Catholic Schools Week

Last week was Catholic Schools Week, and I visited the St. Joseph School in Chehalis and the Immaculate Conception School in Mount Vernon.  Both schools had me present my Science Magic show.

Schools typically celebrate Catholic Schools Week with Masses, open houses and activities for students, families, parishioners and the community at large.

The theme is faith, academics, and service; three priorities that Catholic schools establish that make them stand out from other educational institutions.  Children are taught faith – not just the basics of Christianity, but how to have a relationship with God.  Academics, which in Catholic schools are held to very high standards, help each child reach his or her potential.  Service, the giving of one’s time and effort to help others, is taught both as an expression of faith and good citizenship.

Thanks to Lori with the Immaculate Conception School PTO for the wonderful audio review.  Listen to it at http://tvider.com/view/76361.  Her school hosted me for their “Student Appreciation Day” and the PTO provided popcorn for the kids after the Science Magic show.

If you’re looking for a fun and educational way to celebrate Catholic Schools Week, please check out my motivational assembly programs and Family Night magic shows.

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“Where in the World?” Geography Night

Geography Night School Assembly at Newcastle

Newcastle Elementary in Bellevue invited me to perform for their “Where in the World?” geography night.  PTSA leader Stina and her husband saw me perform my Magic Around the World show over the summer for one of the King County Libraries and knew it would be the perfect addition.

The Newcastle PTSA is wonderful example of a parent organization that really does it right.  Last year I performed my Reading Magic show as part of their evening Literacy Night.  This time the theme was geography.   The evening opened with a pizza available for a very reasonable fee.  Next, I performed my Magic Around the World show.  Then, it was off to the “Geography Scavenger Hunt.”

Maps, puzzles, quiz stations, and hands-on activity stations were set up around the gym.  Kids were very interested.  What caught my eye most was the “Down-Under Map of the World.”  In it, south is up and north is down.  And why not?  there is no “up and down” in real life; the world is a sphere.  It was fascinating looking at the map with this perspective.

Stina, the PTSA coordinator for the evening, asked for my input on interesting facts that could be combined into their geography quiz.  Fun facts from my show were answers to some of the quiz questions that were part of the scavenger hunt.  Several times during my show kids would snatch up their pen or pencil and furiously write an answer down :-)

Although my Magic Around the World program isn’t one of the three main educational/motivational shows I offer for schools, I can bring it out of “retirement” for special events like this.  Details about the show are online at www.edumazement.com/world.html.

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Bye-bye Boring Science Fair Assemblies

Science Fair Kickoff Assembly

A big factor in the success of a school Science Fair depends on how the Fair is introduced and presented to students.  Sending home a sheet of instructions titled “Ten Ways to Help Your Child with a Science Project” doesn’t cut it!

South Bay Elementary in Lacey had me perform my Science Magic assembly program to help kick off their Science Expo.   Fifth grade teacher Christine Rayburn runs the Expo.  Last year the 3 – 6th grades gathered in the gymnasium to watch a video.  Unfortunately, the video was old, the sound quality was poor, and it didn’t exactly get students fired up to explore science on their own.

This year Christine wanted to make a change.  She had me present my Science Magic assembly program and tie it in to their upcoming Science Expo.  As part of my assembly teachers all receive Science Magic Class Activity Sheets, a cut-out Levitating Magician (based on the principle of center of mass), and one Science Magic DVD for the school library.  These free resources make it super-easy for teachers to transfer the fun and excitement from the assembly back to the classroom.  And, the fun experiements in the Activity Sheets and DVD can be duplicated at home or in the classroom.  Listen to Christine’s comments at http://bit.ly/w27ywJ.

The results of my visit won’t be known for a couple more months, but I’m hoping that many of the South Bay students are more excited to ask scientific questions, make hypotheses, conduct research, and come to conclusions as they participate in the Science Expo.

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Vote for your Favorite SRP Artwork

It’s January, but many librarians have already scheduled their Summer Reading Programs for June-July-August. It’s hard to be a last-minute person with a timetable like this!

I just put together several mock-ups for my poster/artwork for my library programs.  I’m curious to know what YOU think.  All photos are thanks to my friend and Tacoma photographer Rick Anderson with Bruno Photography.

