Historic Speedwell 2009 Homeschool Days

for ages 7 & up
Historic Speedwell, 333 Speedwell Ave, Morristown, NJ, 07960

remaining:

July 19: Totally Telegraphs: The Role of the Telegraph in the Civil War 1-3 pm, $5/student: During the Civil War, telegraphs were relied on for communicating between troops. Become an Union or Confederate soldier tapping out Morse code to your troops to save the day! Students will take an interactive tour of the newly restored Factory building and then crack real Civil War coded messages using telegraph models!

August 13: Museum School 1-3 pm, $5/student: This program teaches the students about how museums work. What does a curator do? How are objects kept so that they will be able to be displayed for years to come? How should museum educators tell others about the objects?

September 10: Right Outside the Kitchen Door: The Garden Part III, The Harvest, 1-3 pm, $5/student: Home School students and instructors are invited to join us for the third and final part of our Garden series. During this program we will harvest many of the fruits and vegetables that have been growing all season and talk about the importance of the harvest in history.

October 8: Arts Fair!, 1-3 pm:
Our third annual Arts Fair! Students will be able to enter their science, craft, history, or agriculture projects to be judged based on content and presentation. The winners will receive fabulous prizes!

November 5: Open Hearth Cooking 10 am -3 pm, $10/student: In November, students will have the opportunity to cook a meal on the hearth! We will also discuss food production in the early 1800s and the importance of nutrition.

NOTE: Please note that registration for the programs this year will close the Monday before the program at 3 pm, NO EXCEPTIONS. Enrollment is open and easy; you may pick and choose which topics and dates best suit your student’s needs. You will know that your student is registered when you receive a confirmation email. A confirmation email will go out for each class in which your student is enrolled. Please do not assume that your student is registered without the confirmation email. Registration is open as of 7 January 2009, so please sign up as early as you can. Once the classes are full, we will take a wait list. If the wait list becomes long enough, we will hold another class on that topic. Bump over dates will be announced once the original dates are filled.

To get a registration form, contact Maressa McFarlane, Senior Program Specialist/Volunteer Coordinator, Historic Speedwell, Morris County Park Commission, 973.285.6537, mmcfarlane@morrisparks.net

Return form with a checks made out to Morris County Park Commission.

These programs were designed for students ages 7 and up. While we enjoy having students of different ages working together at our programs, consider the content of the individual programs before enrolling your student.

completed 2009 programs:

March 12: Making the Connection 1-3 pm, $5/student: Students will build a basic telegraph, send a message using “the code,” and learn the historical impact of the telegraph and how it forever changed daily life. They will also have the opportunity to visit our brand-new, state of the art exhibit in the newly restored Factory Building.

April 9: Cast From The Past 1-3 pm, $5/student: Students will learn the historic process of sand casting, make a mould, and create a casting to take home. While the castings are drying, students will visit our ironworks exhibit and participate in an interactive activity.

6th Annual AERO Conference - June 2009 - Albany

"Educational Alternatives: Past, Present, & Future"
Hosted by the Alternative Education Resource Organization (AERO)
June 25th - 28th 2009, Crowne Plaza Hotel, Albany, NY
www.EducationRevolution.org
email: aeroconference@gmail.com

You are cordially invited to attend the Alternative Education Resource Organization's 6th annual AERO Conference! For the sixth year in a row the AERO conference will continue its exciting tradition of bringing together educators, students, parents, and many others involved in educational alternatives from around the U.S., Canada, and the world. In fact, we've had representatives from nearly every North American state and province, as well as over fifteen other countries attend in the past five years! From Public Alternative to Unschooling, we will have many educational alternatives represented. Other examples include: Montessori, Waldorf (Steiner) Choice, Democratic, Homeschool, Open, Charter, Free, Sudbury, Holistic, Virtual, Magnet, Early Childhood, Reggio Emilia, Indigo, Krishnamurti, Quaker, Libertarian, Independent, Progressive, Community, Cooperative, and many more!
This year's conference is also a joyous celebration of AERO's 20th anniversary! In recognition of this milestone, our conference theme is "Educational Alternatives: Past, Present, & Future." Choices for workshops and presentations are extensive, and are never limited to the conference theme alone. As in prior years, there will be open workshop time throughout the conference where various presentations and special events will be entirely up to the attendees to organize! Last year we had over 80 unique workshops and presentations run by the attendees and featured speakers. This year we fully expect to match and possibly surpass that number!

