Students witness the classic tale of The Gingerbread Boy come to life with brilliantly colored shadow puppets. The story is narrated and performed with a shadow puppet during the first part of the program.

Led by the program presenter, students make their very own Gingerbread Boy Shadow Puppet during the second half of the program. They also participate in a learning activity about gingerbread's ingredients and history.

We still have two sessions in December, and they'll be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Typically, the program lasts 45-50 minutes. Make sure you check your school calendar before requesting a specific date/time.

• Dec. 7 @ 10:00 and 2:00 PM EST
• Dec. 8 @ 2:00 PM EST

Only one videoconference slot available on Monday, October 19 from 9-10:00 a.m. EST. Filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

Hip-Hop Technology: From Turntables to Computers

Since its inception in the early 1970s, hip-hop culture has become one of the most important forms of expression for young people on the planet. This class allows students to experience the ways that technology is incorporated into hip-hop music and culture.

Students will explore the early innovations of hip-hop deejays and the development of classic turntable techniques like "playing the break," as heard in "Rapper's Delight" by the Sugarhill Gang. The class includes a live demonstration in which students help to create a new musical composition using the latest computer music software.

Don't miss this chance to learn about the creation of hip-hop music and culture and gain insight into the world of music technology and production.

Only one videoconference slot available on Monday, October 20 from 1:30 - 2:20 p.m.. Filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

This program examines the contributions of African American pioneers in pro football, beginning in 1904 with the signing of Charles Follis to modern day players and coaches. A 10-minute segment from the NFL Film's documentary Black Star Rising will be shown to reinforce the topic.

The 50-minute program, which is designed to be highly interactive, is supplemented by a lesson aligned with national standards of education and is recommended for Elementary School, Middle School and High School.

Submit an ACELINK Request Form if you'd like to schedule this program for your classroom. We can also book this program on the date/time of your choice.

Only one videoconference slot available on November 4 from 9:00 a.m- 2:20 p.m.. Filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

This program examines the relationship between Hall of Famer Gale Sayers and his teammate Brian Piccolo. Not only will students examine the historical implications of being one of the first black/white roommates in the NFL, but also the character traits each of these players displayed in order to overcome adversity both on and off the field. A 10-minute segment from the NFL Film's documentary Black Star Rising will be shown to reinforce the topic.

The 50-minute program, which is designed to be highly interactive, is supplemented by a lesson aligned with national standards of education and is recommended for Middle School and High School.

Submit an ACELINK Request Form if you'd like to schedule this program for your classroom. We can also book this program on the date/time of your choice.

One videoconference slot is available on November 2 from 1:30 - 2:20 p.m.. Filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

This videoconference introduces students to Billy Lee, Washington's manservant who lived and worked at Mount Vernon. At the time of Washington's death in 1799, there were over 300 slaves on the five farms that made up Mount Vernon. As a working plantation, slaves worked from dawn to dusk in the fields, stables, and gardens, and at the mansion house caring for the Washington family and their many guests. A pre-videoconference lesson plan will provide primary documents that will help students write their own story about a slave at Mount Vernon to share with Billy Lee.

George Washington's Mount Vernon programs allow students to speak to the people that lived with our nation's first president. Each program allows students a different perspective of Washington, as he is viewed through the eyes of his family, friends, fellow revolutionaries, and slaves.

Alternative dates/times can also be scheduled to fit your curriculum. Please note your top two to three choices on the ACELINK Request Form.

One videoconference slot is available on November 4 from 1:30 - 2:20 p.m.. Filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

As a young boy, Washington heard the same Aesop's Fables that are told to children today. In a new take on classic stories, Mount Vernon's storytellers will bring the fables to Mount Vernon, teaching about animals, farming, and history- but always with a moral, of course. Their interactive stories are geared towards young children but will be enjoyed by all.

Alternative dates/times can also be scheduled to fit your curriculum. Please note your top two to three choices on the ACELINK Request Form.

One videoconference slot is available on November 6 from 10-11:00 a.m. Filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

Students will meet the very first First Lady, Martha Washington, and hear her tales of life at Mount Vernon. In this program, Mrs. Washington will bring her 40 years at Mount Vernon to life, recounting the daily adventures of her children, grandchildren, and many pets (including a dog named Sweetlips!). Mrs. Washington will also answer questions about her winters in the Revolutionary War camps and the obstacles faced by her and her famous husband in the first presidency.

