Description of educational presentations

About the Presentations
As an environmentalist-in-residence, Toni Albert has been asked to help explore nature trails and develop school yard habitats, to do hands-on nature activities with children, and to present workshops on nature writing. Her most popular presentations are described below:
A Rainforest Adventure
	Toni Albert often talks to kids about the plight of the rainforests and how we can help save them. She tells them about visiting the rainforest in Costa Rica to complete the research for her book, The Remarkable Rainforest. They watch a short video called "Rain Forest Rap." With young students, she demonstrates how to make a paper bromeliad with a poison arrow frog. With older students, she demonstrates how to make a mini-rainforest that makes its own rain.
A Coral Reef Adventure
	Ms. Albert does presentations about the coral reef based on her book, The Incredible Coral Reef (winner of a Teacher’s Choice Award). She talks to kids about the ecology of the coral reef, how it is threatened, and what we can do to help protect it. They take an imaginary trip to the coral reef. First they unpack a bag of snorkeling gear, which includes some surprises. Then they examine a collection of artifacts from the reef. Students explore underwater by viewing a short video. She also shows them how to make a wave bottle.
A Backyard Adventure
	When Ms. Albert does presentations about exploring nature during each season, she demonstrates hands-on activities that help kids become more observant and more knowledgeable about the ecology. These presentations are based on a series of four "EcoJournals," one for each season. (There is a presentation for each season.)
EcoJournaling
	Ms. Albert gives writing workshops on exploring nature and keeping nature journals based on ideas from the EcoJournals and from EcoPrints: A Complete Kit for Writing About Nature. She demonstrates nature activities as springboards for writing.
Do You Hear the Willow Weep?
	When Ms. Albert does a presentation based on her book, I Heard the Willow Weep, she reads the book while projecting the pages on a screen. Then, using questions and answers and fascinating "eco-facts," she discusses some of our most pressing environmental problems: too much trash, endangered animals, threats to rainforests and coral reefs, and pollution. She demonstrates hands-on activities that children can do to help restore beauty and health to our earth. I Heard the Willow Weep is written for grades K-5.
Any of these presentations can be adapted to give children new views of what an author is and does. Toni Albert can usually shape a presentation to fit your needs.
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