Welcome
to the Connect2Texas web site!
Connect2Texas is a network of Texas-based educational content providers including museums, cultural, historical, and scientific organizations, and authors. These providers utilize interactive videoconferencing to connect to schools and deliver live educational programs and professional development to school children and educators around Texas and across the country. Bring the scientists, experts, and authors directly to your students without leaving the classroom!
NOTE: Payment for programs is made directly to the providers, NOT ESC Region XI or Connect2Texas.
TEACHERS: Not sure what to expect with a content enhancement program? Click here to see a sample program from Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, or click here for a brief overview of Connect2Texas (these files will play in Windows MediaPlayer).
Winners! Drawing from Facebook, Twitter, and the listserv.
Congratulations to Jody Rentfro, stranum@nisdtx.org, Melanie Morgan, jenny.mitchell@borgerisd.net, mroolf@eisd.net, samdahl@wisd.us. Contact Laurie Hogle at lhogle@esc11.net to claim your free program. Congratulations!
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Amon Carter Museum of American Art
presents
May In the News:
Bring on the May Flowers
Friday, May 4
9:00-9:45 AM CST
FREE
Click here to register now!
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New Providers for 2011-2012 |
Dallas Symphony Orchestra
EduCake
Fort Worth Zoo
Houston Space Center
Houston Zoo
Humanities Texas
Museum of Nature & Science
Partnership for Environmental Education & Rural Health (PEER)
Texas State Aquarium
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*Award Winning Providers* |
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6th Annual Teacher's Favorite Awards from Berrien RESA

Best Art Museums & Organizations
Amon Carter Museum of American Art
Best American History Museums & Organizations
National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame
Best Multidisciplinary Museums & Organizations
Fort Worth Museum of Science and History

Author John R. Erickson
Bass Performance Hall/Performing Arts Fort Worth
Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum
Botanical Research Institute of Texas
Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge
McDonald Observatory
Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza
Texas Wildlife Association
The National Archives at Fort Worth
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CILC 2010-2011 Awards
Pinnacle Award Recipient
National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame
Honorable Mention
Fort Worth Museum of Science and History |
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*Connect2Texas Providers*
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The Amon Carter Museum of American Art offers interactive distance learning sessions to schools throughout the United States. The lessons are exciting and engaging real-time interactions between schools and the museum's educators using inquiry-based teaching methods focusing on the museum's strong collection of American art. Each lesson corresponds with Texas and national standards. Students are asked to observe, analyze, and verbally express their ideas about images presented. In addition to a main camera, a special "document camera" allows for close inspection of individual objects. Used in the classroom, program content enhances the curriculum and provides an introduction to the museum experience. Pre- and post-broadcast classroom activities accompany each program. |
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The mission of the Nancy Lee and Perry R. Bass Performance Hall is to serve as a permanent home to major performing arts organizations of Fort Worth and as a premiere venue for other attractions so as to enhance the range, quality, and accessibility of cultural fare available to the public; to promulgate arts education; and to contribute to the cultural life of Fort Worth, Tarrant County, and the region. |
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Cook Children's Medical Center has provided medical and surgical care to the children of north and west Texas for almost 90 years. Today, Cook Children's Health Care System provides more than 30 pediatric specialties and services, plus nationally-recognized services for newborns, and for children with cancer, heart problems and lung ailments. Through an integrated system, Cook Children's provides quality health care to children and is dedicated to assisting families who experience stress due to childhood illness and injury. Cook Children's videoconferencing services include helping to prepare classmates for a patient's return to school, organizing virtual visits with friends and family (especially for patients experiencing extended hospital stays), and providing a variety of videoconference programs to help educate students and educators about many health-related issues. |
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*New Provider*
The Dallas Symphony Orchestra offers interactive performances by various ensembles featuring different instruments in the orchestra. Teachers can choose from brass, string, woodwind, or percussion ensembles. Each ensemble is comprised of world-famous musicians who introduce their instruments to the class, perform an engaging variety of repertoire, and interact directly with students. Programs correspond with Texas and national Fine Arts standards, and are tailored precisely to fit the needs and interests of each age group. During the presentation, students are asked to engage in focused listening, and verbally express their thoughts about the music they hear. Prior to the presentation, each school will receive a link to a PDF file of Music Fun Facts (in both English & Spanish). Music Fun Facts is an engaging resource book about the orchestra that prepares them to meet the musicians and their instruments, and provides instruction on how to build one’s own instruments at home. |
