12.05.2010
South Carolina Maritime Foundation
Sail into OCEAN Fun with Agnes Pflumm!
Charleston, SC (May 11, 2010) - On Wednesday, June 23 from 5:00 - 7:00 PM a family
ocean education event and fundraiser will be held at the Charleston Maritime center
to celebrate how we are all connected to the ocean. Local author and science educator,
Merrie Koester Southgate, will head up this exciting FREE evening with both storytelling
and improvisational theater from her new ocean adventure novel, Agnes Pflumm and
the Secret of the Seven [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103386829361&s=4232&e=001blXTHaJurh40WI47m748d-IA-Y-LFF7baddrVzgfzydNLy2fQguvEsMQQm5_e6x6cXORbJ9hEId9GFVO39M4FIVP5PeGhj52S61ouDqHXcdqhQAipVFhO0WlAzwPzGRmGOUjZrF2Yz6ovrElAIY7Rg==].
A professional drum circle, Inner Rhythm, will provide captivating background accompaniment.
Fun for every member of the family, there will be FREE Papa John's Pizza for the
first 100 people, ice cream, a raffle for a free evening sail about the Spirit
of South Carolina as well as a FREE classroom set of Agnes Pflumm and the Secret
of the Seven for a lucky middle school teacher. Families will be invited to visit
with real marine scientists and take home free materials. Proceeds from sales of
Merrie Southgate's new ocean education novel will be donated to the 21st Century
Spirit Ocean Adventure drop out prevention and literacy program offered by the South
Carolina Maritime Foundation. Merrie Southgate's previous science education novels
will also be available: Agnes Pflumm and the Stonecreek Science Fair, No Place Like
Periwinkle, and Pond Scum by Agnes Pflumm.
Who: Merrie Koester Southgate, science educator and author of four nationally acclaimed
science education novels for grades 5-8 (www.agnespflumm.com)
What: A family evening of ocean education, storytelling, theater, book signing,
tours of the Spirit of South Carolina, food, and drumming
Where: Charleston Maritime center, 10 Wharfside Street, Charleston, SC
When: Wednesday, June 23 5:00-7:00 PM
Why: To inspire families to learn as much about the ocean's influence on them and
their influence on the ocean
The event is free and open to the public and is sponsored by the South Carolina
Maritime Foundation, the South Carolina Aquarium, Charleston Maritime center, and
Papa John's Pizza. Families are encouraged to attend.
As a fall follow-up,Merrie Southgate will conduct a special middle school teacher
ocean literacy workshop at the South Carolina Aquarium, featuring her new arts-based
ocean science curriculum.
The event is a wonderful opportunity to combine all aspects of the South Carolina
Maritime Foundation's mission. We endeavor to act as a catalyst in the community
to address our collective needs. Whether we're working to protect the biodiversity
of our shared marine resources, teaching children how to read, cultivating leaders
for tomorrow, or providing low-wealth households with the opportunity for their
students to overcome the statistical barriers to success, events like this help
create thriving communities for the future. We're proud to work with NOAA, the South
Carolina Aquarium, Papa John's Pizza, and Merrie Southgate towards that goal.
- Matt McDonnell, Program Director, South Carolina Maritime Foundation
Step on board for an adventure that speaks of our "sense of place" that we call
ocean. From art and culture to flora and fauna, Merrie Southgate ties it all together
in this adventure! An amazing tool for educators to bring ocean knowledge and awareness
to future generations.
- Brian Thill, Assistant Director of Education, South Carolina Aquarium
Agnes Pflumm and the Secret of the Seven is an ocean adventure novel unlike any
you have ever read. Ancient pictographs and the urgent warnings of an extinct civilization
leap from its pages. A terrible, unspeakably EVIL IT is on the verge of taking
the ocean into inescapable ruin. Even IF Agnes Pflumm discovers the Secret of the
Seven, it will not be enough unless.....
This powerful new novel will educate and inspire one to learn as much about the
ocean planet as possible. After sailing with many school groups aboard the Spirit
of South Carolina and volunteering in the South Carolina Maritime Foundation outreach
programs, the author became convinced that the Spirit of South Carolina (called
The Quest in her novel), should become a symbol for the quest for ocean literacy
and stewardship. Merrie is particularly thrilled that the official "launch"
of her novel will take place at the Charleston Maritime center, where guests will
have the opportunity to step aboard the Spirit itself, hear the pages of Agnes Pflumm
and the Secret of the Seven come to life, meet the author, and purchase a signed
copy to begin your own quest!
About the Agnes Pflumm series and author/illustrator/educator Merrie Southgate:
The Agnes Pflumm science education novels are the product of two decades of academic
research, writing, and curriculum development for students in grades 4-8. Testimonies
as to their efficacy abound, as teachers discover that with Southgate's novels,
they can incorporate more reading, reflective writing, critical thinking, and drawing
into their science curricula. Moreover, teachers can download the author's standards-based
lesson plans, and informative science content from Southgate's powerful website,
www.agnespfumm.com [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103386829361&s=4232&e=001blXTHaJurh4TClDEih2Rd7MBabobK1zgbbMIJEYY5h-R1ucaTQGOHIKCuPGRfhH474-vCp0PGwRvLvrc-YNgm_I1r0Khf4Bp4wGN33Vs5tTmEVoeMGtFZQ==].
After 25 years in the classroom, Merrie Southgate is now working as a science education
specialist and consultant, helping teachers develop strategies for integrating science
and language arts in curricula, which correlate with the National Standards. Says
Mrs. Southgate, "I am committed to working with each state, district, school, or
individual teacher in their efforts to improve achievement in science and reading."
At a time when the National Science Teachers Association is calling for science
education that improves literacy, Merrie Southgate's books are must-have teaching
and learning tools!
South Carolina Maritime Foundation
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