Educational experiences

Here are some opportunities for teachers to supplement traditional classroom learning with other educational experiences.

CookShop

CookShop, the Food Bank For New York City’s free nutrition education program, will be offered again in elementary schools in the 2011-2012 school year. If you’d like your school to participate, please encourage your principal or assistant principal to attend an information session to learn about the program and how to apply. With classroom curricula designed for students grades K–5 and complementary programming for their parents/guardians, CookShop fosters nutrition knowledge and enthusiasm for healthy foods through hands-on exploration and cooking activities. Fully funded by the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education (SNAP-Ed), all CookShop teachers and leaders receive comprehensive, interactive training and support from Food Bank staff, as well as all of the curriculum materials, food, supplies and equipment needed to implement the program successfully. This year, CookShop provided over 35,000 students and their families with the knowledge and tools to adopt and enjoy a healthy diet on a limited budget. Orientations for principals and assistant principals of interested schools will be held from May 30 to June 20, 2012. To receive more information about attending a CookShop information session, your principal or assistant principal should contact Ashley Kantor at AKantor@foodbanknyc.org.

Class visits to landmark pipe organ

Exposing students to a musical instrument such as a wind-driven pipe organ becomes ever more difficult as access to these instruments is increasingly limited in our current digital music environment. Class visits may be arranged to the landmark 1925 E.M. Skinner organ at St. Ann & the Holy Trinity Church in Brooklyn Heights at no charge to your school. Gregory Eaton, the organist, will play short and varied pieces of secular music to demonstrate the organ’s versatility. Then students can see the five keyboards, foot pedals, and 4,718 pipes up close. Contact Mr. Eaton at 718-875-6960 to schedule a tour. The church is located at the corner of Montague and Clinton Streets. Subways: 2, 3, 4, 5, R, A, C. Buses: B25, B26, B37, B38, B41, B45, B52.

Bring the zoo to school

You can bring the zoo to your elementary school with a visit from Wildlife Theater from the Central Park Zoo. This program will highlight actions that students can use to make a positive impact on wildlife conservation. These interactive 30-45 minute programs that can take place in auditoriums or classrooms are designed for students in grades pre-K-5. Wildlife Theater covers environmental science using puppets, theater and music for a fun and unique educational experience. All Title I Schools receive a 10 percent discount on the program. For additional information, call 212-439-6540, email asaltz@wcs.org, or visit the zoo’s website.

Free school trips to Brooklyn Children’s Museum

The Brooklyn Children’s Museum is providing free school trips for Title I schools in Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx, grades 2 through 8, thanks to a grant from Target. The museum has over 23 different programs for students from pre-K through 8th grade focused on culture and science. All programs are adaptable for students with special needs. Read about all the school programs that the museum has to offer on its website.

Education Through Music

Education Through Music is an organization of educators and musicians committed to advancing students’ academic and personal development by ensuring that all children have access to high-quality music education. When children learn music, they gain skills and confidence that help them in all areas of life, to be better thinkers and lifelong learners. Since 1991, ETM has partnered with inner-city schools to provide all students with the well-rounded education they deserve, and to create school communities that value the arts. ETM offers a variety of professional development services to classroom teachers, music teachers and principals, both within our partner school network and to other schools and organizations. Visit Education Through Music's website for more information.

Edible Schoolyard NYC

Edible Schoolyard NYC helps schools create gardens and kitchen classrooms where students engage in hands-on learning about their own health and the health of the environment. We have developed an inter-disciplinary curriculum for kindergarten through fifth grade that connects learning in the kitchen and the garden with the Common Core Standards—and with grade-level content that students study in their academic classes. At our Brooklyn Showcase School, we offer educators professional development workshops on how to use our curriculum, as well as how to develop and maintain gardens and kitchen classrooms at their own schools. For more information, visit www.esynyc.org.