AFT Offers Summer Learning Calendar 
Online and Print Versions Available in Spanish and English
2005 Theme Is Earth’s Marine Life
(Available at www.aft.org/calendar starting today, June 1)

Washington, D.C.  – The American Federation of Teachers is offering its annual Summer Learning Calendar, chock-full of educational activities for students ages 6 through 12, to help make learning a year-round pursuit.  Younger children also can enjoy it with parents, siblings or child care providers.

“Keeping children’s minds active helps to prevent summer learning loss, which can contribute to the achievement gap,” said Edward J. McElroy, president of the American Federation of Teachers.   “The Summer Learning Calendar strikes just the right balance for summertime learning – the focus is as much on fun as facts.”

The 2005 edition of the calendar, in Spanish and English, is all about marine life, including:

• weekly, hands-on activities to stimulate children’s interests;
• nationwide calendar of events such as beach clean-ups, aquatic summer camps, and swamp, wetland and waterway walks at local parks;
• interactive Web-based games, such as AquaGigaPet, offering kids the chance to create and care for an online aquarium, fish and aquatic plants; and
• Web chats such as the June 8 conversation with marine artist Wyland.

 The Summer Learning Calendar is linked to the Learning Line, the AFT’s toll-free educational phone line for students, which also will feature learning activities based on the calendar’s marine theme.  The Learning Line (800/242-5465) offers a new activity every week.

 The online version of the Summer Learning Calendar is available throughout the summer at www.aft.org/calendar starting June 1.  For more information on ordering print copies in English or Spanish, call AFT Public Affairs at 202/879-4458.

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