West Virginia LearningMedia Story Archives - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

Houston, We have a Question: W.Va. Students Talk with Space Station Astronauts.

On Friday, March 17, 2017, in an event sponsored by WOWK and the Clay Center, Senator Joe Manchin joined students from across West Virginia to Skype with NASA astronauts, who are aboard the International Space Station.

Senator Manchin was thrilled to be a part of this opportunity. He mentioned that it was an out of this world career day fair and went on to encourage students to be curious and learn.

Astronauts Shane Kimbrough and Dr. Peggy Winston fielded questions from students across southern West Virginia.

Questions came from a broad range of topics. WVPB recorded this first-time engagement and posted the exchange to our YouTube Channel.

To hear the questions students from your area asked, we have identified the time stamp and the school that was represented.

3:41 South Charleston High School
4:42 Poca Middle School
5:40 Hurricane High School
7:17 Cabell Midland High School
8:22 George Washington High School
9:40 Nicholas County High School
10:18 South Charleston High School
10:52 South Charleston High School and for Preston County High School
12:58 Hurricane High School
13:32 George Washington High School
14:50 Poca Middle School
15:16 for Preston County High School
17:08 South Charleston High School
18:00 Poca Middle School
18:40 George Washington High School
19:37 South Charleston High School
20:27 Parkersburg High School
21:31 South Charleston High School

West Virginia students experiment with robotics after the Skye call with NASA astronauts aboard the International Space Station

Gilmer County Library Screens Dinosaur Train Movie

WVPB and Gilmer County Public Library teamed up to screen the newest PBS KIDS Dinosaur Train Movie. On Saturday, February 25, 30 youngsters showed up to watch the new movie, A Journey to the Center of the Earth, and participate in an archeology dig in the library. The dig was a sand box full of dinosaurs, marbles and precious rings unearthed by eager participants.

Teaming up with The Health Plan, a non-profit focused on healthy habits, Darlene Stuckey, provided healthy food and drinks as well as a door prize. She interacted with the children building their healthy snacks out of apples grapes and cheese into cars and caterpillars using this opportunity to educate on healthy choices.

Finally, there was a station that utilized the handouts provided by PBS for coloring and dinosaur identification. Thanks to Gilmer County Librarian, Brigid Ryan, and her staff for hosting this fun learning day. West Virginia Public Broadcasting is working with libraries around the state to provide similar opportunities.

Enter the STEAM power WV Challenge

STEAM power WV

If you are looking to add some STEM lessons into you classroom take a look at this creative challenge.

WVPB is issuing its STEAM power WV Challenge for students in grades 3 to 8. Building upon a wildly successful challenge last year, WVPB is now providing a tiered challenge, one for grades 3-5 and the other for grades 6-8. With a grant from the West Virginia Department of Culture and History, WVPB created a series of lessons for classroom teachers, afterschool programs or any group of students to put the Arts back into STEM.

Lessons, designed to be stand alone projects are able to be completed in 1 or 2 class periods, and with minimal supplies.
Complete the challenge for your grade level and enter to win a cash prize for classroom materials. A $250 prize for each grade level 3-8 will be drawn from completed entries.
To find out more: wvpublic.org/steam-power-wv

Here’s what a few of last years’ teachers had to say:

Wow! What a fabulous time we had completing all activities and plan on doing more! STEM truly gives all students a chance to excel. Activities like these can change children’s lives with their positive impacts and expose them to possible future career options.
The STEAM Activities were very successful and a great learning experience for the 5th Grade students. The students were engaged and really enjoyed the project based activities. The content of each activity was very informational and students took a lot of valuable knowledge from them. The experience was very positive and I look forward to doing more such STEAM activities in the near future.

A Fun Partnership

Arnoldsburg Elementary School in Calhoun County partnered with WVPB to present educational activities to engage students while parents met with teachers for conferences!

Students found that activities can be both fun and educational. The evening was spent determining where the ideal cargo location would be for paper airplanes to complete a mission. Another STEM activity included designing the tallest free standing structures using only pipe-cleaners.

Word spiders and Halloween pictures of Super Why! and friends were some of the other activities keeping students engaged.

PBS Kids and West Virginia LearningMedia provide free, curated, educational resources tied to educational standards and sorted by subject area and grade level.

WVPB’s Education team is happy to help bring these resources into your school. To find out more, contact us at education@wvpublic.org

Recco Named PBS Lead Digital Innovator

We would like to Congratulate Rebecca Recco, from Kanawha County who has been chosen as West Virginia’s Lead PBS Digital Innovator. You may have already seen some of Rebecca’s work if you have checked out our In the Making series we have on WestVirginia LearningMedia. Rebecca has everyone feel like they too can be an artist in the style of various West Virginia artists.

PBS LearningMedia supports an annual program designed to connect engaged, innovative educators with local stations. 2016 marks the fourth year that PBS is offering the PBS LearningMedia Digital Innovators Campaign. This prestigious program recognizes educators that are leveraging digital media in their classrooms in innovative ways. Almost 1000 educators applied to be part of our educator community and will receive year-long professional development. From this group, we have selected a group of “Lead” Digital Innovators that will join us for the 2-day PBS LearningMedia Digital Innovators Summit in Denver this June.

Rebecca loves teaching about working artists in her community and giving students a little peek at what it’s like to be an artist. Her favorite part of being a teacher is that moment when students realize that they have what it takes to make something valuable.

We are excited that Rebecca has shared her talents with West Virgina Public Broadcasting. Congratulations, Rebecca

WVPB Education launches new e-Newsletter

West Virginia Public Broadcasting has hundreds of thousands of digital resources available for teachers, caregivers and students on its West Virginia LearningMedia platform. The breadth of these resources can be overwhelming so, we have launched a bi-monthly e-newsletter to highlight a few of the incredible resources available for free. Our goal is to bring resources to you in a timely manner or to let you know of specific contests or activities with which we are involved.

Here is a link to the first issue: Feb 1 Education e-Newsletter

To be added to our mailing list: Education e-Newsletter Sign Up