In the Games That Teach series of classes, one or more of the Colorado State Standards K-12 are addressed through more than 120 activities (in each class—a total of more than 300 activities) in the following categories: Active, Basic Skills, Problem-Solving, Strings, and Pencil and Paper. Specific skills taught through the games include: listening, problem-solving, creative thinking, team building, following directions, fine and gross motor skills, math, reading, history, language, and geography. The format of the manuals provided to each participant stresses not only the steps for each activity but the skills that are being taught. Within each category are games that address many specific skill areas such as language, mathematics, history, and geography. It is the philosophy of this workshop that students learn best and retain information longest when they are actively involved and enjoying what they are doing. This philosophy is maintained because the participants are actively involved in this class. Teachers experience the activities just as their students would. This allows teachers to understand the frustration or difficulties that might be encountered by their students. As the participants are experiencing something new in the activity they can also understand, from the teachers' point of view, the skills that are being taught or reinforced. The activities are designed to provide participants with a variety of methods and techniques for reaching students in a different style. The style of each activity is varied so that all learning styles are addressed as well as all of the intelligences according to Gardner. As the class progresses through the activities, time is devoted to discussion as to how the activities fit into the daily routine, how they can be adapted to various curriculum topics and ages, and teachers are encouraged to analyze and apply which standards, learning styles, etc. are addressed.

This workshop will go over 15 lesson plans covering the desert environment, Native American culture, Mexican culture, ranch life, World War II, and more. Supplementary literature books are included in the registration fee.

Teachers are invited to enjoy finger foods as they learn about the numerous heritage sites in the area and what those sites have to offer to classes and field trips. Teachers will receive free passes to each of the represented heritage sites as well as classroom activities that relate to information at those sites.
Organizations represented include Champoeg State Park, Mission Mill Museum, Marion County Historical Society, Portland Art Museum, and various other heritage sites.

The Foundations of Democracy Series consists of curricular materials for students from kindergarten through fifth grade on four concepts fundamental to an understanding of politics and government: Authority, Privacy, Responsibility, and Justice. This multidisciplinary curriculum draws upon such fields as political philosophy, political science, law, history, literature, and environmental studies.

This training will demonstrate to participants how to step outside of their teaching comfort zone to include all of their students' unique learning styles. Participants will learn their own style of learning as well as teaching strategies that will include the learning styles of all their students without disrupting their classroom.