Best Kindergarten VC Programs

So you're a Kindergarten teacher and you want to do a videoconference this year? What are the best interactive programs for kindergarten level?

1. One of my absolute favorite programs is Let's Go to the Show from the Cleveland Institute of Music. Highly interactive. Students sing and dance during the program. It's excellent! You have to be able to clear the floor in your distance learning room to do this one, so hopefully you don't have fancy furniture bolted down.
   
2. See the K2K Connection 2005 post on Joan Roehre's blog. A year long partnership between two classes. I quote: Kindergarten (YES- Kindergarten!) teachers Lynette Powers (Southport) and Kim Frost (Somers) are once again connecting their students throughout the year using videoconference technology. Starting in September with "All ABout Me" students will present and share interests to their buddy at the partner school. Projects following are "Monster", "Nursery Rhyme", "What Should You Do?", "Catch a Leprechaun", "Activity Riddles" and lastly, a face-to-face picnic in May!
   Sounds like a great year long project. I'm sure the kids love it!
3. Read Across America! Getting matched up with another K-2 class for an exchange is a great way to start off with videoconferencing. Techs should register in November, teachers in December.
4. The Center for Puppetry Arts has great hands-on programs. Check out the K-2 programs. Learn a little, glue a little, learn a little more! End up with a finished puppet! Perfect for short attention spans!
5. The Cleveland Museum of Art is another great provider. They have two K-1 programs. I haven't seen them yet, but they look excellent! We love the CMA programs, especially their green screen technology!
6. Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum (new provider) has a program for winter on Critters in the Cold.
7. Space Center Houston has two K-2 programs. They are new this year too - just got a flyer in the mail a couple weeks ago. Worth checking out it seems.
8. Camden Children's Garden has several K-2 programs. Haven't seen these either but they sound really good.
9. The Cleveland Zoo has K-2 programs, but they schedule them and you have to sign up quickly because they are free & fill up fast! Their schedule for this fall isn't out yet.
10. If you search our database for PreK, you get several programs that are good for young students.
11. Michigan teachers, be sure to also check out our Grade Level Content Expectations & Videoconferences project.
    

Not a comprehensive list, but a list of favorites!

To my local teachers, email me or visit www.remc11.k12.mi.us/dl to schedule any of these videoconferences.