Ocean Animals, Mysteries and Music

Laura Sams and Robert Sams

Do you wish you could bring the ocean to your school? Or stand next to the biggest kind of shark on the Oregon coast? Or sing songs about all kinds of fish? Then this is the performance for you! (If you’ve never wished any of these things, we hope you’d like to do them!) Join sister/brother duo Laura and Robert, who are wildlife filmmakers and musicians, for an incredible performance that blends art and science. They take students on an interactive journey around the ocean to discover awesome, funny and surprising creatures that live in the one big ocean that we all share on this planet.

Laura and Robert share true stories, wildlife footage and mysteries from their own filmmaking adventures around the world, from animals on the coral reefs to the open ocean to the Pacific Northwest coast. Why can an octopus squeeze into a tiny hole? Why is a sea turtle being swarmed by fish? What fish is making a clicking sound on the reef? And how did Robert get close enough to sea lions to film them? The program ends with a spectacular celebration of sharks. Laura and Robert sing their popular Great White Shark Song, and then they inflate a life-sized, one-of-a-kind, 23-foot-long, basking shark — the biggest shark off the Pacific Northwest coast (and a peaceful plankton eater). Students can compare themselves to one of the ocean’s biggest fish!

Schools will also receive a digital field guide of the animals discovered during the presentation, along with fun facts and “badges” the students earned along their adventure.

Laura and Robert are seasoned performers and educators, who have performed at hundreds of schools around the country. They’ve written music for Teletubbies, Sesame Street Studios, PBS KIDS and Animal Planet. They produced the original series Mega Wow for PBS KIDS and have worked with The Jim Henson Company, the Smithsonian Channel and more. Plus, they’re a sister and brother who get along! Learn more about them and their work at www.sisbro.com.

This program offered by: Laura Sams and Robert Sams

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Details

Program Model: Assembly Performance

Art Form: Theatre

Curriculum Connections: Science

Grades: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, K

Program Requirements: A large projection screen. It is important that the room is well lit but can be darkened to allow a projected image to be clearly seen on the screen. A handheld microphone (wireless is preferred, two if possible) connected to a speaker system loud enough for the group size. One small table or cart for our video projector. One table (6 feet long) for artists' props. An extension cord. Grounded electrical outlets for the projector/monitor, laptop and the inflatable shark. The shark will need a space 23 feet long by 7 feet wide. Please note: they love cozy spaces like libraries, music rooms and carpeted areas instead of gyms if you have smaller groups, but gyms, cafeterias and auditoriums also work.

Instruction Language(s):

Laura Sams and Robert Sams

About the Artist

Laura Sams and Robert Sams

Laura Sams and Robert Sams are a sister/brother duo who have been teaching artists for over 20 years, performing for over 150,000 people through live events featuring their work, from the Monterey Bay Aquarium to the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History to international schools in Dubai to hundreds of schools in the United States. They are both zoologists, writers, filmmakers, musicians, explorers and educators who welcome the chance to tell a great (often funny) story. Their work has been honored with over 75 international awards, including a Parents’ Choice Gold Award, a National Parenting Publications (NAPPA) Gold Award, a KIDS FIRST! Best of the Year Award, a Mom’s Choice Award, and a Wildscreen Panda Award (often called the "Green Oscars"). They recently created the digital series Mega Wow with PBS KIDS, designed to get kids excited about STEM topics with hands-on, funny, "wow-filled" demonstrations. Their children’s book, "A Pirate’s Quest," won the Midwest Book Award for Best Children’s Picture Book. They have created and produced original stories and music for Sesame Street, the Jim Henson Company, PBS KIDS, Universal KIDS, Animal Planet, Mozilla Firefox, the National Science Foundation and more. They have written for many children's television programs, including "Hero Elementary" and "Elinor Wonders Why." Laura and Robert are also award-winning songwriters who have written music for series such as "Dinosaur Train," "Splash and Bubbles," "Hero Elementary" and "Elinor Wonders Why". Their music has been honored with a Best Song Nomination in a TV Series/Special at the Cynopsis Kids! Imagination Awards, Best Original Music at the International Wildlife Film Festival and a NAPPA Children's Resource GOLD Award. As wildlife filmmakers, they've filmed above and below the waves -- camouflaged octopus, endangered sea turtles, sharks, grizzly bears hunting for salmon, river otters playing in a winding river, majestic bucks strolling in the fall forest, tiny frogs calling in swamps at night, peregrine falcons and more. Learn more about them at www.sisbro.com.

"One of the most dynamic, educational and simply unforgettable presenters we have ever hosted. With their quick wit, endless energy, and their gift of musical talent, students and teachers begged me to bring them back soon." -Jane, Teacher

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Program Costs

Please note that the cost of a program is determined based on a variety of different factors including number of sessions, planning hours needed and material costs. Please contact Arts for Learning NW for help determining the actual cost of your programs. Email us at [email protected] or call 503-225-5900, ext 705

Delivery Method	Type	Cost	Description
Assembly Performance	Oversize Audience Fee		$1 per student over the Participant Capacity (up to 50 extra students).
Assembly Performance	Mileage/Travel Costs		For sites located more than 15 miles from Portland, a mileage fee will be applied (calculated using the IRS reimbursement rate). This program is available within 75 miles of Portland. Greater distances possible with additional fees such as lodging.
Assembly Performance	Family Arts Night Performance	665.00	A 50 minute performance for students and families, typically in the evening or on weekends.
Assembly Performance	Triple Performance	1350.00	Three 50 minute performances with short breaks in between each.
Assembly Performance	Back to Back Performance	1150.00	Two performances with a short break in between. Each performance is 50 minutes.
Assembly Performance	Single Performance	900.00	A single, 50 minute assembly performance.