The "5 Things" Archive

5 Ways to Support Big Thought

1. Volunteer - We can't thank our volunteers enough for all that they do! We have immediate opportunities for enthusiastic, caring volunteers in our Thriving Minds After-School program. Volunteers are needed on Fridays from 3-5 pm for our Read Out Progam & from 3-6pm Mon-Fri. to assist with various projects. Interested? Call 469-916-9835 for more info or fill out a volunteer application today! 
2. Interact with us - Follow us on Twitter, fan us on Facebook, read the Think Big Blog.  Vote for Big Thought every day between April 11-May 9 in the Cadillac Cares Challenge & cast your vote for Mark Melton in the One Man Dallas event running April 12-May 19. 
3. Advocate for creative learning & education - Be an advocate for arts, culture, creative learning & education in your community! Attend city council meetings, write letters to your representatives, volunteer or spread the word among friends & colleagues. Email us to learn more about how you can help make imagination & creativity a part of everyday learning.
4. Educate yourself - For more than 10 years, Big Thought has been doing research on the supply, demand, quality and effect of an education enriched by creative learning. Read our research and learn how ohters across the nation see our work. 
5. Donate Now - All of our programs and partnerships operate under the assumption that, when given the resources that they need, children can accomplish great things. As we know, kids can and will work hard, learn more & exceed expectations but they can't do it alone. They need mentors, volunteers, advisors, advocates, donors and more who believe that they are worth championing. When you give to Big Thought, you’re investing in a brighter future for thousands of children and their families. In return, we promise to be excellent stewards of your gift, using your investment wisely and efficiently.

5 Places to Explore in Dallas!

1. Trinity River Audubon Center. The Great Trinity Forest is the largest urban hardwood forest in the United States. The Trinity River Audubon Center offers miles of trails and hands-on exhibits, as well as monthly special events programs. Visit on the third Thursday of the month for free. 
2. Dallas Arts District. Dallas' world class arts district is one of the places that makes the city unique. Visit their website to find a calendar of events and links to each venue's website, where you can find information about free days or discounted admission prices. 
3. Dallas Heritage Village. Composed of 38 historic structures, the Dallas Heritage Village lets you explore what life was like in North Texas from 1840-1910. 
4. White Rock Lake. A little pieces of the country in the heart of Dallas, White Rock Lake offers plenty of free or low cost options for fun. Jog, bike or roller blade the trails around the lake and bring a picnic to enjoy. Rent a kayak or canoe from White Rock Paddle Co. or visit the Bath House Cultural Center (entrance is free; there may be a fee for some exhibits or performances). 
5. Bishop Arts District.  Browse funky boutiques and check out The Artisan's Collective Gallery in the Bishop Arts District, five minutes from downtown Dallas. Visit on the first Thursdays of the month for special events and discounts. 

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. 
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 DSOKidspage 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... 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!

5 things... To Celebrate This Week!
May is such a wonderful month - chock full of beautiful spring weather, lovely flowers and green grass. So that makes it the perfect month to celebrate the good things in life, right? Here are a few first-week-of-May holidays to get you feeling good:

1. Teacher Appreciation Week. Big Thought does a lot of work supporting teachers, instructors and teaching artists in the city of Dallas and surrounding areas. Take some time out this week to make a special thank-you card for your favorite teachers or just let them know you care and appreciate their role in your life!
2. Cinco de Mayo. Fiesta! Cinco de Mayo is a celebration of Mexican heritage and pride. Here in Texas, we celebrate by donning bright colors, enjoying authentic Mexican food, and learning about other cultures with Young Audiences artists like Ballet Folklorico, Jacco Velarde and other programs that focus on Mexican and Hispanic heritage and traditions. 
3. Space Day. Space Day is celebrated the first Friday of May. Our favorite place to study space is in the Planetarium at the Museum of Nature & Science, one of our partner organizations. Head out there this weekend for shows like "Secrets of the Sun," "Universe" and "Texas Night Sky." This holiday provides a valuable learning experience wrapped up in a really fun package!
4. No Socks Day. Take off those socks and enjoy the feeling of your toes in the green spring Texas grass - perhaps at the Dallas Arboretum or one of Dallas' awesome parks! This holiday came from the genius minds behind Wellcat, which has a lot of silly, wonderful and wellness-focused holidays for every season. Mark your calendars! 
5. Mother's Day. Here at BT, we love our moms. They're librarians, rocket scientists, nurses, counselors, schoolteachers, chefs, homemakers, city employees, secretaries, antiques dealers, accountants - the list goes on an on. But most of all, they're our moms - and though we celebrate them every day, it warms our hearts to have the rest of the world celebrate them, too, on this special day in May.