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*New Provider*
Educake, Inc. is a non-profit organization established to produce, provide and transmit high quality cross curricular and cross cultural media in the arts, humanities, and history to interested individuals, groups and school classrooms. The target audience is students enrolled in both public and private school settings in grades pre-K through high school. Educake, Inc. currently works with KPLE-TV to provide, produce and broadcast interactive educational programming as an interactive internet, web-based system for videoconferencing all over the world for educational and instructional purposes. |
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Let the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History come to you! Now you and your students can connect and interact LIVE with the Museum’s team of experts without leaving your campus! Utilizing interactive distance learning in the classroom, your students can explore science and history with Museum curators, staff and special guests. These 50-minute sessions correlate with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills and are in partnership with the ESC Region XI Telecommunications Network. |
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"To enhance the quality of life by enrolling and educating our community in the preservation and protection of natural areas while standing as an example of these same principles and values in North Central Texas." Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge mission statement is the guiding principle that drives all facets of this 3,600 acre nature center and wildlife refuge. From our educational and recreational program offerings, to the location and routes of trails, to our choice of habitat restoration methods, we strive to introduce everyone to the natural history of the region. |
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*New Provider*
Let your student’s imagination run wild with the Fort Worth Zoo! Did you know an African Lion’s roar can be heard up to 5 miles? Partnering with Connect2Texas, our animals can be heard and seen much further away! The Zoo’s mission is based on three principles: Conservation, Education, and Entertainment. We use a combination of live animals and animal biofacts to help your students hone their observation skills and inquiry methods as well as understand important biological concepts. Student will discover some of the world’s most amazing creatures from Africa to Texas, with lessons adapted to the TEKS and National Standards. We offer programs on a variety of topics, and if requested, can tailor a new program to meet your classroom’s needs.
Reservations: Please schedule distance learning classes at least two weeks in advance. Classes are limited to 30 students, without additional fees, and one to two school connections per session so that students have the instructor’s full attention. |
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The Grace Museum is pleased to offer four (4) Distance Learning virtual field trips to schools across the nation and throughout the world!
Distance Learning at The Grace Museum involves launching a real-time, interactive experience for teachers and students of all ages. Teachers who register for the tour will be able to download a resource packet full of pre- and post- activities for their class. The programs are TEKS and TAKS aligned, and are based on national teaching standards as well. |
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Houston Space Center Coming Soon! |
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*New Provider*
Through the power of distance learning, allow the Houston Zoo to carry your students from the pristine prairies of the Gulf Coast of Texas to the flowing grasslands of Africa. We invite your class to connect with us as we use animal artifacts and live animals to teach interactive, standard-based lessons that allow you to travel around the globe without ever leaving your classroom. |
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*New Provider*
Humanities Texas, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), offers a number of exciting professional development programs for educators. Beginning in 2011, Humanities Texas will offer professional development sessions via Connect2Texas offering teachers the opportunity to explore topics at the heart of the state's social studies and language arts curricula with leading scholars.
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The Institute of Texan Cultures is located in downtown San Antonio on the UTSA HemisFair Park Campus, a short walk from the Alamo and the River Walk. The 182,000-square-foot complex features 65,000 square feet of interactive exhibits and displays that tell the stories of Texans.
The museum is a component of The University of Texas at San Antonio. It plays a role in the university’s community engagement initiatives by developing quality, accessible resources for educators and lifelong learners on topics of cultural heritage. It strives to develop a rich and vibrant culture in the arts and humanities that will expand the community’s awareness and appreciation of Texas through an engaging series of exhibits, programs, and special events.
