Teaching Artist Programs for 2009-2010 Announced

In preparation for the 2009-2010 school year, this week I am announcing a series of new classroom programs based on my books, including three publications hot off the press!

Create Living History Books

How big does an oak tree grow? In this workshop, I share a story within a story. In The Growing Story of Milton Hershey School, students observe the growth of a tree on a hill overlooking the town of Hershey, Pennsylvania. While the tree grows, so does the community, park, chocolate factory, and a special school. Students use the book as a starting point to write their own growing stories, where they parallel the growth of a plant with the history of their community, school, or family.









Grow Your Green Esteem

You can make a difference. In this workshop, students discover steps their families can take to shrink their carbon footprints. With a degree in environmental engineering, I guide students in an engaging conversation about green living. To celebrate their green esteem, each student makes an earth card using paper-engineering (pop-up) techniques. (Shh! It’s math!)











Discover the Past through the Present

The past and present merge in this workshop based on Diary of a Milt, a book I wrote for Milton Hershey School’s centennial celebration. In the book, a middle-grade student uncovers past history as he journals about his life in 1977–78. Adults encourage his passion for roller coasters as he explores a career as an engineer. Students examine journal-style writing and design a structure using toothpicks and marshmallows (like the book’s character).











Navigate with Explorer Henry Hudson

Read! Explore! Discover! Celebrate New York State history and Hudson’s voyage 400 years ago in a hands-on workshop where young explorers learn about Henry Hudson and the Hudson River and create relief maps with salt dough.








Bravo for Biographies!

Explore biographies through “extreme writing.” This workshop helps reluctant readers and writers find the passion behind the words using Ride the Giant Waves, the story of Hawaii’s extreme surfer Garrett McNamara, and No Hands Allowed, a glimpse into professional soccer star Damarcas Beasley’s young career. Students will write using sports- and activity-related prompts.











I am currently booking school programs for 2009-2010. My programs are New York State BOCES Aid Able, and I hold New York State Department of Education Fingerprint Clearance. Contact me today at Carol@CarolSmalley.com to reserve a date.

I look forward to visiting with you in the classroom!

Coming this September (III)

After a flurry of final edits, my book, TELL YOUR PARENTS: Green Changes You Can Make Around Your Home, for educational publisher Mitchell Lane, is running through the press. Part of a five-book series on green living and alternative energy, the book offers suggestions to upper elementary students (and their families) to reduce the size of their carbon footprints. Hidden between the covers are 10,000 worms. You'll have to read the book to learn the connection between worms and Planet Earth!

Coming this September (II)

Middle-grade students at Milton Hershey School will receive Diary of a Milt, one of two books I wrote for the Pennsylvania school's centennial celebration during the upcoming school year. To write this book, I needed to go back in time, to my own childhood and life in 1977-78.

I wrote this book in a diary format as a 12-year-old male student at the school. During the spotlighted school year, Elvis dies, disco lives, gas prices soar, the country faces an energy crisis, and girls arrive on campus as students.

I hope the MHS students enjoy reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it! (For the record, I really don't ever want to relive that time period!)

Coming this September (I)

Currently on the press, The Growing Story of Milton Hershey School is the first of two books I penned for the centennial celebration of the private school founded by chocolate maker Milton S. Hershey. Elementary students and staff of the Hershey (PA) school will receive their copies on the founder's birthday in September!