Kindergarten

Friday, May 2, 2025

9:10-9:40

9:50-10:20

10:30-11:00

Suzanne Bloom (Author/Illustrator)

The author/illustrator of the ever popular Goose and Bear series (including the 

Geisel Honor- winning, A Splendid Friend, Indeed) will visit the kindergartners to share how she creates her books. By showing her sloppy copies, sketches, and scribbles she will emphasize the importance of choosing words wisely and illustrate how the creative process can be applied to any activity.

Grade 1

Friday, October 18

9:10-10:00; 10:10-11:00; 11:10-12:00;

1:10-2:00

Brian Lies (Author/Illustrator)

Caldecott award winning and NY Times best-selling author and illustrator of many children's books, most notably the 'bat series' (Bats at the Beach, Bats at the Ballgame, etc.), Lies will take students into the world of writing and illustrating children's books. Showing his original artwork and the many drafts that make a book, he brings a powerful message of believing in yourself and not giving up.

Grade 2

Friday, January 10

10:30-11:15; 1:15-2:00; 2:15-3:00

Tuesday, February 11

9:30-10:15; 10:30-11:15; 1:15-2:00

Discovery Museum - Sound (Science)

Plunging a vibrating tuning fork into a bowl of water creates quite a spray as students learn that sound is vibration. Students actively engage in exploring sound by creating unique “sound makers” using household materials.

Discovery Museum - Light & Lasers (Science)

As students compare white light and laser light they identify key properties including how light must be reflected in order to be seen. In this hands-on workshop, students work with flashlights, prisms, lenses, and a variety of materials that block, reflect, or allow light to pass through.

Grade 3

Wednesday, April 16

January 7th or 14th, 2025

9:15-10:15

10:25-11:25

11:35-12:35

1:30-2:30

Birds of Prey - Wingmasters (Science)

Julie Anne Collier & Jim Parks, who have devoted their lives to caring for injured birds of prey, will give a presentation aimed at increasing understanding and appreciation of North American birds of prey.  Julie, who is also part Creek and Chicksaw Indian, will highlight the strong connection between Native Americans and birds of prey.

Plimoth Museum - Peoples of the Dawn Land

Learn about the daily life of the Wampanoag in the 17th century, as well as their current lives and communities. Students will gain an understanding of the connection the Wampanoag and other Native people have to Mother Earth, their seasonal way of life, and their respect for all living beings. Our Native American Museum Teacher wears modern clothing and speaks from a modern perspective so that they can discuss the story of their people in both past and present times. They will share artifacts of traditional life, such as wooden bowls and spoons, animal furs, and tools. 

Grade 4

Friday, February 28, 2025

11:00-11:45

12:30-1:15

1:20 -2:05

2:10 -2:55

November 19th, 2024

1:10-2:00

2:10-3:00

The Genki Spark - Taiko and Community

The Genki Spark is a multi-generational, pan-Asian women's arts and advocacy organization that uses Japanese taiko drumming, personal stories, and creativity to build community, develop leadership, and advocate respect for all. Through hands-on educational workshops The Genki Spark strives to build community, foster self-confidence, and promote a world where every culture is respected.

Jason Viola - Local author of science and history themed comic books. Mr. Viola’s interactive presentation uses pages from his books to explore the considerations creators make when constructing a comic. With a lot of humor, he uses colorful and fun comic book images to demonstrate the following concepts and structural tools: research, introductory sentence, point of view, setting and characters, style and tone, revisions.

Grade 5

May 27 2025

November 19th, 2024

12:10-1:00pm

Change is Simple (mobile learning lab) - An exciting new program! A mobile learning lab will visit Thoreau and students will participate in two lessons. One uses a wave tank model to teach about the damaging, eroding effects of wave action on coastlines. The second is about ice albedo feedback and how scientists use it to study climate change. https://www.changeissimple.org/scill