5 Things... We Love About Our Volunteers

There is no way we could provide such a wide range of opportunities to the children and families of North Texas without our volunteers, so this 5 Things is all about THEM. Here are some things we admire most about them:

1. Dedication. Our volunteers are there for us through rain or shine, late nights and early mornings.
2. Willingness. They handle everything we throw at them. They help us complete tasks like making packets and stuffing envelopes. They help us run events, directing traffic and answering questions. They help us conduct creative activities with children and hang art exhibits all over town.
3. Knowledge. Among our volunteers are lawyers, accountants, politicians, artists, educators, parents and many more. They are representative of our larger general audience, and as such, they help us determine what path to tread with our programs and research.
4. Ingenuity. Our volunteers find creative ways to get involved at every level. Some approach us with donations they've collected in our name at events or fundraisers. Others even volunteer on their own time as coaches for SLANT 45 service-learning teams.
5. Passion. We love hearing our volunteers describe the reasons why they choose to work with us. It helps to reinvigorate our own passion, and validates our mission and purpose.

To volunteer with Big Thought, please fill out the Volunteer Application form online. 

5 Things... We've Learned about National Women's History Month
Without the efforts of two extraordinary women back in 1987, Big Thought wouldn’t exist. We honor our founders and their vision of using the arts to educate children every day. Today, we celebrate them with a special five things we’ve learned about National Women’s History Month.

1. How it began: Though the history of women and their contributions now receives a full month of celebration in the U.S., it began as a one-week festival in Sonoma County, California. In 1980, President Carter endorsed it nationally, and it was made law in 1981. In 1987, Congress extended the weeklong celebration into a full month dedicated to women's history.   
2. Presidential Proclamation:  The theme of this year’s National Women’s History Month is “Writing Women Back into History,” which highlights the pivotal themes from the last 30 years of the operation of the National Women’s History Project. This year, National Women’s History Month received a Presidential Proclamation, just as it has every single year since National Women’s History Week was given the distinction of its first Proclamation back in 1980 from President Carter.   
   
3. Famous firsts: It is well worth celebrating the first women to become politicians, astronauts, scientists, etc. This great resource from the History Channel is an excellent comprehensive list of just that - celebrating women like Edith Wharton (the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize), Amelia Earhart (the first woman to cross the Atlantic in an airplane), Sandra Day O'Connor (the first woman to serve on the Supreme Court) and the 2010 Academy Award-winner for Best Director (the first woman to win that honor), Kathryn Bigelow.
4. Female musicians: This year, the Smithsonian Institution is highlighting women in the arts – specifically those all over the world who are breaking barriers by expressing themselves through music. One of the most fascinating examples we found was of the women in the Dagarti culture of Ghana, where only men are allowed to play the xylophone. Dagarti women discovered a clever way of recreating the sound of the xylophone by hitting the cloth of their dresses - amazing!  
5. In Texas: There are many fantastic opportunities in Texas for women and girls to celebrate themselves and their place in our history and our future. A few that we’ve found include education programs at The Women’s Museum in Dallas (the first national women’s history museum EVER); Girlstart, a program that began in Austin which focuses on providing young women with STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education; and the Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas, the local chapter of the incredible national organization that focuses on empowering girls.

Take the time to celebrate the women in your history, past, present and future - just as we celebrate those responsible for our existence! Thank you to our founders for your inspiration and dedication to our cause and to the children and families of Dallas.