Alternative dates/times can also be scheduled to fit your curriculum. Please note your top two to three choices on the ACELINK Request Form.

The Fort Worth Museum of Science and Industry offers videoconference programs that focus on science and math. Programs for a virtual field trip include the following:

• Eggs Everywhere - Learn about oviparous animals and their life cycles in a totally immersive program that will have your students observing, predicting and comparing.
• Adaptation Exploration: Owls - Examine the form, functions and adaptive characteristics of owls. Your students will investigate owl pellets to learn about owls' diets.
• Snails Study - Using these simple animals, your students will hone observation and questioning skills and you'll have the start of your own snail colony.
• Armadillo Round-up - Round up your students for a fun-filled literacy program to learn all about one of Texas' most unusual mammals - the armadillo.
• All About Matter - Bubbles, eyedroppers, dry ice and liquid nitrogen are a part of an incredibly interactive program focusing on states and properties of matter.
• Icy Science - Looking for a "chilling" experience with one of the oddest substances on the planet? Freeze some water, grab some salt and get involved in explorations that emphasize observation and questioning skills.
• Geometric Transformations - Ready for a mind-bending, shape-shifting, totally interactive approach to geometry? We'll build simple loops that, when cut along lines of symmetry, make surprising shapes.

To register for a program, complete the ACELINK Request Form and provide us with two to three possible dates/times for your class to view the program. We'll confirm your request when it is finalized.

We have reserved three different dates and times to connect K-3 students with Mrs. Claus. These programs are highly popular and will fill up fast.

This program (originating in Green Bay, WI) allows your students the opportunity to visit with Mrs. Santa Claus. She will read a short story to the students and then they will have the opportunity to ask questions about her, Santa Claus, and the North Pole.

• Dec. 1 at 9:00
• Dec. 2 at 9:00
• Dec. 4 at 1:30

Complete the ACELINK Request form to sign up for these dates. Slots will be filled on a first-come, first- served basis. Additional dates/ times may be available on request.

The Fort Worth Museum also provides an Ask the Expert series where students meet experts in the field of Forensic science, learn about real careers in forensic science, and ask their toughest forensic questions.

Submit an ACELINK Request Form to schedule this 50 minute program at a specific time and date.

e-Missions turn your classroom into a hub of math and science activity as your students become team members in an Emergency Command Center responsible for saving lives. Never has the practical application of math and science skills and science knowledge been more important.

The following e-Missions can be scheduled:

• Moon, Mars, and Beyond - Grades 3-5. Can students find and rescue a lost ship?
• Storm E - Grades 4-6. Students must predict the possibility of threatening weather.
• Operation Montserrat - Grades 5-10. Students analyze real-time data to assess the risk of two catastrophic events.
• Space Station Alpha - Grades 5-12. Students become mission specialists to track a solar storm.

Submit the ACELINK Request form with two to three possible dates/times to schedule these programs.

The NASA Distance Learning Network allows students and teachers to learn more about Earth and the universe beyond through videoconferencing and Web casts. Students of all ages can participate in live events featuring NASA experts and education specialists.

Submit an ACELINK Request form to reserve time for your classroom to participate in one of the programs below:

Robotics, October 7 at 1:00 p.m. EST
NASA Ames Research Center is home to the Robotics Alliance Project focussing on robotics education. Ames is currently working on several small spacecraft robotic missions. Join us to learn about the most recent developments in robotics.

Systems Engineer, December 9 at 1:00 p.m. EST
Joel Richter is a systems engineer at Marshall Space Flight Center where he leads development of the interface between the Ares I Crew Launch Vehicle and Ground Systems such as the launch pad and Vehicle Assembly Building.

Forward this newsletter to other educators. We welcome new subscribers, comments or suggestions.

To request any video conference, complete and fax in the ACELINK Content/Program Request Form to 481-6949. You can also copy and paste this link in your browser to access the request form: http://purdue.qualtrics.com/SE? SID=SV_0IcbB3ooAVgi44Y&SVID=Prod.

If a program is already scheduled, we will fill requests on a first-come, first-served basis. Please make sure your school schedule matches the program's dates and times.

If a program is offered on demand, you'll need to provide two to three dates and times you would prefer on the Request Form.

Note: We must have an ACELINK Request Form completed in order to approve a request for a video conference. Only teachers in the ACELINK consortium are eligible for ACELINK funding.