Kelly de la Rocha is a poet, journalist and founder of poem RENOVATION, a fun, web-based word challenge that promotes literacy, creativity and social-emotional learning. The software was a prize-winner at the 2024 Yale Innovation Summit. Every day, poem RENOVATION presents users with a scrambled snippet of literature. They select words that resonate with them, then move them around on a digital canvas. The rules? There are none. The objective? To create. During her lively, interactive workshops, Kelly details how poem RENOVATION came to be and how it works. Students have an opportunity to create a poem, phrase and/or word art on the site, share their creations, and receive positive feedback. Along the way, constructs including perspective, voice and figurative language are discussed. Poem RENOVATION has been used by hundreds of students from New York to California and has become a favorite, ongoing activity in a number of classrooms. Workshops: *Are appropriate for middle and high school classes *Can be personalized to include literature of the teacher’s choice *Are offered in-person or via video call WHAT EDUCATORS ARE SAYING: “The level of confidence that I saw grow in my students was amazing, from not being willing to share to being willing to share, from sitting quietly and not saying much, to offering a compliment or asking a question to better understand one of their peers.” ~Teacher Valerie Wadsworth, O’Rourke Middle School, Burnt Hills, NY They’re loving it! ~Teacher Renee Duran, Stone Valley Middle School, Alamo, CA It empowered them and it brought them to a place where they wanted to share what they made and they love that their creation was never wrong. I think that was what really made the students feel so special and so willing.” ~Teacher Dena Marie de la Rocha, Gowana Middle School, Clifton Park, NY “I immediately understood the impact it could have on public school children’s literacy and social-emotional development. ~Lauren B. Carpenter, Ed.M, Director of Education Programs, Albertus Magnus College, New Haven, CT

We teach and perform a wide range of classical, folk, and Bollywood dance styles at school, at work, at the musem and anywhere! Ajna’s programs celebrate diversity and foster cultural inclusion for people of all ages and backgrounds.

Get Patriotic with Democratic Values. Uncle Sam’s Comedy Jam is a crazy shindig celebrating American Freedom! The Bill of Rights and Constitution will be there, and so will many of our core democratic values. But be warned, this 40-minute show isn’t just a party. It’s a bash! Teachers and students won’t be able to stop laughing as Uncle Sam, with help from the Statue of Liberty and 16 volunteers, teaches the fundamental beliefs that unite all Americans. Kindergarteners through sixth graders learn how America became a free nation during the funniest history lesson ever. Democratic values have never been this funny! Topics in this patriotic elementary assembly include: Constitutional Government | The Importance of Rules | Separation of Powers | Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness | Symbols of Freedom | Checks and Balances | The Bill of Rights | Individual Freedoms | Shay’s Rebellion | The 13 Colonies | Common Good | Federalism | Patriotism | Equality | Justice | Declaration of Independence | Amendments and Rules | Democratic Values | The Framers | Articles of Confederation | Three Branches of Government.

We offer professional quality live musical theater productions featuring local talent and full live orchestras as well as straight plays, with a focus on works that are typically on required reading lists for area high school students.

Art Travelers through Time: Literacy and History through Art - Provides third grade students and teachers the opportunity to connect their classroom study of "Communities Around the World" to authentic cultural artifacts from the museum's large and diverse collection. Artifacts represent cultures in Africa, Asia, Melanesia, Central and South America. Artifacts Alive! Students in grades 3-5 engage with authentic artifacts from around the world and are immersed in deep exploration of communities and culture. Artifacts represent cultures in Africa, Asia, Melanesia, Central and South America. Exhibition Based Field Trips - for students in PK-12. Students engage in close-looking at art from our rotating exhibitions using an inquiry-based approach. These sessions can be thematic, focused on fine arts/technique or both! Professional Development (In Person and Virtual) - for PK-12 educators. Sessions include hands-on approaches to supporting NY State Standards using art and artifacts. Each session is tailored to meet the needs of faculty and staff - and most appropriate for Arts Educators, ELA, Social Studies.