Dream On!

A book on magic inspired him to learn the art of magic a quarter of a century ago.  Today, Jeff Evans’ dream is a reality, and he brings an outrageously fun, new magic show to the library celebrating the magic of reading.  Woven throughout the mysterious tricks is the message that anything you want to learn can be found in books.  Jeff attempts to recreate one of his childhood dreams; being suspended in mid-airSo amazing, you’ll have to pinch yourself to make sure you’re not dreaming!

I’m also still deciding on what to call my program: “Dream On!” or “Dream It, Read It, Do It”. What do you think? Please post comments below. Feel free to leave feedback on anything; the show description, title, graphics, photos, etc.  Thank you!

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Real Job of Making Magic

Evergreen Christian Center in Olympia, Washington invited me to perform magic as a reward for a recenty fundraising campaign.  Laurie O’Brien with www.ThurstonTalk.com attended, took photos, interviewed me, and transformed the 45 minute show into a fantastic article.   She also captured some very magical moments from the show and was nice enough to share them with me.  Thanks, Laurie!

The Real Job of Making Magic – Olympia’s Own Jeff Evans
By Laurie O’Brien

He didn’t attend Hogwarts, but Jeff Evans started studying magic at about the same age his fictional counterparts were heading off to  their first year at the legendary school of witchcraft and wizardry.

When he was twelve years old, Evans made a life altering discovery at his grandparent’s home in Spokane, Washington.  There he happened upon a vintage book of coin tricks, a forty year old text filled with classic sleight-of-hand magic.  He started reading and quickly mastered his first illusion…

Read all about it at http://www.thurstontalk.com/2012/01/22/the-real-job-of-making-magic-olympias-own-jeff-evans/

 

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Science Magic in Idaho

I recently visited Seven Oaks Elementary in Eagle, ID (just outside of Boise) and Bickel Elementary in Twin Falls, ID with my Science Magic school assembly. All programs were a big hit. It was my first time to this part of the state and I really enjoyed it. The terrain and weather reminds me of the Palouse area of Washington. It was crisp and cold, with nighttime temperatures in the teens. Days were sunny and clear.

They don’t call it Twin Falls for nothing, and the falls are absolutely stunning. Shoshone Falls is a must-see if you’re in the area.

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Bully Prevention Assembly Program

“Can you give me a little more information….

A great principal who I have worked with in the past wanted to bring my No Bullies Allowed assembly program to his school.  He writes, “I have contacted the other elementary principals in my district…and I will be meeting with our PTO to see if they are able to fund a performance.  Can you give me a little more information about the No Bullies Allowed show?”

I gave him a rough outline of the show, and realized that others might want to see some of this “content” portion also.  So… here it is!

A lot of research has gone into creating my bully prevention assembly.  I met with principals and counselors and arranged to borrow the materials that they use to teach their students.  I also went online and to the library, checking out books related to preventing and stopping bullying from happening.

My EduMazement business partner, Rick Anderson, purchased the regional rights to a program called “BAND Together.”  Made for magicians who do school assemblies, it was another step in the right direction, but I preferred many of my routines which I feel teach more usable techniques that elementary students can actually remember and use.

The show continues to evolve.  I search out other anti-bully programs and techniques and integrate the best into my presentation.  For instance, I recently attended two classes in “verbal judo” taught by Masters Jason and Angie Lee of the U. S. Martial Arts Center.  They had a different approach to body language that was eye-opening to me.

My No Bullies Allowed assembly teaches kids simple steps that they can do to “build a bully-proof school.”  I use the acronym BAND to represent the four building blocks of my program.

  • B – Be a buddy, not a bully.  Treat others the way they want to be treated.
  • A – Avoid bullying situations, know when to Ask for help
  • N – Nobody deserves to be bullied (regardless of nationality, appearance, wealth, etc.)
  • D – Don’t join in, help instead. This step transfers power from the bully to the bystanders who step in to help solve the problem.

I feature a role-playing sequence where older students play the part of bullies.  With input from students, I go through different ways to react to possible bullying situations.  Kids learn to “choose their attitude”; that they are in control of their emotions.

