ASTRONOMY

The activities in this kit offer students an opportunity to explore the world beyond Earth: The sun and nine planets of the solar system, te stars, and the forces which determine the positions of these bodies in space. One of the activities demonstrates the distances between the planets of the solar system.

Possible target grades: 4-7

1-4 week loan

ENERGY

The four activities in this kit help students to explore the following concepts: Energy can be stored and released to do work; and energy is conserved. Students construct a balloon rocket and build a rubber band-powered crawling spool.

Possible target grades: 4-7

1-4 week loan

SOUND

In four challenging activities, students learn how sound is produced, how it travels, why one sound is different from another sound, and how a musical instrument produces sounds with a particular pitch.

Possible target grades: 4-7

1-4 week loan

METEOROLOGY

Activities in this kit allow students to investigate the fundamental concepts of weather: The uneven heating of the Earth, changing air pressure, water recycling, and cloud formation. Students will construct a variety of devices and use them to further their understanding of weather prediction.

Possible target grades: 4-7

1-4 week loan

NUTRITION

The activities in this kit are designed to help students learn about the importance of good eating habits in an entertaining way.

Possible target grades: K-1

1-4 week loan

AT HOME 100 YEARS AGO

16 objects, from skates to a mousetrap to a stereoopticon, all from the collection of the Columbia County or the Northumberland Historical Society

• A teacher's guide with descriptions of each object, methods of presentation, and sugestions for related classroom activities
• Contemporary pictures illustrating life in the 19th century
• Diagrams tracing the evolution of household lighting and weighing
• Books and/or magazines featuring information about the local area

This kit has been designed to stimulate the imaginations of your children. It will develop an awareness of how life was different 100 years ago, as well as how it was similar to present-day life. In addition, children can explore the role of technology in the development of inventions.

The kit can, if necessary, be presented in one session to older children with the activities scheduled later. However, for younger children, it may be preferable to present the kit over several shorter periods in related groups: lighting, cooking, recreation, etc.; this will give them time to absorb and digest the ideas presented.

Possible target grades: 1-8

1-4 week loan

A Two-Video Music Kit: From Practice to Performance
and
Katy Plays with the Band

From Practice to Performance gives the audience an opportunity to look over the shoulders of two high school boys who are busily preparing for a concert with the Bloomsburg University Community Orchestra. They share their feelings about their teachers, the learning process, and the upcoming concert. The audience senses the students' committment to perfecting their playing at the lesson and while practicing alone. During the rehearsals each section of the orchestra is seen and the conductor shares his thoughts, telling the audience about te challenges facing the two soloists. There is an emphasis on the brass and string families which uses the symphony orchestra as a point of reference.

A 41-page teahcer's guide, instrument sections, and 25 full-color posters of the instruments and family groups with text are included in the kit. The teacher's guide introduces the families of instruments in the symphony orchestra and suggests language arts activities. Parts of the violin, the valve section of a French horn, and audio tapes highlighting the string, woodwind, brass, and percussion sections complement this video.

The second video, Katy Plays with the Band, features the oboe and woodwind family in conjunction with the Catawissa Military Band, an historic music organization that dates back to Civil War times. We observe abserve a performer, representative of young musicians throughout the band's history, at a lesson, a practice, and during performance. There are flashbacks to the history of the band and of Catawissa which use montages of historical memorabilia and interviews with band members.

The goal of the documentary is to inspire youngsters to study and make music and to demonstrate that music is a satisfying, lifelong activity. A teacher's guide, posters, games, exercises, and more accompany this second video.

Possible target grades: 1-8

1-4 week loan