Teacher's Lounge

NEWS FOR EDUCATORS - December 1999 - Happy Holidays!!

Thank you for coming to our teacher's lounge.
Sponsored by Big Horn Basin Foundation, an educational nonprofit 501(c)3 organization
 
Contact us with your suggestions and/or comments.

Arts, crafts, life skills, journalism, creative writing, teacher training, folklore, social studies, literature, social studies, history, math, woodwork/ metalwork/construction
Holiday Folklore:
How fast must Santa travel to visit all the children of the world in one night? Why is Rudolph's nose red? Where did kissing under the mistletoe originate? Who was Saint Nicholas? Find out more about holiday folklore - great for a short field trip for all ages, even kindergarten.
Join us for "Cider on Sundays," 2-4 pm, Sunday afternoons until Christmas. We will be playing the children's 1930 radio adventure series, "The Cinnamon Bear," making potpourri and other activities.
NEW!! The bears have decorated for the holidays, and there are many new arrivals: Dickens' Christmas Carol bears -- elaborately costumed and researched -- from Joanne Mitchell, Family Tree Bears, Houston, Tex.; Polar Dance (based on photographer Thomas Mangelson's work) by Mary Lou Foley, Bayside Bears, Brewster, Mass.; Mountain Man & Grizzly by Kelly Dean, Moel Eyris Studio, Narrowsburg, NY. [Folklore, social studies, literature, life skills]

 
WRITING/ART WORKSHOP OPPORTUNITY
We have an opportunity to bring to Thermopolis nationally recognized children's author and illustrator Olivier Dunrae, Narrowsburg, New York, in February. For the last 10 years, Dunrae has been teaching writing and art skills (classroom & teacher workshops) in Cheyenne under visiting artist programs. Dunrae is available for a workshop in Thermopolis on Sunday afternoon, Feb. 6, or for classroom or after-school programs on Feb. 7-8. His new book -- the Bears of Mole Island -- will be published in summer 2000. He is working closely with Dancing Bear Folk Center on several displays. We need to know if there is an interest in the workshop. It would be open for all state teachers.
If interested, please contact us before Dec. 20; we must make a decision by that time. Call Sue Blakey 864-3391. [Arts, crafts, life skills, journalism, creative writing, teacher training]
Quilt Block Wall
We expect our quilt block wall to be installed at the downstairs entrance no later than Jan. 1. This is an ongoing regional effort -- blocks are welcome from all quilters, including teachers, students. [Arts, crafts, life skills]
Textile Studio (Open January 2000)
A complete working textile studio with looms, spinning wheels, quilting frames and other textile equipment -- displays, interpretive material, historical textiles. There is nothing like this in the state. We can arrange spinning and weaving demonstrations, classes and hands-on activities and interpretive tours with advance notice. [Social studies, history, arts, math, life skills, woodwork/ metalwork/construction]

* Need ideas for classroom activities? Check the teacher's lounge on our websites: http://www.westwaxmuseum.com and http://www.dancingbear.org.
* Questions? Comments? Have an idea for a display or program? Email curator direct at ellensb@trib.com.
* To schedule guided tours: Call 864-9396.
* For a schedule of events: Call 864-9396.
* To donate or loan items for display: Email ellensb@trib.com or call 307/864-3391.
 
Wanted:
* Quilt blocks, old or new - need not be quilted.
* Good color photos of different areas of the state.
* To make a contribution to support our educational outreach programs: Mail to Dancing Bear Folk Center, Box 71, Thermopolis, WY 82443. Donations are tax-deductible. Funding: Fees for educational programs and activities go to Big Horn Basin Foundation to help support the educational outreach program.

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