Our school education program targets fourth grade students at all elementary schools in the county. I start about a month ahead of when I want the presentations to begin and send out letters to all of the schools' assistant principals describing the program and letting them know that it is FREE. I fax a follow up reminder about three weeks later. I usually have quite a few schools booked by this time. I call or email the fourth grade team leader of any schools that I haven't heard from that normally participate. Using this process, I end up getting at least 85 percent of the schools to participate.

I book many kinds of presentations. Some schools prefer one large presentation in the cafeteria, two small presentations in the media center or they may want me to come to individual classes. I usually try not to do more than three a day, so two classes may come into one room or I come back the next day if there are five or six classes. The presentation lasts about 45 to 50 minutes. The students and teachers really seem to enjoy the program. I give each of the teachers a feedback sheet so they can write their comments on what they liked or ways to improve and the responses are great. Below is the outline I use.

• 1. Intro
  a. Who I am
  b. Who I am with
  c. Rules for being quiet - (before we get started...)
  
  

• 2. Handbook (every child gets a handbook)
  a. Go over each page
  b. Stress importance of 2nd to last page (this page has to be turned in to teacher)

  • 1. Do with parents

  • 2. If you bring back, you get individual prize (flashlight, calculator..)

  • 3. If entire class returns them, class gets prize (game, book, poster, food treats...)
    
    

• 3. Pencil
  a. You will need something to write with so.... (every child gets a pencil)
  
  

• 4. Video
  a. Pay attention - game to follow
  b. You will get prize for correct answers (little plastic insects, slinky...)
  c. What did you think about video? (feedback information for next video)
  d. What was your favorite part? (feedback information for next video)
  
  

• 5. Game
  a. Give rules - must be quiet and raise hand
  - wait to be called on
  - prizes given out at end
  b. Ask questions
  
  

• 6. Life cycle kit
  a. Tell about kit and stages
  b. Give do's and don'ts
  
  

• 7. Ask for questions

The life cycle kit that I mention is shown in the school video. It stays in the classroom for one week so the students can watch the mosquitoes go through all phases of their cycle. At the end of the week I return to the classroom to pick up the kit and collect checklists and feedback sheets. Any class that returns 100% of their checklists receives a class prize.

Along with the presentations, we do at least one public service announcement involving children each year and try to do a new school video every three to four years. This program seems to work very well for us.