Looking for a reason to get up off the couch and actively engage in a fun-filled family activity? Then jump aboard DINOSAUR TRAIN’s geocaching challenge! PBS stations nationwide, in cooperation with The Jim Henson Company, have already hopped on — including the Community Idea Stations.

What is geocaching? It’s a modern day, high-tech treasure hunt involving GPS enabled devices and longitude and latitude coordinates. Once you go online and pick a location, the real fun begins. The purpose of geocaching is to find the hidden container filled with a logbook, pencil – and often prizes! Once you find the cache, sign and date the logbook. You can even post a comment online if you like. Geocaching encourages children — and their parents — to explore their surroundings, use observational skills and have an adventure in their own neighborhood. Critical and creative thinking skills are necessary when locating a cache, as well as problem-solving and scientific thought.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Each DINOSAUR TRAIN geocache container features a different dinosaur, as well as  educational information about the dinosaur. A complete field guide — with more detailed scientific facts related to each dinosaur — can be found on the DINOSAUR TRAIN website.

Wouldn’t it be fun to travel across the country and find all the DINOSAUR TRAIN geocaches? If you’re new to geocaching, check in with our local experts at Central Virginia Geocaching Association who can provide the needed assistance.

DINOSAUR TRAIN can be viewed weekdays at 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. on WCVE HD (23.1) and 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on WCVE (23.2). It is also broadcast on weekends (Saturday and Sunday) at 8:30 a.m. on WCVE HD (23.1) and WCVW DT (57.1).

“There is no substitute for books in the life of a child.” ~ May Ellen Chase ~

On May 12th, 29 volunteers from the Community Idea Stations – which included Richard Nunnally, host of Virginia Home Grown (shown at left) –  traveled to Richmond’s east end to read to classes at Fairfield Court Elementary School.  The enthusiasm was shared by both the volunteers and students, making it hard to tell who had more fun.

Afterwards, each child was given their own copy of the book to take home.  The kindergarten classes received Clifford Goes to Washington; first graders were given Arthur’s Eyes; second graders received The True Story of the Three Little Pigs; third graders were given Wings; fourth graders received The Tale of a Fourth Grade Nothing; and fifth graders took home Double Fudge.

Research has proven that reading aloud to children is one of the most effective ways to help them succeed in school.  Sharing books promotes and inspires a love of reading, and builds motivation and curiosity.

Many thanks to our volunteers, who continue to support our Ready To Learn program by giving their time to read to the classes at Fairfield Court Elementary.

If you are interested in volunteering for one of our children’s activities or other station events, please contact Jo Ann Cardwell at jcardwell@ideastations.org

Tell us…What favorite childhood story would you recommend for our next reading and book distribution event?

For those who have experienced a death in the family, explaining this concept to a young one can be a challenging task. In conjunction with the special program, WHEN FAMILIES GRIEVE, Sesame Workshop has created a resource kit addressing this sensitive topic. It has been made available in both English and Spanish. The kit includes a SESAME STREET DVD, a guide for parents and caregivers and a children’s story. This multimedia resource provides ideas, strategies and activities to help young ones understand and cope with the loss of a loved one. WHEN FAMILIES GRIEVE provides suggestions on how to remember loved ones together and how to begin the process of moving forward. It has been designed for use by both military and non-military families.

The Ready To Learn Coordinator at the Community Idea Stations has been very pleased to distribute these kits to schools, hospitals, military organizations and children’s advocate groups in our surrounding community. If you feel this is something you would find useful to your needs, these kit materials (video clips, guides, printables, additional resources) can be conveniently accessed at Sesame Workshop‘s website.  The WHEN FAMILIES GRIEVE kit can also be ordered online.

How would you help a child remember a loved one?  What suggestion would you share?

Are you a Dr. Seuss fan? If so, then you’ll be delighted to know that a new animated series called THE CAT IN THE HAT KNOWS A LOT ABOUT THAT! will premiere on Labor Day, September 6. This new series will join the host of other popular children’s series on the PBS KIDS’ fall lineup. Currently, 40 half-hour episodes are in production for the first season. Award-winning actor Martin Short will lend his voice to the characters of The Cat in the Hat and the zany duo called Thing 1 and Thing 2.

The series will feature two neighbors, six-year olds named Sally and Nick, who are transported on voyages of scientific discovery on the whimsical vehicle called a Thinga-ma-jigger. Their adventures include a journey to the bottom of the sea to study the mysterious giant sea worms and a trip to the middle of the rain forest to observe animals in their natural environment. Can you see how the Thinga-ma-jigger will come in handy as it sprouts wings, pontoons and skis when it zips around the world?

There’s plenty of time to find your whimsical Dr. Seuss hats and plan a premiere party for September 6. This new series should prove to be both entertaining and educational with a good combination of adventure and silliness!

With over 160 entries from students in grades K-3, the judges of WCVE’s PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest discovered, rather quickly, that they had their work cut out for them.  It was not an easy task to narrow the entries down to only 12, but after hours of deliberation, they were ready to announce their first, second, and third place winners.

On April 25, 2010, the winners from each grade level were invited to the studios of WCVE PBS for an awards ceremony honoring their achievements.  Clifford, the Big Red Dog, was on-hand to meet and greet his fans…and to congratulate the young authors for a job well done.

The winners read their stories to an audience of family, friends and teachers.  Afterwards, light refreshments were served, and Shannon Foor, from Pony Express Caricatures, created a caricature as a memento for each child who attended the ceremony. Digital versions of each story, read by the winner, can be found on classroomclips.org.

Because the goal of the contest is to encourage, challenge and reward effort, every child who submitted an original story was recognized for their participation with a Certificate of Appreciation.

Thanks to all who helped make this year’s PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest a rousing success

Financial literacy skills are sadly lacking among today’s teens.  Learning to make smart money decisions should start early in life.

From the producers of Bill Nye the Science Guy, Biz Kid$ is a fun, fast-paced series where kids teach kids about money and entrepreneurship.  Each episode features several young business owners who share their success stories.

Biz Kid$ teaches kids financial literacy in a fun way.  Spoofs of movies make this series a hit with both kids and adults.  Along the way, kids learn about saving, budging, investing, and giving back to the community.

Being a Biz Kid is all about managing money and building a business…and we don’t mean just learning to balance a checkbook.  Kids learn the concepts behind entrepreneurship by formulating business plans and following the principles of marketing.

This series, supported locally by the Virginia Credit Union, is available online at classroomclips.org for registered K-12 educators.  To become a registered user, go to the Classroom Clips registration page.

Tell us…how are you teaching your students to be Biz Kids?

Thanks to all who helped us welcome Mr. Steve to Richmond on April 10th during one of his performances at the Children’s Museum of Richmond.  His enthusiasm was only surpassed by the children (and parents) who laughed, danced, and sang along during each song.  It was wonderful to see entire families having fun together.  Judging by the happy faces, it was clear that everyone had a great time.

After each performance, Mr. Steve patiently took the time to talk with each child individually, and signed each autograph card with something unique that made them feel special.  He also stressed to parents the importance of encouraging their child’s interest in music.

Mr. Steve has a tremendous gift for working with children!  One parent summed up the experience by saying that he was like a “rock’n Mr. Rogers.”   There is no better compliment.

If you would like to know more about Mr. Steve or SteveSongs, please visit  www.stevesongs.com.

Were you at the Children’s Museum for Mr. Steve’s performance?  If so, tell us about your “Mr. Steve” experience.