) and Mrs. N (Grade 1) two creative teachers that were awarded over $2500.00.
Thank you to the Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley for being a great source of support for teachers to obtain high quality classroom resources. I was so pleased to work with these 2 dedicated teachers to help them write grants for materials for their classrooms. The grants provide STEAM and language arts activities for over 200 students. Their creativity and dedication to their students is evident in their classrooms every day. Thank You Teachers! Happy Teacher Appreciation Week!
Community Foundation of Hudson Valley Grants applications are available now
Teachers of PreK – 12 in Dutchess, Putnam and Ulster Counties (Parochial, Private/Independent, and Public Schools)
3 Foundation Grants Categories
Fund for Excellence in Education Grants: Funding opportunities for classroom teachers that fulfill one or both of these criteria:
Support for classroom projects and initiatives which will improve learning opportunities for students. **Grant funding not to be used for field trips or after-school activities.**
Support for the personal and professional enhancement of teachers (not to fulfill Masters program or certification requirements).
Writing Grant(s): A grant will be awarded to K-12 teachers for either professional development in the field of teaching writing or for a specific program designed to enhance the writing abilities of students.
Verizon STEM Grant(s): Grants will be awarded for STEM related projects, activities and equipment.
Grants Available to Public Schools Only:
Marionette/Puppet Grant(s): A grant will be awarded to a public school teacher for projects which incorporate student and/or teacher-made marionettes and puppets in the curricula. Preference will be given to multi-cultural or multi-disciplinary projects.
Dutchess County – Dennis Markle Memorial Community Service Grant(s): Community Service Grants will be awarded to Dutchess County public school teachers for projects involving their students in community service. These community service awards are made from the Dennis Markle Memorial Community Fund which was started by the Dutchess County United Teacher’s Council. Examples of the type of projects which would be considered for these grants are: projects involving senior citizens, hospice, day care, disadvantaged populations, community beautification projects, etc.
Awards: Grants made through this program will not exceed $2,500.
Applications: Online grant application. Click here to access the Grants Portal.
Deadline: Applications must be submitted by March 15th. Awards will be announced in May.
As parents and educators, we know we must teach our kids skills to support scientific thinking. But, how do we encourage kids to explore science? Why not, share stories about a scientist? Why not Benjamin Franklin? Scientists, like most kids, are curious and want to know answers. The great thing about studying scientists is there are many branches; so there surely is a topic to motivate all kids. Seems like a perfect match!
Hello Benjamin Franklin! – November 2019
Benjamin Franklin was famous for many things but especially for being a scientist.
One of Franklin’s greatest accomplishments was his careers as a scientist. Some of his inventions included bifocal lenses, the lightning rod, and the Franklin stove. Some of the scientific terms he coined were; battery, conductor, positively and negatively. Many of his scientific experiments involved electricity. His most famous experiment was his Kite Experiment where he flew a kite in a storm and received an electric shock. This proved that lightning is a heavily charged spark of electricity.
Benjamin Franklin was an American author, printer, political theorist, politician, Freemason, postmaster, scientist, inventor, humorist, civic activist, statesman and diplomat. He was the 6th president of the United States and is known as one of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America. WOW! He was a busy guy!
Quotes Made Famous by Benjamin Franklin
“Never leave that till tomorrow which you can do today.”
“Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.”
“It takes many good deeds to build a good reputation, and only one bad one to lose it.”
“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.”
Application for Pets in the Classroom grant are now available for teachers
Pets in the Classroom is an educational grant program that provides financial support to teachers to purchase and maintain small animals in the classroom. The program was established by the Pet Care Trust to provide children with an opportunity to interact with pets—an experience that can help to shape their lives for years to come. Applications are now being accepted for the 2019-2020 school year.
You may only submit ONE application per school year! However, if you have received a STORE or REBATE GRANT in ANY previous school year, you are now ONLY eligible for the sustaining grant. You can only receive ONE STORE or REBATE per lifetime, NOT one per year
Field Trip Grans available for schools in the Hudson Valley
Any educator in a public school or school district in Dutchess County and Ulster County, New York – kindergarten to grade 12 are eligible to apply for field trip grants.