Students will remember forever that life is like a mirror.  What you put into a mirror is reflected back at you, and the same is true with life.  Treat others with respect, and they will respect you.

I share the special power that everyone has called empathy.  Empathy is at the core of knowing how to treat someone by being able to read the clues to see how they feel.

Students learn the story of the “Warm Fuzzies.”  Doing good things to others makes you feel good inside, too.  I challenge everyone to give away at least one warm fuzzy each day for the next week.  A warm fuzzy might be helping someone who needs a hand, giving a compliment to a classmate, or doing something nice for someone without being asked.  the magic of the warm fuzzies is that when you do something nice for someone, not only do they feel good for receiving it, it makes you feel great too.

Of course, magic is woven throughout the show.  This keeps students’ attention and makes the messages that much more memorable.

And at the end, I do my comedy “escape” stunt with ropes, chains, a teacher’s borrowed watch, and the “party popper vest of death.”

Now you know the rest of the story :-)

Link to photos, audio reviews from educators, and reviews from clients at www.edumazement.com/nobullies.html.  I’m based in Olympia, Washington and primarily perform in Washington and Oregon.  However, I can travel to your area and can put together block-booking discounts to make it as affordable as possible.  As I write this I’m at my hotel in Boise, Idaho where I’m doing my Science Magic assemblies the next two days in Eagle and Twin Falls, Idaho.

All it takes is two or three schools to get the ball rolling by coordinating dates.  I can be coming to YOUR area, too!

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New Lake Forest Park Library

Grand Re-Opening of the Lake Forest Park Library

Today was the grand opening of the expanded and renovated Lake Forest Park Library.  The ribbon-cutting celebration was held and then library staff welcomed community leaders and residents to tour the new space.

Originally a small “mall” library, it is now 60% larger thanks to the $172 million library capital bond approved by voters.  The renovated space also features a public computer cyber-bar, additional seating and study areas and a multi-purpose meeting room.  I like it!

Thanks to Youth Services Librarian Kalee for inviting me to perform magic following the ribbon cutting and ceremonies.  Although the library does now have a very nice meeting room, this show was held upstairs at the Third Place Books Community Stage where they have a real stage, theater lighting, and professional sound system.  Constance, the Event Coordinator, has always been a huge supporter of library events on the stage.

 

 

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More Holiday Magic

The week between Christmas and New Year’s Eve had me visiting six more libraries, three in the King County Library System and three in the Timberland Regional Library System.  The timing was perfect; families everywhere were looking for something fun to do during the winter break and obviously thought that MAGIC fit the bill!  I performed to standing-room-only crowds in nearly every library.

 

The “Levitating Magician” mobile at Elma is supposed to be a science stunt based on center of mass.  Download and make your own at home!  Visit my website for school assembly science fair programs and download your copy.  (Tip:  print it onto the heaviest paper you have.  Cardstock is best.  If you can’t do that, print it on regular paper, then glue it to cardstock before cutting it out.)

 

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Auburn Reporter visits Algona-Pacific Library

Holiday Magic at KCLS Libraries

It’s always a nice surprise when local news shows up to cover an event, and photographer Charles Cortes of the Auburn Reporter captured some great moments.  Thanks to Robin Howe and Debbie Howard from the Algona-Pacific Library for arranging for me to be there and for saving me a copy of the newspaper.

Yesterday was another busy day with three shows, again thanks to the King County Library System.  Two performances were for the Issaquah Library (and sponsored by the Friends of the Issaquah Library) and the third was a school assembly for Beverly Park Elementary in Seattle. Thanks to Ann Crewdson for the great photos from Issaquah, and to Echo Allen for arranging my visit to Beverly Park.

There’s still a chance for you to see what the buzz is about yourself. 

  • December 22 at 1:00 pm – Richmond Beach Library
  • December 28 at 10:30 am – Kingsgate Library
  • December 28 at 2:00 pm – Renton Highlands Library
  • December 28 at 7:00 pm – Kenmore Library
  • December 29 at 11:00 am – Raymond Library
  • December 29 at 2:30 pm – Winlock Library
  • December 29 at 6:00 pm – Elma Library

 

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