5 Things... You Can Do to Celebrate American Art!
August is American Artist Appreciation Month, and the best way (in our opinion!) to appreciate an artist is to study them and then become one yourself! So, accordingly, we've gathered together some activities that will help you discover more about American art and artists and get started creating your very own artwork!

1. Faces & Places - This children's education site for the National Gallery of Art features a really great two-part online interactive activity called Faces & Places, inspired by the Gallery's extensive collection of American native artists. Mix and match elements of more than 100 portrait and landscape paintings to create your own masterpiece. And don't forget to check out the rest of the activities at NGA Kids - you won't be sorry!
    
2. Cappy the Giraffe - Cappy leads kids on an adventure through American art on the Smithsonian Institution's education site. Take a closer look at the works of famous American artists, and do the activities to make your own. Just like the National Gallery of Art, the Smithsonian has TONS of great games and activities for children of all ages - featuring artists, works and activities from every single one of the Institutions's museums and covering a huge range of topics.  
    
3. The Whit Blog - Teens can explore the online activities offered by the Whitney Museum in NYC. They have a great blog  that highlights some of the behind-the-scenes activities at the museum. See what the teen group at the Whitney is up to as they visit galleries and museums, learn about art conservation and see how a museum is run. There's also a fantastic Teen Gallery  featuring art made by teens at the museum - the Visual Poetry and Interpreting War collections really resonated with us! Last but not least, the Whitney highlights some of teens' favorite pieces from the collection in Raid the Museum - make sure you click the link and find your own faves!
    
4. Coloring Pages - Younger kiddos will appreciate the American art coloring pages on this site. Print out the coloring pages or paint them online!  It's got everything from the Mt. Rushmore National Memorial to Native American pottery to Mary Cassatt - something for everyone!
5. Hands-on Art - 3rd through 7th graders will enjoy Great American Artists for kids! This book features hands-on art activities based on the works and processes of famous American artists. If you can't find the book at your local library, scroll on down the page for free activity pages like "Grow a Silly Self" and "Meaningful Collage."

To really get a taste of American Art in North Texas, plan a visit the Amon Carter Museum in Fort Worth. The Carter has an incredible collection of American art - with works from the early 1800s through contemporary photography. Check out Family Funday on Sunday, August 8 from 1-4pm to travel across North AND South America through art, learning Spanish and Portuguese vocabulary, making art and attending storytelling programs.

And, as always, other lists of fun things to do and try can be found in our 5 Things Archive!

5 Things We Love About Summer…

1. Summer Camps! – Summer Camps are the best thing about summer, because you get to learn new things in a fun, creative way – rather than in the traditional classroom. Summer camps incorporate subjects you won’t find in regular school, like yoga, cooking and storytelling. Awesome! If you’re still looking for a camp to attend, check out our Thriving Minds summer camps, offered in partnership with Dallas ISD. And make sure you apply SOON, because space is limited.
    
2. Summer Music – We LOVE the sounds of summer: everything from the golden oldies on the radio to the triumphant marches at the fourth of July parades to the classic tunes of the local ice cream truck. Make your own summer music by visiting the Dallas Symphony Orchestra’s DSOKids page to learn how to make your own instruments from found objects around your house. 
    
3. Summer Activities – Most awesome summer activity ever: SWIMMING! There’s nothing better than taking a dip in a clear blue pool on a hot day, is there? Don’t have a pool of your own? Check your local YMCA or city recreation center to find a public pool in your area. Not a swimming fan? No worries – there are plenty of great summer vacation activities for everyone: set up a lemonade stand to keep your neighbors hydrated and make a few dollars; clear off the kitchen table and put together a jigsaw puzzle; there’s any number of things!
    
4. Summer Clothing – Shorts, tank tops and sandals, oh my! You can always tell when summer’s arrived when you hear all the flip-flops flip-flopping against everyone’s heels! Summer clothes are the best – breezy, lightweight, colorful – and it’s such a treat to dig them out of your closet and toss all your sweaters in a box for next winter, isn’t it? Plus, reorganizing your closet makes for a great summertime project - one your parents are sure to appreciate!
    
5. Summer Reading – This is one of our personal favorite summer activities. It’s simple: head to your local library, pick up a stack of books and start reading! We found summer reading lists online for Dallas ISD, Denton ISD, Fort Worth ISD, Frisco ISD, Grapevine-Colleyville ISD, HEB ISD, Plano ISD and Richardson ISD. You can also check with your local library and see what kind of summer reading programs they offer, like these in Arlington, Carrollton, Garland, Irving and Lewisville.

Now go forth and enjoy your summer...and if you get bored, come on back and visit the 5 Things Archive for more fun lists of things to do and try.

5 Things... You Can Get From SLANT 45
There are many many reasons why you should participate in SLANT 45. So far, all we've told you about is the basics: find a coach, build a team, do a project and make a difference. But here's something new: since SLANT 45 launched, it's been getting a lot of interest, and now others want to give back to the kids who are giving back. That's cool, right? You have no idea...check this out:

1. Meet Jordin Sparks. That's right. Sign your team up before June 15, and you'll get a chance to attend Jordin's soundcheck and have a meet & greet with the mega superstar before her concert at the House of Blues on June 29th! The winning team will be chosen on June 19th - don't miss out on this opportunity!
    
2. Meet the TCU football team. Everybody loves football - especially TCU football! Coach Gary Patterson and his wife have generously offered a cash prize and the chance to do a meet & greet with the players AND attend a football game; awesome! This special prize is only for Tarrant County SLANT 45 teams - sign up before July 2nd and you will be entered to win; announcement of the winning team is July 15. 
    
