Michelee Puppets Inc

Programs: Power up for health: community-wide campaigns were held in coral springs, fort lauderdale,and orlando florida to promote healthy lifestyle choices among families. Partnering with agencies such as nemours children's health system, holy cross hospital, cleveland clinic, broward county schools, and publix super markets, the program included 21 performances of 'extreme health challenge' in elementary schools and community centers. This high-energy production features wacky puppets, video and graphics, and audience participation in a game show format to teach elementary students how to make healthy choices regarding nutrition and exercise. The program also includes message posters, teacher activity guides, and power up for health videos for schools. 23 families participated in the power up for healthy family challenge, a 4-week program to establish healthier habits using the 5-2-1-almost none formula for healthy living. More than 5,700 children, parents, teachers and community members were reached. Outcomes include: 91% of students agreed they should eat five or more fruits and veggies per day; 92% agreed they should limit screen time to less than two hours per day; and 95% agreed that children can make healthy choices for themselves. 30% of participating families completed the challenge and reported success in reaching their personal goals.

bully prevention programs: 'a good day for pancake' (k-2nd grade) and 'the upstander league' (3rd-5th grade) teach children how to stand up to bullies and stand up for targets of bullying. Programs include engaging and interactive puppet shows, teacher guides, and supplemental materials such as upstander league membership cards and comic books to remind kids of bully prevention tactics. Program costs include the development and delivery of 74 performances to more than 13,000 children and their teachers and parents.

early childhood education initiative: 'rhyme time and discover math and science' are intimate performances featuring nursery rhymes, music, colorful puppets, table-top stages, and audience participation to teach pre-reading skills and math and science concepts to prepare early learners for success in kindergarten and beyond. The program includes live puppet shows, a nursery rhyme cd, teacher and parent activity guides, and educational videos. Program costs include the development and delivery of 162 performances for 14,000 preschool, head start, and kindergarten students and their teachers. Outcomes include: 90% of teachers reported that the program increased students' vocabularies; 90% reported increase in understanding of 2d and 3d shapes; 95% reported increase in students' interest and curiosity to observe/explore the natural world.

other programs included our creative expression through puppetry program, in which low-income, underserved, and foster children work in groups to write, build, and perform their own issue-based puppet shows; puppetry in-service training for teachers and occupational therapy students; parent-child puppetry workshops; special public performances at special events,libraries and community centers; sunday family fun days hosted by michelee puppetseach month at venue on the lake in maitland featuring performances and arts workshops for parents and children by michelee puppets and other guest artists. We also produced educational videos, which can be accessed on our website, on vimeo, and on youtube. Programs were delivered to 43,700 children and adults.