This year we will have several wonderful keynote speakers and many featured presenters. This year's keynote speakers are Patch Adams, Deborah Meier, Khalif Williams, Ira Shor, Don "Four Arrows" Jacobs, Anna Finklestein & Kris Sage, Dror Yaron, Kristin Diodonet, & Jerry Mintz. Bill Ayers, C.T. Lawrence Butler, Sally Carless, Meghan Carrico, Anthony Dallmann-Jones, Kenneth Danford, Matthew Davis, Helen Hughes, Susan Kambrich, Arnie Langberg, Joan Lawson, Mary Leue, John Harris Loflin, Chris Mercogliano, Ron Miller, Scott Nine, Susan Ohanian, Robb Scott, Len Solo, Herb Snitzer, and Lynn Stoddard are confirmed as featured presenters. At the conference we will have a number of special events including documentaries, discussion groups, workshop series, featured workshops, entertainment, morning yoga, and much, much more! The conference will take place in the gorgeous Crowne Plaza Hotel with a special evening held at St. Anthony's, the performance art space of Grand Street Community Arts.

Celtic Harpist Michael Riversong will be providing music for parts of the conference.
If you are seeking to improve the education of our young people, we hope you will join us for this wonderful meeting of others involved in the alternative education movement. Simply put, with the growing success of our previous conferences, and the dire need for change in the existing education system, the stage has been set for us to truly build critical mass for the education revolution!

info@educationrevolution.org | (516) 621-2195

Did the Dig - Greece

Be part of the up to 24 lucky NJ & PA students digging at each site. There may be a few spaces left! Come and "do"

Ancient Greece

with "Big Dog" of The Archaeological Perspective (T.A.P) on

April 21 - 24, 2008 in Tewksbury, NJ
- OR -
June 23 - 26, 2008 in Bushkill, PA.

At the dig, children/students will be doing adult stuff in a kid way with a professional archaeologist turned educator from 9 or 10 am each day. 5 - 7 year olds stop at noon and go home after lunch, but older campers stay through the afternoon Tuesday,Wednesday and Thursday for more stories, slides, and games.

Visit T.A.P. website to read more about Camp Activities. Note: The homeschool camps are Tuesday to Friday, with digging on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and an exhibit and themed pot-luck on Friday. For previous comments, see Do the Dig: Middle Kingdom China.

I expect price will remain $170 for full day and $120 for half day. ($50 deposits overdue.)

The Tweksbury dig (starting at 10 am daily), email webmaster@talent-nj.org, or
for the dig in Bushkill, PA, starting at 9 a.m. contact Heather (email runnin43@ptd.net).

March 2009: I moved all of the Friday potluck recipe ideas to a separate Ancient Greek Food entry.
April 2009: There may be a few spaces left. It's OK if you could not do the winter curriculum ($60 for the 3-day series).

State Theatre 2009-10

Some of the "on school time performances" at State Theatre in New Brunswick.
The order form & complete list, including shows for younger students are online.

Scrap Arts Music
Friday, February 05, 2010, 10:30am

Program Length: 85 minutes
For Students in Grades: 3-12
All Seats:$12

Founded by a percussion virtuoso with a talent for welding and a commitment to recycling and a designer with a passion for spectacle, Scrap Arts Music is a one-of-a-kind blend of intricate rhythms, raw energy, athletic choreography, and the greenest, most inventive reuse of materials on stage today. The group performs on more than 140 invented instruments crafted from industrial scrap—ranging from accordion parts to artillery shells. They deliver an adrenaline-laced power-percussion performance rooted in street performance, jazz, and world music traditions.

Le Grande Cirque
Monday, March 01, 2010, 10:30am
Program Length: 75 minutes
For Students in Grades: 3-12
All Seats:$15

This spellbinding cirque-style show features a cast of over 50 world-class acrobats, jugglers, clowns, and high-wire artists from across the globe. Amazing feats of strength, balance, skill, and artistry are set off by stunning costumes, evocative music, and brilliant special effects. This is one production guaranteed to take your breath away!

