WUFT Educational Outreach
Contact: Mary Brandenburg, Coordinator, mbrandenburg@wuft.org, 352-392-5551.
PBS Backpack
Academic year 2021 brings with it unprecedented challenges and opportunities for you and your children…and PBS Kids and the Cade Museum for Creativity and Invention are here to help!
WUFT and the Cade Museum for Creativity and Invention are thrilled to offer this new digital PBS Backpack Program filled with activities, resources, and experiments, designed to engage and ignite young minds in dynamic new ways.
Quaran-Tweens
"Quaran-Tweens" is a digital video series of conversations with kids about coronavirus and the current world around them. It was created as a tool to foster conversation with kids and families about their thoughts and feelings and to bring families together. Kids provide a unique perspective in this unprecedented time and these videos provide an opportunity to hear from them.
The videos feature kids from different parts of the country in different family units and backgrounds. They lead the conversation and explain how they feel. The goal is for kids and parents to initiate open communication about the current state of the world.
Cade at Home
Cade at Home provides fun STEAM lessons and activities for kids. Cade Activities are currently airing on PBS Kids, and you can view those activity videos – to do those activities at home - plus enjoy added educational STEAM videos at cademuseum.org/cade-activities.html.
Teacher Resources:
PBS Kids Learn
PBS Learning Media
PBS World Explorers
Teaching Tips for Educational Media
Special Events:
Stop, Paws and Learn
Parents and kids had the opportunity to learn about pet care, wild animals and child safety practices in a fun, hands-on environment. The event included free zoo admission to the Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo, a PBS Kids Zone and dog demonstrations.
Ongoing Programs:
Dog Days at Duval
The yearlong "Martha Speaks" Read Aloud Book Club program at the Duval Early Learning Academy culminated in a special event featuring Martha from PBS Kids and canine friends of all kinds.
"Martha Speaks" Read Aloud Book Club
This Read Aloud Book Club program was implemented in the Alachua County Public Library District’s Summer Reading Program.
PBS Learning Media Training
Alachua County School District training for media specialists occurred before school started. "Sesame Street" Little Children Big Challenges materials were disseminated to Girls Place of Alachua County, SWAG, and Parent Academy/Alachua County School. These materials help children dealing with divorce, incarcerated parents or other emergencies.
Best Friends for Life Book Buddy Program at UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital
The program included 350 Book Buddy Packs for children undergoing treatment at UF Health's Infusion Clinic. The Book Buddy packs using Daniel Tiger materials for children who are "first timers" at UF Health. Each pack includes a Daniel Tiger book, ears, coloring sheet with crayons, and a Daniel Tiger mask. The packs were funded by the Magnolia Club under the title Growing Literacy and Alpha Psi at University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine under the title Roaring for Kids.