The museum opened as the Texas State Exhibits Pavilion, which was built for the 1968 HemisFair celebration. Today, the institute fulfills its mandate as the state's center for multicultural education by investigating the ethnic and cultural history of the state and presenting the resulting information with a variety of offerings. |
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John R. Erickson is best known as the author of the Hank the Cowdog series of books and audios. Hank started out as a self-publishing venture in Perryton, TX, grew to a national audience, and has now sold over seven million books and audio recordings. Mr. Erickson recorded the first book on audio doing all of the voices himself, and songs have always been a big part of the Hank stories, too. Mr. Erickson has used his voice and musical talents to bring his characters and books to life for audiences for the last twenty-five years. John Erickson’s live program is made up of readings from the Hank the Cowdog books and performing songs from the stories. |
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"Live...From McDonald Observatory!" is an interactive science learning experience that takes you and your students on a virtual field trip to the
University of Texas McDonald Observatory, in the remote Davis Mountains of West Texas.
The TEKS- and TAKS-aligned content of the video conference program includes a virtual tour of McDonald Observatory and a lesson on the sun, including (weather permitting) live views of the sun with special telescopes and unique science demonstrations. Videoconferences are available for grades 3-5, 6-8, or 9-12 (recommended for IPC, Physics, or Astronomy classes).
Videoconferences are 50-minute, two-way connections between one class (or student club) of up to 35 students and McDonald Observatory. Additional view-only connections are available for an additional fee. Participating teachers receive an online pre-conference package, an introductory DVD, timeline, TEKS/TAKS linkages, suggestions for student behavior, suggestions for pre- and post-conference activities, and conference study guides. Teachers will be asked to complete an evaluation form following the videoconference.
The University of Texas McDonald Observatory is a world-class astronomical research facility established in 1932, and is the destination for thousands of astronomers, educators, students, families, and science enthusiasts.
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*New Provider*
“Inspiring minds through nature and science” – it’s the Museum of Nature & Science mission statement and our commitment to children and educators. Now that inspiration can come directly to you and your students! MNS offers hands-on, interactive science programming on topics from dinosaurs to DNA and oceans to outer space that inspire creative thinking and promote problem-solving skills. All of the programs we offer connect with Texas state standards (TEKS) and provide exciting lessons to get students interested in science. Our virtual programs will bring the museum’s vast resources – including our collections and guest speakers - into any classroom. Connect and interact live with Museum educators, scientists, expert staff members and special guests. Now your kids get the straight answers to questions like what happened to the dinosaurs? Why are there only eight planets in the solar system when there used to be nine? Or why doesn’t water catch on fire?
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The National Archives at Fort Worth is a center for historical and genealogical research, we have both an Archival and Microfilm Research Room for researchers. Our historical records date from the 1800s to the late 1900s, and include letters, photographs, maps, architectural drawings, and other documents received from over 100 Federal agencies and courts in Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas.
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The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame is the only museum in the world dedicated to honoring women of the American West who have displayed extraordinary courage and pioneer spirit in their trail blazing efforts. Since it was established in 1975, the Museum has become an invaluable educational resource nationally known for its exhibits, research library, rare photography collection, and the honorees in its Hall of Fame. |
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Experience the museum virtually!
The Old Jail Art Center is pleased to offer classes via distance learning.
Students can go on a guided virtual tour of the museum, create art projects with a museum educator, or participate in an Art to Go class tailored to suit the classroom curriculum. The museum provides all of the necessary supplies and materials. All materials will be shipped in advance via FedEx. Some materials may have to be returned after the class. Fees vary per class.