3. Dinner from Olive Garden. Mmmmmmm, breadsticks! There's nothing quite like a tasty pasta dinner from Olive Garden, and you'll have a chance to win if you sign your team up before this fall! Your whole team will be treated to a scrumptious meal, and your coach will receive a well-deserved $50 giftcard. More details about this prize drawing will be coming later.
    
4. The Most Awesome SLANT 45 Party EVER. We're sure you've heard by now about the big culmination party...well, the rumors are true! The SLANT 45 final bash will be taking place at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington (sweet!) and will feature entertainers, musical performances, Cowboys Legends, and plenty o'surprises! Every student who participates in SLANT 45 will receive an invitation to this great party, so get your team signed up, give back to your community, and keep an eye out for your invitation!
    
5. Leave a Lasting Impression. We've said it before, and we'll say it again. There's nothing quite like being the reason that someone's day is brightened or someone's school or neighborhood is a little (or a lot) cleaner. The very best incentive we can think of to participate in SLANT 45? So that you can point to the effect that you and your project had on your community and say, "I DID THAT. I made that happen; I made a difference." That's reason enough for us! Sign up today!

For more lists of fun things to do and try, check out the 5 Things Archive!

5 Things... To Do This Memorial Day!
Through partnerships like Thriving Minds and ArtsPartners, we have amassed a looooooooooong list of friends among the arts & cultural, city and community organizations in North Texas. This weekend marks the celebration of Memorial Day, and many of our partners have very special programs going on for children and families. Here are just a few:

1. Dallas Zoo - On Saturday, head to the Dallas Zoo for the grand opening of the Giants of the Savanna exhibit from 10am to 5pm. There's going to be a ton of great kids' activities, including performances by the Dallas Black Dance Theater (another one of our esteemed partners), an appearance by Radio Disney (who is yet another partner, working with us on SLANT 45) and African Paper Bead-Making led by Big Thought professional teaching artist VET! This is not to be missed - so make sure you put it on your schedule and take the DART (with a same-day pass) for a $2 discount on admission!
    
2. YMCA - Also on Saturday, check out FREE open house celebrations at all Dallas, Arlington and Fort Worth YMCA locations. Hop in the pool for open swim and water safety classes, eat snacks and participate in fun family activities. Here are event descriptions for Dallas and Arlington; find your local YMCA on YMCA Connect! 
    
3. Museum of Nature & Science - There's another new exhibit rolling into town this weekend - but this one's only for a limited time! The Museum of Nature & Science's new exhibit, Water, opens Saturday and will be here through August 22. Learn all about the amazing things that water can do while you beat the heat this summer - more info on tickets and hours of operation can be found here.
    
4. Dallas Arboretum - Finally, round out your Memorial Day weekend on Monday with some music! First, check out the Dallas Arboretum's Children's Concert, featuring Eddie Coker, popular chidlren's entertainer, from 11am to 2pm. There are also new displays for kids in the Arboretum, including Peter Rabbit's Flower Village, and there are free children's activity books at the information desk.
    
5. Dallas Symphony - Then, head over to Flagpole Hill for a fitting end to an awesome three-day weekend: the Dallas Symphony Orchestra's annual Memorial Day Concert at Flagpole Hill. This FREE concert will feature classic patriotic marches like Bagley's National Emblem and Sousa's Semper Fidelis and Washington Post March, as well as Tchaikovsy's rousing and instantly recognizable 1812 Overture! The concert begins at 8pm and features a fireworks display!

Now go forth and enjoy your Memorial Day weekend - and if you're stumped for ways to follow up such an awesome weekend, check out our 5 Things Archive for more fun lists of things to do and try.

5 Things... We Love to Read
May is Get Caught Reading Month, dreamed up by the Association of American Publishers. Celebrate by visiting your local library branch or bookstore, grabbing a stack of books and getting down to the business of READING! Our staff have always been big book fans, so we made a little list of some of our favorite books from our childhood. Here goes:

1. Jessica Malek - The Secret Garden and From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
   Jessica, Vice President of Knowledge & Innovation, liked the autonomy of the characters in these books - mostly because the children were free to discover things on their own, almost like "mini adults."
    
2. Abbie Kopf - The Pokey Little Puppy
   Internal Communications Manager Abbie Kopf received this book as a hand-me-down from her siblings. They all read the book multiple times - it was a "fixture of their childhood," and, since Abbie graduated quickly to chapter books, a sweet memory of growing up with her brother and sister.
    
3. Shelley Cooper - Curious George and Clifford the Big Red Dog
   Shelley enjoyed being able to follow the main characters of these books throughout mishaps and dilemmas. Analytical even then, our Controller was curious to see what they would get into and how they would resolve any problems!
    
4. Rob Lynch - Dr. Seuss classics One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish and The Cat in the Hat
   Before Rob became our Manager of Information Technology, he enjoyed reading Dr. Seuss books. Seuss' clever rhyming writing style was a definite draw for Rob, and these two books were his faves.
    
5. Tatum Rodgers - The Wizard of Oz
   Along with coveting a pair of those lovely ruby slippers, Tatum, one of our Thriving Minds Area Managers, enjoyed sitting down with her family to watch the movie of The Wizard of Oz on TV every year. It never failed to draw her back into reading the book!

Check out these and more at your local Dallas Public Library branch - and stop in for the monthly Library Live! programs (sponsored by Target)! Every month, professional teaching artists stop in for one-hour literacy programs at every branch; find the nearest program on our events calendar, and download our brand new activity book (in English and Spanish) for fun literacy activities to do at home.

Now get out there and Get Caught Reading!

For more lists of 5 Things... check out the Archive!