As a read aloud advocate, I believe in the power of stories to nurture empathy, self-confidence, and imagination in young readers. My award winning books focus on social-emotional themes that support early childhood development, creating meaningful narratives that resonate with children, educators, and parents alike. *Fantastically Me!* (ages 0-8) touches on themes of self-belief and growth mindset. Whereas *Making Friends Together * (ages 0-5) is a board book that addresses kindness and friendship. In my author visits, I bring these stories to life for students up to 2nd grade through engaging, interactive read-aloud sessions, inviting children to explore their own feelings and ideas in a fun, safe environment. For older elementary students, I offer hands-on writing workshops that guide them in crafting their own stories, encouraging self-expression, creativity, and a love for writing. These sessions are designed to inspire confidence in young writers, from filling in imaginative story blanks to creating characters and worlds that spark their curiosity. With each visit, my goal is to leave students not only with a memorable experience but also with the tools and encouragement to tell their own stories.

Interactive Pre-K music programs for ages 2 - 5, and school aged programs for small groups K - 2. Hands-on musical activities with rhythm instruments and creative movement & dance. Book well in advance.

Make the arts come alive for your students. Syracuse Stage’s education programs are a great way to inspire learning and connect with hearts and minds of all ages. From fully staged productions to targeted in-school performances, our educational offerings support and enhance language arts, social studies, history, STEM and art curricula. Custom in school workshops are available on multiple topics.

We offer small group or class sized lessons on art history, including American artists Winslow Homer, George Inness, Childe Hassam, and many more. These are 45 minutes and usually include an art making activity. https://www.arkellmuseum.org/school-programs

Big Air BMX Show featuring some of the World's top BMX Stunt athletes who deliver an unforgettable 40-minute high-energy assembly, complete with a powerful youth message titled the "5 Secrets to Success." The message includes Anti-Drug, Motivation, Goals and Dreams, Respect Other (Anti-Bullying) and Stay in School.

Finger Fables, Story Theater & New York Lore -Children learn to actively listen, problem solve, explore New York, and get inspired to write. Engaged by lively theatrical storytelling, they'll play a part in fables and fairy tales from around the world. When fingers become characters and they step into stories, children actively listen and retell tales. They'll better remember plot sequencing, key details, and different characters. Topics include kindness, animals, and other cultures. Ask for Medieval Manors and Manners for older students.

We deliver programs directly to schools and communities that empower young people to become courageous changemakers by fostering empathy, understanding and action against intolerance. Through the powerful lens of Anne Frank’s diary, we inspire the next generation to learn from the past, challenge prejudice and build a more compassionate and just future. Our interactive theatre performances are a transformative tool, engaging students on a deeply emotional and intellectual level. They bring history to life, spark critical conversations, and inspire young people to act with courage, empathy, and understanding. "Conversations with Anne" is our signature one-act solo show that immerses students in the powerful words of Anne Frank, bringing excerpts from her diary to life in an engaging and emotionally-charged performance. Students connect with Anne on a personal level through this intimate portrayal – hearing her thoughts, fears, and dreams. The performance culminates in a Q&A session, where students can ask questions and engage directly with the character to deepen their understanding of Anne’s experience and the historical events surrounding the Holocaust. It gives a human face to history, inspiring young people to reflect on the impact of intolerance and the importance of standing up for what is right. Through Anne’s words, students are reminded of the power of their own voices in shaping the future. For grades 4th and up. "Letters from Anne and Martin" draws profound parallels between the words of Anne Frank and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The performance combines excerpts from Anne’s diary with key moments from Dr. King’s 'Letter from Birmingham Jail', highlighting their shared themes of hope, resistance, and the fight for justice. Through the dialogue of these two remarkable figures, students are offered a unique lens on the struggles for human rights, both during World War II and the Civil Rights Movement. The show serves as a bridge between history and the present, highlighting how lessons of the past are deeply connected to the challenges we face today. By weaving Anne’s reflections on the horrors of war with Dr. King’s calls for nonviolent action, the show is a powerful teaching tool for understanding both the Holocaust and the Civil Rights Movement. Students are empowered to see the relevance of these movements in today’s world, encouraging them to take a stand against prejudice, bigotry, antisemitism, racism and discrimination, to promote equality, and work towards a more just and inclusive future. For grades 6th and up. Our newest one act solo show, "Plenty of Courage", takes the audience on Anne's journey of discovering herself, her ambitions and her drive to live fully and bravely. Delving into some of her lesser known entries, this performance reveals the more vulnerable side of the young diarist. While in hiding from the Nazis with her family, the Van Pels Family and Fritz Pfeffer during World War II, writing to her dear diary, Kitty, brings Anne enormous comfort. But through it all there is another war silently raging, and it is the one Anne is fighting with herself. It's a transformative experience that invites audiences to step into the shoes of one of the most important voices of the 20th century and grapple with the harder questions of what it means to be human. For 7th/8th grade, high school and up.