Many songs tell stories, describing characters and their adventures in particular places at particular times. This class looks at some of the great stories of rock and roll and examines how lyrics can establish a setting, introduce characters, and develop a plot. Through exciting recorded performances by Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees like Aretha Franklin, the Beatles, and Chuck Berry, students learn how narrative can be developed. They will act out undersea adventures on a "Yellow Submarine" and imagine what it would be like to be "Johnny B. Goode" by drawing what they hear and read in the lyrics, all while learning to summarize and retell the stories told through rock and roll.

Susan Weber's handcrafted quilt depicting Ohio's people, geography, and official symbols is the backdrop for her interactive stories and songs. Ohioans of diverse cultures come to life in students' imaginations along a rich timeline of Ohio heritage. Susan's stories begin with Native American and European settlers and continue with canal diggers, farmers, entrepreneurs, freedom fighters, immigrants and astronauts. Students listen and respond through movement, imitation, sound effects, and voice to stories of Ohioans whose actions made a difference in Ohio's development.

Who were the people who built the city of Cleveland, where did they come from, how did they get here and where did they settle once they arrived? Learn about the different jobs workers had, the industries they worked in, and the products they created as Cleveland grew from a tiny village to a thriving industrial center. Discover how citizens came together to create social service agencies, summer camps, settlement houses, schools, and religious institutions. Compare and contrast the tools workers used from the early industrial age to the computer age.

Students will learn what it was like to be an immigrant, migrant or refugee coming to Northeast Ohio from the 1840's to the 1980's. In small groups, students use primary and secondary documents, artifacts and clothing to reveal details about history of ethnic groups and practices and products of their culture. Using role-playing, students present their stories to the rest of the class.

Wearing the legendary pot on his head, Ray brings John Chapman (better known as Johnny Appleseed) to life in a lively presentation. Johnny leads participatory storytelling, songs, and movement activities that describe his personal history, his life in pioneer Ohio, the distribution and importance of apples in frontier life, and the varieties and usage of apples in our own times.

This two-character play is set on the porch of Tubman's home in Auburn, New York in 1902. The audience is regarded as a group of visitors who have come to reminisce with 82-year old Tubman as she recounts the heroic adventures of her life through story and song. Jeffrey Taylor, Jr. assists in telling her story and accompanies Tubman on accordion including traditional songs such as "Drinking Gourd," "Go Down Moses," and "Battle Hymn of the Republic."

This assembly examines the exciting history of jazz dance from the 1930s and 1940s. The program features lindy hop and jitterbug dancers dancing along side a narration that includes slides of historic moments from the era in which the dances emerged. Dancers in the presentation wear period costumes and invite students up to the stage to learn basic dance steps. Presentation is 45 minutes long.

Discover how immigrant families preserved their cultural heritage and the important role faith and tradition play in Jewish life today. Learn about Jewish holidays, how families celebrate them, and make connections between Jewish traditions and those of other religious/ethnic groups. Ancient Jewish rituals and practices are explained and explored through hands-on objects and cultural artifacts, many centuries old.

In this program about American pioneers, Bob shows how songs can tell stories. He leads the group in sharing songs that tell tall-tales, songs that spread the news, songs about animals and songs about heroic figures.

Invite a historical woman to step out of the textbook and into your classroom. Women In History brings a unique opportunity for students to interact with a historical figure who answers their questions and provides a glance into what life was like in centuries past. Select the figure that best suits the Language Arts or Social Studies curriculum. Historical biographies can be found at www.womeninhistoryohio.com.

Walking to the Western Reserve celebrates the 205-year history of the state of Ohio. The program includes songs and stories of Moses Cleveland, the Wright brothers, and Ohio's presidents. Other topics include the Underground Railroad, canals and rivers, the settlement of the Shakers, and Thomas Edison. Through a program of traditional acoustic music and folk dances students will be offered a glimpse of what life was like in a time before electricity and modern technology.