Spanish educational lesson plans offered by American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame

The American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum's current educational programs have gone bilingual. All existing and future educational lesson plans offered by the museum will now be available in Spanish.

Two Bits for Your Brain was created in order to supply local teachers with fun and interesting lesson plans that enhance the core curriculum and address the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills. These lessons use the American Quarter Horse as the driving force behind math equations, science labs, writing practices and much more. These instructive, exciting programs are free to all educators searching for diverse learning techniques to bring into their classroom. Two Bits for Your Brain is appropriate for both urban and rural school districts and doesn't require a horse for the lessons.

"At the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum we realize how important it is to provide resources for second-language learners," said American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame Manager of Educational Programs Ande Ragsdale. "We hope these lessons, available now in Spanish, will be a useful tool in the classroom and beyond."

Ragsdale has been able to apply her experience as a certified teacher toward the development of these educational programs. She also hopes to meet the growing need of teaching aides for those who teach English as a Second Language.

While being developed, Jacqueline Marshall, a teacher in the Borger, Texas, Independent School District used the educational materials in her classroom. "Everything is so well organized," Marshall said. "The online activities are wonderful and we were glad to use the program's resources.

Two Bits for Your Brain provides school systems with ESL power point presentations, lesson plans and resources in order to develop a more upbeat learning environment. Field trips and camps also provide opportunities for students to learn outside the classroom.

Visit the Education Resources link at www.aqhhalloffame.com to download lessons in PDF format and link to power point presentations for classroom use. Lesson plans are in English, but the actual power point lesson is in Spanish.

Two Bits for Your Brain complements the many educational programs developed by the American Quarter Horse Association. The Association's popular Junior Master Horseman books I and II follow the McRel teaching standards in math, science and language arts, and have been used by schools, scout troops and 4-H groups to teach young people while using the horse as a tool. Like Two Bits for Your Brain, no horse is required but young people come away having learned more and in the process developed a deeper love and appreciation for the horse.

Please visit the Junior Master Horseman website at www.juniormasterhorseman.com. For more information, contact Ward Stutz at 806-378-4331 or wstutz@aqha.org.

For more information about American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame educational opportunities, contact Ande Ragsdale at 806-376-5181 or ande@aqha.org.

07/07/08