Reservations: Please schedule distance learning classes at least two weeks in advance. Classes are limited to 30 students, without additional fees, and one school connection so that the students have the instructor’s full attention. |
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Where can you explore more than 500 million years of history across 26,000 square miles under one roof? Since opening as a one-room gallery called Pioneer Hall in 1933, the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum has become the largest history museum in Texas. PPHM is committed to bringing new and engaging exhibits to students and teachers and demonstrating our relevance to every generation every day. PPHM's collections encompass a range of diverse subjects including art, history, archeology, paleontology, ethnology, geology, petroleum, textiles, weapons, transportation and sports. |
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*New Provider*
The Partnership for Environmental Education & Rural Health (PEER) program at Texas A&M University would like to bring scientists, veterinarians, veterinary students, and veterinary technicians into your classroom to help you teach! The Partnership for Environmental Education and Rural Health (PEER) offers teacher professional development, presentations from people in science-related careers, and curriculum development including a teacher requested resource service. Presenters will bring the most current science topics to your classroom to motivate your students to learn and inform them about career opportunities in science. From basic sciences like geology and biology, to veterinary procedures, virtual tours, and cutting edge state-of-the-art research, we offer a variety of programs to get students fired-up about science. We want to help teachers answer those age-old questions: “Why do we have to learn this?” and “Who actually uses this stuff?” Let our presenters show your students the world of science. |
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http://www.axlegalench.com
Rooster Morris, cowboy turned children’s author, plays his fiddle, performs readings from his books, and motivates students to read and write for the FUN of it. A Smithsonian-recorded fiddle player and nationally-known performer, Rooster has shared his reading program with over 5 million children. Prompted by educators, Rooster developed a writing workshop which helps children get started writing when faced with a blank page and has defined ‘voice’ in a way that students can grasp it. His writing workshop has been adopted as a yearly event by many Texas elementary schools for inspiring students to write—especially those students who have never written before. There are two Axle Galench books published, the third is in the works, and Rooster is currently working on the 4th book, Axle Galench and the Dungeon’s Secret.
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The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza interprets the life, death and legacy of President John F. Kennedy. Now, through interactive, inquiry-based distance learning programs, you and your students can experience history through careful examination of the photographs, films and artifacts in the Museum's collection of 35,000 items. These programs also connect students with "living history" speakers: eyewitnesses, law enforcement officials, journalists, physicians and others with direct memories of the Kennedy assassination. A selection of engaging programs provide opportunities for students to meet the Museum's curatorial, collections and education staff, prompting thoughtful discussions on U.S. history, world history, the Civil Rights Movement, oral history and the role of the historian! All programs are TEKS and TAKS aligned, and meet national history standards.
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*New Provider*
The Texas State Aquarium will connect people with nature and inspire conservation of the Gulf of Mexico. Take a trip to the ocean and never leave your classroom! Explore underwater worlds and learn about amazing marine life! Programs are offered according to grade level and feature interactive opportunities.
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Texas Wildlife Association (TWA)
“Working For Tomorrow’s Wildlife Today!”
Plug in to the possibilities with TWA’s Critter Connections Distance Learning Programs!
Critter Connections offers students the chance to learn more about native Texas wildlife while enhancing general science concepts through interactive discussions and activities! Programs focus on unique animal traits and adaptations, predator-prey relationships, and general wildlife ecology. Pre and Post-program companion lesson plans, activities, or discovery trunks are available.
The Texas Wildlife Association is a state-wide membership-driven organization that offers a variety of educational programs geared toward making Texas more tangible for students. TWA is absolutely dedicated to educating Texas youth about the conservation, management and enhancement of wildlife and wildlife habitat on private land to ensure the conservation of our cherished natural resources and outdoor heritage for future generations.
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Bring the museum into your classroom with the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum's exciting new distance learning program. Your class will explore history in exciting new ways through a variety of real time interactive programs led by our education staff. Each program is designed with pre and post "visit" activities for students, a variety of teacher resources, and clear connections to the social studies TEKS. |
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Education Service Center Region XI is located in Fort Worth, Texas…sometimes referred to as "Where the West Begins." The Education Service Center Region XI (ESC Region XI) produces and delivers videoconferencing programs using their innovative two-way interactive satellite based systems. Programs are delivered from remote areas including dinosaur excavation sites, nature centers, and wildlife refuges. Join us in our adventures … where the west begins and the learning never ends! |
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