The Man Who Planted Trees (Puppet State Theatre Company)
Tuesday, March 16, 2010, 10:00am & 12:00pm
Wednesday, March 17, 2010, 10:00am & 12:00pm
Venue: Crossroads Theatre ("next door" on the same street as State Theatre)
Program Length: 1 hour
For Students in Grades: 2-6
All Seats:$9

A French shepherd sets out to plant a forest and transform a barren wasteland. Based on Jean Giono’s beloved short story, The Man Who Planted Trees shows us the difference one man (and his dog!) can make to the world. This award-winning, internationally acclaimed production from Scotland’s Puppet State Theatre Company is a unique blend of comedy, puppetry and inspired storytelling. Audiences will hear the wind, feel the rain, and smell the lavender in this multisensory theatrical delight.

Places to go - keeping HS fresh

When did you last take a hike, visit a zoo, planetarium, or your favorite museum?

Are you getting outside enough? Many zoos are open 362 days of the year. Or look for a class on Environmental Education Places. Check out your County Parks programs (or the Morris County, NJ calendar). Or a bird sanctuary?

Pretty spur of the moment: Ice skating or roller skating rink, miniature golf, or try a museum with a new exhibit, one you have never been to, or somewhere you have not visited recently. Have you thought of these museums?

• Morris Museum (visual and performing arts, natural and physical sciences, and humanities museum, Morristown);
• Museum of Early Trades and Crafts (Madison);
• Montclair Art Museum (Montclair);
• Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms (Parsippany, NJ), April 1 - November 16:

  Wed. to Fri. - Noon to 3:00 p.m. (with tours: 12:15 p.m. and 1:45 p.m.) and weekends yer-round.

• Liberty Science Center (directions);
• Frelinghuysen Arboretum, 53 East Hanover Ave, Morris Township 973-326-7600, open daily 9 am - 4:30 pm
  
• Zimmerli Art Museum (Rutgers, 71 Hamilton Street, New Brunswick) across the street from the (limited hours, but both are and convenient to the train station);
• The NJ Museum of Agriculture (North Brunswick, they also have educational programs at $185 for 25 students);
  
• Newark Museum (art & science with hands on exhibits, Newark); or
  
• Franklin Mineral Museum (Franklin)?
• Guided Tour of the Willows, Historic House at Fosterfields, 73 Kahdena Road, Morristown 973-326-7645. Tours 1 pm, Wednesday - Friday and on weekends at 1 pm & 3 pm.
• Lake hopatcong Historical Museum, Hopatcong State Park, Route 80, Landing 973-398-2616. free admission
• Dover History Museum House, 155 West Blackwell Street, Dover, NJ 973-366-06329, only open Sundays 1 - 4pm
  
• Whippany Rail Museum. open mostlyweekends, but call first.
  

and these zoos:

• Bronx Zoo, NY
• Bergen County Zoological Park (Van Saun Park Zoo), Van Saun Park, 216 Forest Avenue, Paramus, NJ, 201-262-3771
• Turtle Back Zoo, 560 Northfield Avenue, West Orange, NJ 973-731-5800/5801(open virtually year-round)
• Space Farms Zoo & Museum (218 Route 519, Sussex, NJ. 07461, Phone: (973) 875-5800, website: http://www.spacefarms.com/)
• Cape May County Park & Zoo: 364 days a year! 10:00 a.m. - 4:45 p.m.
  (closing at 3:45 p.m. during winter hours) 707 Route 9 North, Cape May Court House, NJ 08210
• Johnson Park Zoo, River Road, Piscataway, NJ 732-745-3900
• Lakota Wolf Preserve, 89 Mount Pleasant Road, Columbia, NJ, 877-SEE-WOLF, Wolf Watch program presented Twice Daily (Summer Hours) - 10:30 and 4:00. Fall & Winter (Standard Time) Twice Daily - 10:30 and 3:00. No Appointment required on weekends. Call for Reservations for Monday through Friday.
• Cohanzick Zoo, Bridgeton City Park, Bridgeton, NJ, 856-455-3230 ext. 242 or 277

or these . . .