MAXIMUM GRANT AMOUNT: The maximum grant award is $2,000 per field trip. There is not a limit of requests that can be made per school. However, schools will be generally be limited to no more than two field trip grants each, as the competitive application process warrants. Funding priority will be given to high needs schools/ districts.
APPLICATION PROCESS: Online grant application. Go to www.communityfoundationshv.org to access grant guidelines information and application. Click here to access the Grants Portal.
Field trips must be for trips outside of the school and must be tied to educational curricula.
Teachers should seek funding from their school or district first. If that source is depleted or not available for a field trip, the teacher/school may request money from this fund.
Field trips should occur during the regular academic year and generally during school hours.
Summer programs, clubs and after-school programs are not eligible.
Funds may cover transportation and/or admissions. It can also be used to help defray the costs of students who do not have the ability to pay for their portion in cases where students/families are expected to pay all or a portion of the cost.
The proposed field trip should be reasonable and appropriate.
Field trips that serve an entire grade level will be considered.
Field Trip Deadlines
Early Bird Deadline: August 15th For trips or dates or needing a decision prior to October 15th (notifications to go out mid-September)
Fall/Winter Deadline: September 15th This is for trips with anticipated dates between October 15th – January 30th (notifications to go out in early October)
Winter/Spring Deadline: December 31st This is for trips with anticipated dates between February 1st – June 30th (notifications to go out in late January)
Applications for Target Field Trip Grants start August 1st.
Target Field Trip Grants are now available to K-12 schools nationwide. Each grant is valued at $700. Applications accepted between noon Aug. 1st and 11:59 p.m. Oct. 1st.
Who is eligible for a grant: Education professionals who are at least 18 years old and employed by an accredited K-12 public, private or charter school in the United States that maintains a 501(c)(3) or 509(a)(1) tax-exempt status are eligible to apply. Educators, teachers, principals, paraprofessionals or classified staff of these institutions must be willing to plan and execute a field trip that will provide a demonstrable learning experience for students. https://www.cybergrants.com/target/fieldtrip.
Target Field Trip Grants Selection:
Applicant’s description of the field trip and its objectives
Benefits to the students, including overall student learning experience, relevance to curriculum and number of students who may benefit from the grant
Trip to be taken between January 1, 2020 and the end of the 2019-20 academic year (May/June 2020)
Application deadline: Applications must be submitted online via this website to Scholarship America between August 1, 2019 and October 1, 2019 at 11:59 p.m. Apply at: https://threeringsconnections.org/new-target-field-trip-grants/.
Recipient notification/claiming grants: All applicants will be notified by e-mail by December 15, 2019. Grant checks are made payable to recipient’s school.
Monthly newsletter archives front Threeringsconnections.org gives parents, teachers and administrators resources to support kids.
Education is the means of developing our greatest abilities.
Four months down in 2019, how are you doing on those New Years Resolutions? If you are still working on catching up on professional development, take a look at this month’s newsletter. All 11 April posts are below, as well as ALL the posts since I started the blog in September 2018. My New Year’s Resolution to get the Threeringsconnections’ newsletter out on a timely, consistent schedule is accomplished: 4 down and 8 more to go! Have a great month!
Monthly newsletter archives front Threeringsconnections.org gives parents, teachers and adninistrators resources to support kids.
Preparing kids to think is what we do as teachers.
Three months down in 2019, how are you doing on those New Years Resolutions? If you are still working on catching up on professional development, take a look at this month’s newsletter. All 13 March posts are below, as well as ALL the posts since I started the blog in September 2018. My New Year’s Resolution to get the Threeringsconnections’ newsletter out on a timely, consistent schedule is accomplished: 3 down and 9 more to go! Have a great month!
ELIGIBILITY – All public,
private, and parochial secondary teachers (Grades 7-12) in all New York State licensed and
certified schools in Dutchess, Orange, and Ulster Counties.
APPLICATION PROCEDURES – Online grant application. Click here to access the Grants Portal.
Applications available online January 1st
Applications must be submitted by March 15th
EVALUATION AND SELECTION PROCESS – All applications will be reviewed
by the Healthquest Taconic IPA Committee of the Community Foundations.
