Latha math dhuibh (Good day to you) We have almost parted ways with old man winter and I am ready to welcome Mother Nature, and the many beautiful gifts she will bring. The earth will awaken at the end of the month with the first day of spring, and soon, vibrant flowers will shower the landscape.
Although we are long past the holiday season, March is full of magnificent moments to celebrate: Dolls’ Day in Japan, the first day of spring, Women’s History Month and of course, my favorite, St. Patrick’s Day, when my Irish eyes will be smiling for sure! I offer you some resources to celebrate these days, as well as some additional treasures to give you a head start for Earth Day on April 22.
February offered some lovely storytelling venues for me that ran the gamut from schools to zoos! During winter vacation I shared some stories at the amazing Springfield Museums in Springfield, MA. They offered “A Night at the Museum,” where the children were encouraged to explore the fun-packed facilities in their pajamas, then settle in to listen to my program of Spooktacular Tales. We had a ton of fun! Later in the week I shared Tales From the Treasure Chest with a very enthusiastic audience at the beautiful Buttonwood Park Zoo in New Bedford, MA. It is listed as one of the 12 best small zoos in America. Both the museum and zoo are lovely jewels. If you are ever in either area, be sure to stop in.
I ended the month with the spectacular Story Café at ArtWorks last night. We were treated to the funny, thoughtful and warm performance of our featured storyteller Meg Gilman of New Hampshire. Our open mic portion offered the talents of storytellers Carolyn Stearns and Tim Brillant, singer Sarah Chouinard and the poetry of E. Sparrow. It was an eclectic, invigorating evening, the perfect way to finish February with a flourish!
I hope you can join us on March 14 when we will be regaled with Irish Tales and Music by storyteller Norah Dooley and harpist Susan Miron. Please come for a visit and get your Irish on!
Erin Go Braugh! (Ireland forever!)
Karen
STORY SITES
The flowers will soon be in bloom and that calls for some stories about spring and the sun!
Sun Folklore http://tinyurl.com/34blrj
How the Sun Was Rescued http://tinyurl.com/2uk5sw
Saving Spring http://tinyurl.com/yqu9c7
The Spring Beauty http://tinyurl.com/2tkbl2
Why Cats Sit on the Doorstep in the Sun http://tinyurl.com/2xga8h
Kids Web Japan - A number of Japanese folktales for you students to read. Later, they can explore the culture of Japan using different links. http://tinyurl.com/bqjbur
Japanese Folk Stories and Fairy Tales - Thirty-three folktales collected by Mary F. Nixon-Roulet and published in 1908. You can download the book for your own files. http://tinyurl.com/ckvg49
Folk and Fairy Tales of the Irish Peasantry by W.B. Yeats circa 1890. http://tinyurl.com/bmtw6o
The Irish Storyteller - Did you ever wonder how Eire got its name? Come read this Celtic legend, meet Irish Chieftains, Queens and more! http://tinyurl.com/c7oxe3
Women in American Folklore - Heroines, strong women, witches, ghosts and curious girls are ready to welcome you. http://tinyurl.com/cvur4k
Celebrate Earth Day on April 22 with these interesting stories.
Earth Cakes, Sky Cakes - Folktale from Cambodia http://tinyurl.com/dy6dsv
When The Earth and Sky Were Married - Folktale from India http://tinyurl.com/cw34y8
Earth Care – World Folktales to Talk About - A limited preview of this excellent book by Margaret Read MacDonald. You can read some of the folktales online but I bet you will want a copy of your own. http://tinyurl.com/aap7ug
"The key to wisdom is knowing all the right questions.”
John A. Simone Sr.
CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS
St. Patrick’s Day Activities - Elementary http://teachers.net/lessons/posts/325.html
Leap into spring with ABC Teach.com - Counting games, math facts, printables, word searches and more. http://tinyurl.com/bqmmvc
All About Japanese Hina Dolls http://tinyurl.com/cxow9f
Japanese Folktales - Lesson Plans for K-8 http://tinyurl.com/btzck2
Teacher’s Resource Guide - Japanese Art and Culture Outreach Kit - Although you may not be able to borrow the actual kit, there are many helpful curriculum ideas in this guide you may duplicate on your own. http://tinyurl.com/cby5p6
The Month of March - Preschool – K - To teach children about alphabet letters, the weather in March, spatial concepts, opposites and St. Patrick's Day. http://tinyurl.com/de3blu
Distinguished Women of Past and Present - This is truly an amazing site! The stories and additional links offer new insights into the remarkable contributions women have made throughout history categorized by subject matter or name. You could spend a century here and not finish! http://www.distinguishedwomen.com/
Field Trip Earth - A global resource for teachers, students and wildlife proponents offering folktales, educator resources, essays and information on conservation projects around the world. http://tinyurl.com/cnmfkw
GET CREATIVE WITH CRAFTS
St. Patrick’s Day Crafts and Printables
http://tinyurl.com/cxfe9a
St. Patrick's Day Coloring Pages
http://tinyurl.com/cy9pwd
Celebrate Doll Day in Japan!
Japanese Kokeshi Doll http://tinyurl.com/cscr76
Origami Doll http://tinyurl.com/ddo8w2
Earth Day Crafts
Dig around; there are plenty of crafts here to help you celebrate. http://tinyurl.com/ba67fb
Ladybug Rocks
Of course, my favorite! http://crafts.kaboose.com/earth-ladybug-rocks.html%20
Earth Day Litterbug
Using recycled items help your students make their Earth Day litterbug. http://tinyurl.com/d6mpxq
Apples 4 the Teacher
Spring Crafts http://tinyurl.com/adaz63
Flowered Hat http://tinyurl.com/b36hnx
KinderArt
A Bulletin Board of Spring Flowers - Ages K - 6 http://tinyurl.com/b9w58r
“Life itself is the most wonderful fairytale of all.”
- Hans Christian Andersen
BUSINESS NOTES
How to Become Fearless Business Owners in Uncertain Times - Seven great tips from author Robin Fisher-Roffer. http://tinyurl.com/dgeovq
Seven Tax Tips for Businesses and the Self Employed http://tinyurl.com/b8pvd4
Slideshare - Upload your presentations and share them with others. There are thousands of presentations to download, and edit for your use. http://www.slideshare.net/
"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do
than by the things you did. So throw off the bowlines.
Sail away from the safe harbor...Explore. Dream."
than by the things you did. So throw off the bowlines.
Sail away from the safe harbor...Explore. Dream."
- Mark Twain
EDUCATION HIGHWAY
March 1-3 Spiritual Storytelling at Camp Fowler, Speculator, NY with storyteller Marni Gillard: for teachers, ministers, youth leaders. http://tinyurl.com/aabpy3
March 20 Sharing the Fire Educational Preconference – Two Workshops:
- Story by Story – Building a Student Storytelling Troupe with Karen Chace. Inspire and mentor the next generation of storytellers while building rapport with teachers and administration.
- Teacher Tales – Weaving Stories into your Curriculum with Abigail Jefferson. Explore how stories can be used to enrich curriculum, increase literacy, celebrate diversity, and meet curriculum goals. For more information go to: http://tinyurl.com/bz4lpl
April 24-26 Northlands Storytelling Network Conference - Come to the Midwest for a weekend filled with workshops, swaps, concerts and fringe performances all in a beautiful, rural setting. http://www.northlands.net/conference.html
June 22-25 Telling Stories to Children with Judith Black in Marblehead, MA. Morning workshops, afternoon coaching, telling to authentic children, good food and informal gatherings shape these days. Massachusetts PDPs offered. For more information contact Judith Black at jb@storiesalive.com or phone: 781-631-4417 http://www.tellingstoriestochildren.com/
June 28–July 2 Summer Storytelling Institute Retreat in the Rolling Hills of Western Massachusetts. Go to www.ronatales.com or call 413-586-0624 for info and Early Bird Specials! Limited to 14 people; 34 PDP's for Massachusetts Teachers.
SOMETHING EXTRA
"Neither genius, fame, nor love show the greatness of the soul.
Only kindness can do that."
Only kindness can do that."
- Jean Baptiste Henri Lacordaire (1802-1861)
Donors Choose.org - This simple yet brilliant idea was started by a teacher. It is an easy way to provide students in need with resources that our public schools often lack. Teachers submit project proposals for materials or experiences their students need to learn and concerned individuals, whom we call Citizen Philanthropists, choose the projects to fund. This is a non-profit agency. http://www.donorschoose.org/about/about.html