5 Things... We Love About Spring
Spring is here! Despite a few hiccups (like Monday's rain), North Texas is working its way into bloom. This week, we've collected a few of our favorite things about Spring to share with you. Check 'em out!

1. The Poetry - "Spring Will be Pretty" - by Dave Crawley is one of our faves. This silly poem about the pros and cons of early spring will have you in stitches with its goofy rhymes.
   
   Spring Will Be Pretty - Dave Crawley 
   Spring will be pretty. Just give it a week,
   When flowers are blooming down by the creek.
   Bees will be buzzing as trees start to bud,
   But for the moment I'm covered with mud.
   
   Snow has been melting, since winter is through,
   Replacing the whiteness with puddles of goo.
   I stepped off the sidewalk and into the ooze.
   Next thing I knew, I stepped out of my shoes!
   
   Mud on my ankles and mud on my clothes.
   I stumbled face-first and got mud up my nose.
   Spring will be pretty, but I must confess,
   The first days of spring are a muckety mess!
    
2. The Activities - We went searching online for the ideal spring activity and came up with this fantastic find: the Easy Wreath Birdbath! The process is simple, the supplies are cheap and the finished product will provide hours of entertainment - for you and your feathered friends!
    
3. The Festivals - Spring festivals are oh-so-fun, and Dallas Blooms at the Dallas Arboretum is one of the greats! Running from March 6th on into the month of April, this festival offers plenty of opportunities for you and your family to enjoy flora, fauna, arts & crafts and musical programs. Don't miss it!
    
4. The Books - We particularly like It's Spring! by author Linda Glaser. With its fantastic illustrations and tons of great outdoor activities, it's the perfect book to take outside to read on a lovely spring day with the birds chirping above you and the grass blowing in the breeze at your feet.
    
5. The Songs - Music educator Barbara Bonisteel came up with a clever little ditty called Baby Birdie - complete with dance moves to get your body moving on a spring morning!
   
   Baby Birdie
   ** This is a "scale song" - each line gets one note of the do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, ti, do scale; the movements are italicized after each line**
   Here's a baby birdie (crouch down low, head down)
   Hatching from his shell
   Out pops his head, (head pops up)
   Then comes his tail (tail pops up)
   Now his legs he stretches (stand up)
   His wings he gives a flap (flap arms)
   Then he flies and flies and flies (twirl around and around)
   Now what do you think of that?
   Down,down,down..........BOOM! (fall down)

And, because we can't resist - here's one of our favorite spring jokes:
Question: If April Showers bring May Flowers, then what do May Flowers bring?

Give up? It's a good one...

Answer: Pilgrims! Ha! Try that one on your family; we guarantee they'll giggle. Now get out there and enjoy the beauty of spring! And check out our 5 Things Archive if you're stumped for other fun games and activities.

For Adults:

5 Things... To Help You Advocate for a Cause!
We're sure that you have issues and causes that you care about - so how do you go about convincing your local and state representatives to your side? Simple: follow the guidelines below - just one of the great tools to come out of the Dallas Advocacy Day...more.

5 Things... To Help You Celebrate Nat'l Arts & Humanities Month
October is National Arts & Humanities Month, a time for everyone nationwide to come together and support the arts. Through Thriving Minds, we've set up neighborhood "hubs" around the city, where we work to provide programming and encourage partnerships and resource-sharing among the local city, community and cultural organizations. This week's 5 Things features a programs and opportunities to show your love for the arts - right in your own neighborhood...more.

5 Things... We Know About Quality
Quality is perhaps the most important characteristic of a successful arts education and creative learning program. While it is a major accomplishment to increase the raw numbers of creative learning opportunities throughout a city as large as Dallas, the opportunities must also be high-quality to have an impact...thus that is an area on which we've focused our Research & Assessment lens for the last 2 years...more.

5 Things... We Read Daily
At Big Thought, we believe it's important to stay informed about everything that's going on in the arts, education, public policy and the news in general. Our work demands that we are familiar with the trends in our industry and the latest research - to keep our knowledge current, we read several blogs every day...more.

Quick Links:     Creativity Center