Funding priority will be given to requests that are well-written, for equipment
that is durable and will serve a large number of students. Requests that
include information relative to how the lessons using the equipment will
positievely impact students, spur their interest in science related careers and
provide a strong educational foundation for college level curriculum will
receive special considertaion. Requests that note equipment sharing accross
schools within the same district are also encouraged.
AWARD AMOUNTS – Grants will be awarded in amounts ranging from $500
– $1,000.
COOPERATIVE VENTURES – Applications/requests in excess of the
$1,000 limit will be considered for cooperative ventures across different
fields/disciplines that affect a large number of students.
NOTIFICATION – Applicants will be notified in May.
FINAL REPORT – An online report accounting for expenditure of grant
funds must be submitted to the Community Foundations no later than June 30th of
the year following the award. This report should also include information
on how the equipment purchased enhanced learning opportunities in the classroom
laboratory. Unused funds must be returned to the Foundation.
OWNERSHIP OF EQUIPMENT – Equipment purchased with grant
funds is deemed to be the property of the school.
Eligibility: Classroom Teachers of Pre-K – 12 in Dutchess, Putnam and Ulster Counties (Parochial, Private/Independent, and Public Schools)
Funding Focus: Fund for Excellence in Education Grants offer Dutchess, Putnam and Ulster County classroom teachers funding opportunities to support special classroom projects or professional development for teachers. Grants awarded will have a direct benefit to classroom learning and support achievement of educational outcomes.
**Grant funding not to be used for field trips or after-school activities.**
Grants Available to Public, Parochial and Private/Independent Schools:
General Grants: Teachers may apply for grants that fulfill one or both of these criteria: 1) Support for classroom projects and initiatives which will improve learning opportunities for students 2) Support for the personal and professional enhancement of teachers (not to fulfill Masters program or certification requirements).
Writing Grant(s): A grant will be awarded to K-12 teachers for either professional development in the field of teaching writing or for a specific program designed to enhance the writing abilities of students.
Verizon STEM Grant(s): Grants will be awarded for STEM related projects, activities and equipment.
Grants Available to Public Schools Only:
Marionette/Puppet Grant(s): A grant will be awarded to a public school teacher for projects which incorporate student and/or teacher-made marionettes and puppets in the curricula. Preference will be given to multi-cultural or multi-disciplinary projects.
Dutchess County – Dennis Markle Memorial Community Service Grant(s): Community Service Grants will be awarded to Dutchess County public school teachers for projects involving their students in community service. These community service awards are made from the Dennis Markle Memorial Community Fund which was started by teh Dutchess COunty United Teacher’s Council. Examples of the type of projects which would be considered for these grants are: projects involving senior citizens, hospice, day care, disadvantaged populations, community beautification projects, etc.
Awards: Grants made through this program will not exceed $2,500. Average awards range from $1,000-$1,500.
Applications: Online grant application. Click here to access the Grants Portal.
Deadlines: Applications must be submitted by March 15th. Awards are announced in May.
Contact Cristin McPeake, Director of Programs at (845) 452-3077 or grants@communityfoundationshv.org.
Review Process: All applications will be reviewed by the Fund for Excellence in Education Committee of the Community Foundations. All recommendations are reviewed, approved or declined by the Board of Trustees of the Community Foundations.
I was recently talking to a friend about some of the posts on the blog and realized that it would be good to create a Table of Contents for quick access. So here it is! All the postings for the September and October in a single post. One Stop Shopping! Enjoy!
When reading to your child be sure to include Concepts of Print. This is important to help kids learn to read.
As a teacher and principal, I have shared the importance of reading to children many times with parents. In our parent surveys, the overwhelming response was that parents read to their children on a regular basis. However, our kindergarten students did not perform well on the “Concepts of Print” (COP) assessment administered each Fall. The assessment, created by Marie Clay (1993), includes items to assess a child’s knowledge of both print and written language skills. Knowing how these skills work together helps support learning to read and write. Most of our students understood that a book told a story (that print had meaning), but few had much knowledge of “how print works”.
So what should we do about Concepts of Print?