• New Jersey State Aquarium, 1 Riverside Drive, Camden, NJ 609-365-3300, 800-616-5297
• Mystic Aquarium, Mystic, CT
• Sterling Mines (Ogdensburg)?
• a Sculpture Garden?

for Crafts:

• Glassworks (Morristown)
• Brushes and Bisque (Denville)
• Plastermania, 534 Kearny Ave, Kearny, NJ, 201-991-2229 or 1-800-748-4496

Advance Planning Required:
NY Sun Works - (perhaps as much as a year!) arrange a trip to their sustainable energy/hothouse barge.

mostly for the younger crowd:

• Community Children’s Museum, 77 East Blackwell, Dover, NJ 973-366-9060
• Discovery House, 152 Tices Lane, East Brunswick, 732-254-3770
• New Jersey Chldren's Museum, 599 Valley Health Plaza,
  Paramus, NJ201-262-5151
• The Jersey Shore Children's Museum, Inside the Shore Mall, Eg Harbor Township, 609-645-7741

More in NY:
National Purple Heart Hall of Honor:
Website: www.thepurpleheart.com

phone: 1-877-28Honor
374Temple Hill Road
{Route 300}New Windsor NY

Open Most Weekends

These centers or museums are open most or many weekends. Check out special or one-time Weekend Events also. And don't forget things like the monthly shows at CCM's planetarium.

• Macculloch Hall Historical Museum, 45 Macculloch Avenue, Morristown, NJ 07960, is the cornerstone of Morristown's National Historic District, is both a house museum recounting 200 years of the Macculloch and Miller families and a showcase for the W. Parsons Todd Collection of 18th and 19th century American and English fine and decorative arts. Open Sundays 1 - 4 .
• Montclair Art Museum
• Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms (Parsippany), 12-5
• Museum of Early Trades and Crafts (METC), Madison, NJ
• Boonton Museum, Boonton, NJ
• Newark Museum, Newark, NJ.
• Liberty Science Center Jersey City, NJ;
  
• Morris Museum
• The Ford Mansion (George Washington's Headquarters), Morristown, NJ
• The Wick House (Jockey Hollow), NJ and Reproduction Soldier Huts (Jockey Hollow), NJ
• (walks at) Frelinghuysen Arboretum, Morristown, NJ (check hours)
  
• Willowwood Arboretum, Township, New Jersey (check hours)
  
• (hike at) Mahlon Dickerson Reservation (check hours)
• Acorn Hall, Morristown (Mondays, Thursday & Sundays)
  

These locations are open more "March to October":

• Sea Girt Lighthouse, Lighthouse tours will be conducted most every Sunday through November 22.
  
• Sterling Mine, Sparta, NJ
• Fosterfields Farm (part of Morris County Parks), Morris Township
  
• Cooper Mill (part of Morris County Parks), Chester
• Historic Speedwell, (includes the Iron Works)April through October, Wednesday - Sunday.
  

Selene: A Lunar Construction Game

Would young people learn science better if it were packaged in a videogame?

That's the question at the heart of the Selene project. Named after the Greek lunar goddess, Selene challenges players to learn the major geologic processes scientists believe formed the modern moon. Players create their own moon and then pepper it with impact craters and flood it with lava. The game offers a great opportunity for students to learn about lunar geology while helping researchers study some key videogame design principles.

The game is designed for students between the ages of 13-18 and takes about an hour to complete. But more time can be spent checking out Selene's various resources about the moon. To play, participants must be enrolled by an adult recruiter to ensure parent or guardian consent for participation. Mary Ann is a recruiter, so email her if you want to participate. If your 9-12yo child is working above grade level, email me and we can work out a way for them to participate as well.

Selene: A Lunar Construction GaME was created through NASA by the Center for Educational Technologies® at Wheeling Jesuit University in Wheeling, W. Va., and its learning research continues through a National Science Foundation grant.

To learn more about the game and how you can play, visit
http://selene.cet.edu . If you have questions about
this project, please e-mail maryann.orourke@gmail.com