Feathers and Verses
By William A. Clemente
This program is an exciting multi-media, multi-disciplined program specifically created to incite the imagination and enhance the writing skills of children, especially (but not limited to) 4th to 6th graders. This program combines slides and discussion of common Nebraska backyard birds, their songs, photographs and coloring-book pictures with a variety of creative-writing exercises.

Grade 4 Connections to State Reading-Writing Standards

4.2.4 Write for different audiences and purposes

4.3.1 Participate in Group Discussions

4.4.1 Develop Listening Skills

 

Grade 8 Connections to State Reading-Writing Standards

8.2.4 Write for different audiences and purposes

8.3.1 Participate in Group Discussions

8.4.1 Develop Listening Skills

Ghosts, Goblins and Ghouls!
By Dorothy Rieke
This discussion about what makes a story scary includes plenty of terrifying examples. There are age-appropriate stories to thrill and chill any audience.

Grade 4 Connections to State Reading-Writing Standards

4.3.1 Participate in Group Discussions

4.4.1 Develop Listening Skills

 

Grade 8 Connections to State Reading-Writing Standards

8.3.1 Participate in Group Discussions

8.4.1 Develop Listening Skills

James Whitcomb Riley, the Fiddling Children's Poet
By Deborah Greenblatt
Using Riley's own words, Greenblatt weaves a whimsical glimpse into the world of this famous Hoosier poet. This show, performed in character and in costume, features musical settings of Riley's poems composed by Greenblatt, as well as portions of Riley's lectures (he toured with Edgar Allan Poe) and letters (he corresponded with Henry Wadsworth Longfellow).

Grade 4 Connections to State Reading-Writing Standards

4.1.5 Identify Different Types of Texts

4.3.1 Participate in Group Discussions

4.4.1 Develop Listening Skills

 

Grade 8 Connections to State Reading-Writing Standards

8.1.3 Identify Different Types of Texts

8.3.1 Participate in Group Discussions

8.4.1 Develop Listening Skills

My Babicka, Antonia
By Antonette Willa Turner
It was Willa Cather who taught English to the immigrant Annie Pavelka and who later captured the young Czech woman's strength and spirit in "My Antonia." Turner, Pavelka's granddaughter, describes the friendship between Cather and her grandmother, tells stories, shows artifacts and inspires her young audiences to read Cather's works.

Grade 8 Connections to State Reading-Writing Standards

8.1.7 Analyze Literary Works

8.3.1 Participate in Group Discussions

8.4.1 Develop Listening Skills

 

Grade 12 Connections to State Reading-Writing Standards

12.1.3 Identify Different Types of Texts (analyze and evaluate the works for Nebraska authors)