NEW CURRICULA & SCHOOL PROGRAMS FROM THE NATIONAL STEINBECK CENTER
The Cultural Institutions Program, administered by the California Arts Council on behalf of the State of California, made these programs possible.

CHILDREN'S BOOK
The Gift of Imagination: John Steinbeck’s Childhood
This charming book is written from the point of view of young Mary Steinbeck as she and her older brother, John, go about their daily lives in Salinas, California at the turn of the century. With beautiful, four-color watercolor illustrations and 3rd grade appropriate text, this book focuses on John Steinbeck’s imaginative experiences as a young boy. $12.95 / 32 pages / four-color illustrations

CURRICULA
A Century Ago in Steinbeck Country: 3rd Grade History-Social Science and Language Arts Curriculum
A Century Ago in Steinbeck Country is a rich curriculum that was written to enhance students’ understanding of daily life a century ago through the life and writings of John Steinbeck. While the Salinas Valley is used as an example, the major themes and activities of the curriculum can be adapted to almost any community in California.

The lessons meet specified California content standards in History-Social Science and Language Arts. Activities include journal writing, interviews, map work, Venn diagrams, arts and crafts, poetry, and more.

The curriculum is anchored by a full-color picture book, The Gift of Imagination: John Steinbeck’s Childhood and contains four units, each consisting of three to four 45-55 minute sessions, and visuals for classroom use.
$39.95 / five units in 3-ring binder / picture book / visuals

Teaching Twentieth Century History through Steinbeck’s Eyes: 11th Grade History-Social Science
and Language Arts Curriculum
Teaching Twentieth Century History through Steinbeck’s Eyes is a standards-based curriculum that revolves around the life and works of an American writer, John Steinbeck.

The curriculum includes five lessons that enhance classroom instruction about the Great Depression, World War II, environmental issues, and American society in the 1960s. The lessons meet specified California content standards in History-Social Science and Language Arts.

Activities include Reader’s Theater, creating a personal timeline, observational writing, and more. The lessons are featured in a teacher-friendly format and include a four-color timeline and other visuals to use in the classroom.
$29.95 / five units in 3-ring binder / timeline and other visuals

Please visit our classroom activities page to preview the outreach programs and resources under development that will complement these curriculum units. Please contact the Education Department at (831) 796-3833 Ext. 222 or via email at education@steinbeck.org for additional information.

VIDEOS
Two weeks before your fieldtrip, we send you a copy of one of our orientation videos. Steinbeck: Experimenter, Philosopher, Traveler, Writer is a 13 minute video about John Steinbeck, his life, and his writings. A Bountiful Harvest is a 9 minute video that talks about agriculture - both past and present - in the Salinas Valley. Either one of these videos is available for teachers to use in the classroom as part of the fieldtrip program fee. We strongly encourage all teachers to discuss either video with their class to build prior knowledge and enthusiasm for visiting the National Steinbeck Center.

PROGRAMS

STEINBECK YOUNG AUTHORS - NEW!
Steinbeck Young Authors is an innovative program for middle school students in Monterey County. The program enhances students' writing skills, explores the excitement of writing through the involvement of community members, and introduces students to John Steinbeck and his works. Taking place over the course of an entire school year, Steinbeck Young Authors includes teacher training, a standards-based unit of study on The Red Pony, visuals and objects for classroom use, horse demonstrations, writing exercises, writing coaches, an awards ceremony and prizes for all participating students and contest winners! The National Steinbeck Center, California State University, Monterey Bay, Hartnell College, and the Monterey County Office of Education sponsor the Steinbeck Young Authors program, with funding from the William McCaskey Chapman and Adaline Dinsmore Chapman Foundation, The Community Foundation for Monterey County, Leon and Sylvia Panetta, Patricia Chapman and the Monterey Office of Education. For information, contact the Education Department at 796-3833 ext. 222 or email education@steinbeck.org.

STEINBECK ALIVE!
Co-sponsored by The Western Stage.
This program in the schools brings Steinbeck, his mother, and characters from his books to life in the classroom! Don't miss this wonderful opportunity to breathe life into Steinbeck's works for your students. Each program includes a 15-minute presentation by an actor from The Western Stage. The performances featured are:

     Olive Steinbeck, Steinbeck's mother
     A Young John Steinbeck
     Jody from The Red Pony
     Kino from The Pearl
     Tom Joad from The Grapes of Wrath
     Emiliano Zapata from Viva Zapata!

Steinbeck Alive! is designed to be an experience for one or two classes and is limited to 70 students. Schools are encouraged to book multiple performances on the same day to accommodate larger student audiences. Performances may also be booked to coincide with fieldtrips to the National Steinbeck Center. The cost is $100 per performance. There is an additional cost for mileage for schools outside of Monterey County. Call (831) 796-3833 ext. 222 for character availability and additional information.

ADVENTURES IN AGRICULTURE
Adventures in Agriculture is an educational and occupational summer program for high school students in Monterey County about agriculture in the Salinas Valley. The program will provide an in-depth understanding of the complexities of the industry and include several hands-on fieldtrips. The students will be hired as "guides" in the Valley of the World Agricultural Wing in Summer 2004 and receive high school credit through Mission Trails Regional Occupational Program.

AG ECON CHALLENGE
Ag Econ Challenge is a computer program for 12th grade economics students that will be piloted in the 2003-04 school year, in conjunction with California State University, Monterey Bay. With its many twists and turns in the buisness, the agricultural industry provides a terrific venue for teaching the principals of economics. Over the course of several growing seasons of lettuce, teams of high school students will confront hypothetical scenarios, make decisions, and then face the consequences or benefits of their choices.
Funding for Adventures in Agriculture and Ag Econ Challenge has been made available by the Governor's Buy California Initiative, the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), and the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The content of this publication does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of CDFA or USDA, nor does any mention of trade names, commercial products and organizations imply endorsement of them by CDFA or USDA.

FIRST MAYOR'S HOUSE
Isaac Julian Harvey, Salinas' first mayor, built this historic house in 1868. Seeking to escape the harsh winters of the Sierra Nevada, the Harvey family moved west into the Salinas Valley in 1866. The original furnishings, clothing, family portraits, written documents, and period garden make this house unique. Hands-on history programs will be launched in the future for 3rd and 4th grade classes, with an emphasis on local and California history, immigrant families, and daily life in the late 19th century.

IMPORTANT LINKS
Art & Cultural Exhibits
First Mayor's House
Steinbeck Exhibition Hall
Steinbeck Museum Store