As a staff, we decided to share the COP assessment finding with parents at the Kindergarten Orientation in May. We showed parents how to read a story to their child and how they could informally add a few COP skills to their reading routine. We explained that by showing their kids the parts of the book, letter/writing concepts and how to read a book during their daily reading with their child, they could help support their child’s reading progress. The results were amazing! The new Kindergarten students scored 50% higher than the three previous years of the fall COP administration. That was only 3 months after sharing the information with parents!
What did we learn about our Concepts of Print trial?
Our results reminded us of two important concepts about parents, kids, and reading. First, parents are their child’s first teacher; so, let’s show them ways to help be successful. Secondly, kids are like sponges, absorbing information from the world around them. Why do we wait to teach COP skills until Kindergarten?
Parent Pointers: Concepts of Print and Reading to Your Child
Point to the Following Parts of the Book
Front and back of the book.
Binding.
Top and bottom of a picture.
Title Page.
Author’s Name (define that the author writes the book).
Illustrator’s name (define that the illustrator draws the pictures).
Show How to Read a Book
A sentence is read from left to right.
Pages are read from left to right.
Point to each word while you read.
Read pages from left to right.
A story has a beginning and end.
Words and Writing in Books: Basics
A capital letter is at the beginning of a sentence.
Words and sentences have capital letters and lower case letters.
Point out 1 word in a sentence, Point out 2 words.
Point out that a word is made up of a group of letters.
A comma explains to the reader that it tells the reader to pause or slowdown.
There are punctuation marks at the end of a sentences (period, question mark, exclamation mark) Explain that the marks tell the reader how to read.
Research: Clay, M. M. (1993). An observation survey of early literacy achievement. Heinemann, 361 Hanover St., Portsmouth, NH 03801-3912.
Community Foundation of Hudson Valley offers grants to K-12 teachers in Dutchess and Ulster counties.
Let’s face it, school budgets do not have an endless supply of money to support field trips. However, field trips can give your students an opportunity to see new thinks and learn about them in an unstructured way. The grant process takes a few minutes and is very simple. This is a wonderful opportunity from the Community Foundation!
GRANT DETAILS:
Trips must be part of curriculum.
Field trips must occur during regular school hours.
Two grants per school allowed.
Allowable expenses include: transportation, admissions and help for students with financial need.
Trips outside the classroom this year? Teachers, if your answer is no, Target stores can help you and your students. It is because Target stores believe that some of the best learning opportunities happen outside the classroom they are offering money for trips. As a result of their funding they believe that students will have a once-in-a-lifetime learning experience through classroom field trips. K-12 schools nationwide can apply for grants valued at $700. Apply today!
Who is eligible for a grant?
Teachers working in K-12, public, private or charter schools in the U.S. can apply. Schools must have a 501(c)(3) or 509(a)(1) tax-exempt status to apply. The educator must plan and execute a fieldtrip that provides a learning experience for students. Preschools and home schools are not eligible to apply.
Application deadline
Rather than applying at your local Target store, your online application can be submitted to Scholarship America between August 1, 2018 at Noon CT and October 1, 2018 at 11:59 p.m. CT.
Checklist for trips:
Who will be going on the trip?
What will the students learn?
When will the trip be taken? Trip should occur between January 1, 2019 and the end of the 2018-19 school year
Where is the trip?
Why is the field trip the best way for students to learn?
How do I know that the students learned from the trip?
Grant winners will be notified by e-mail by December 15, 2018.
Do you want to know how to get a free pet for your classroom!
This grant provides financial support to purchase and maintain small animals in the classroom. Established by the Pet Care Trust it helps provide children with an opportunity to interact with pets. Caring for a pet gives students an experience that can help to shape their lives for years to come.
How to Apply:
Pet Care is currently accepting applications from teachers in grades Pre-K through Grade 9 for the 2018-19 school year. Private and public schools may apply for the grant any time between August 1, 2018, and June 1, 2019. The classroom grant program is ongoing throughout the year. Prior to applying for the grant, teachers should investigate the school district’s regulations as to which pets are allowed in the classroom.
So here it is! All the postings for the September and October in a single post. One Stop Shopping! Enjoy!
Do you want to know how to get a free pet for your classroom!