Ron Trotta is a musical meteorologist living in NYC. He produced national weather stories for TV shows like ABC World News Tonight With Peter Jennings, Diane Sawyer and David Muir. But more importantly, Ron is the meteorologist who works with STEM star, Schmitty The Weather Dog, a 4-pound Yorkshire terrier with a nose for the weather.
Together with NYC’s high-octane children’s book author, Elly McGuire, they have created the Schmitty The Weather Dog Science Sing-Along Show – a fun and educational STEM enrichment program for elementary school students. Using literacy, music and a really cute dog, their goal is to inspire students, especially girls, to get excited about studying STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) subjects. They have visited more than 350 schools and theaters all across the country to rave reviews.
Team Schmitty The Weather Dog
The show opens with Author Elly reading her Schmitty The Weather Dog:Daydream book for the students and teachers in the audience . . .
. . . followed by a musical weather lesson with the real-live Schmitty The Weather Dog and
Meteorologist Ron . . .
. . . and ending up with a rousing chorus of the Schmitty The Weather Dog theme song . . .
Note: While earning his math/education degree at Purdue University, Ron helped put himself through school by playing sing-along piano and has the distinction of being a 3 time World Champion Ragtime Piano Player. Hence the musical thread throughout the assembly.
Schmitty The Weather Dog has been on the Ellen Show, ACCESS Hollywood and on stage with Oprah in Central Park. Not just another pretty face, being a STEM star landed Schmitty The Weather Dog on the cover of the high-profile summer issue of the Hamptons Pet magazine.
New York City resident, Elly McGuire is the author of Schmitty The Weather Dog:Daydream. Illustrated by Simon Estrada, Schmitty The Weather Dog: Daydream tells the story of a four-pound pup named Schmitty who goes from day-dreaming to doing by overcoming obstacles and naysayers to learn about the weather and help her struggling two-legged weatherman Dad. In the end, Schmitty shows us that no matter what your size or breed, if you study hard, you can do anything.
Near the end of the show, Author Elly talks about respect for animals and teaches the kids how to safely greet a dog. When possible, Schmitty The Weather Dog greets/sniffs students.
Schmitty The Weather Dog Weather Facts & Song Cards are handed out to all the children in attendance at the end of the show for class discussion and to bring home to stimulate conversation with their families.
Click here to read Schmitty The Weather Dog’s blog about her fun visit to the Church-McKee Arts Centre in WV.
Click here for Schmitty The Weather Dog’s blog about her fun visit to the Browning School in NYC.
Before leaving, Author Elly and Schmitty The Weather Dog get together with the top dog of the school or theater to pose for pictures and to paw-tograph a book.
Paw-tographing a book for top dog Dr. Charles Whitehill in the green room of the Church-McKee Arts Centre in WV.
Head Master Gregory O’Melia of the Buckley School in Manhattan poses with Team Schmitty The Weather Dog after their STEM Assembly.
With Principal Charles DeBerry of PS 76 in Harlem looking on – Author Elly and
Schmitty The Weather Dog paw-tograph a book for his school library.
On special occasions, Team Schmitty The Weather Dog even makes visits to students in their classrooms after school shows.
Team Schmitty The Weather Dog visits Ms Manor and her 2nd grade class after their assembly at the Farragut School in Knoxville, TN.
Team Schmtty The Weather Dog has performed their STEM enrichment show for as few as 40 students to more than 1500 kids in gyms, auditoriums, and theaters, as well as at STEM events across the country. The Schmitty The Weather Dog Science Sing-Along Show runs from 50-60 minutes.
Team Schmitty The Weather Dog Performing at the 2016 USA Science &
Engineering Festival in Washington DC.
Team Schmitty The Weather Dog rocks/barks at Girls Rock Science 2016 in Pittsburgh, PA at the Carnegie Science Center
Kids at the Church-McKee Arts Centre on the campus of the West Virginia University eager to answer weather questions.
CLICK HERE for more info on the Schmitty The Weather Dog Showand the Schmitty The Weather Dog: Daydreambook!
Eager students answering weather questions during the Schmitty The Weather Dog
STEM Assembly at PS 76 in Harlem.
After performing her STEM assembly, Schmitty The Weather Dog poses in front
of the Sewickley Academy in Pittsburgh, PA
Be sure to ask about Schmitty The Weather Dog’s Book Fun-Raiser!
Leading up to the Schmitty The Weather Dog Science Sing-Along Showat your school or after Team Schmitty The Weather Dog’s visit, teachers can go to The Schmitty the Weather Dog YouTube Channel for fun and educational Schmitty The Weather Dog kid videos with musical science, weather and eco-friendly interactive content for their students.
