Art Market was a STEAM program, inviting kids in grades 1 through 5 to practice both math and art skills. As a group, we discussed money and budgeting. Each child received an envelope with play coins and bills and a price sheet. Children and their adults talked about what supplies they could afford and how they could pool their money to buy supplies such as scissors that they could share. They then used their money to “buy” art supplies from the store to make the project.

The art project used white card stock, oil pastel crayons, vegetable oil, and black paper to make silhouettes on a sunset background.

Kids in grades 3 through 5 participated in games and activities about the popular book series.

 

 

 

 

Pin the Booger on Greg Heffley-Try to put a piece of gooey poster tack on Greg.

Bean Bag Toss-Try to toss the beanbags through Rowley’s open mouth

Drawing Guessing Game-Draw the word or phrase written on the top of the paper, then pass it to a partner to try to guess what you’ve drawn.

Cheese Touch Hot Potato-Pass around the folded sticky notes. When the music stops, unfold to see if you’re the unlucky recipient of the cheese.

Character Scavenger Hunt-Find all of the characters on the sheet hidden around the room.

Draw Your Own Comic-Make your own comic using the blank panels.

Screen-Free Family Hour was open to all ages and showed families easy, inexpensive, and technology-free ways to practice the Every Child Ready to Read principles of talk, read, write, and play. Tips for practicing the principles were posted at each station. 25 people attended this Saturday afternoon program.

Talk-Set of cards with kid-friendly “would you rather” questions meant to encourage conversation.

Read-Variety of children’s books with beanbags and chairs to sit together and read.

Write-Paper, pencils, crayons, envelopes, stamps, and a list of children’s authors’ addresses to practice writing and addressing an envelope.

Play-Board games, puppets and a puppet stage to encourage playing and talking. Hand clap rhymes and cat’s cradle instructions sparked a sentimental smile in millennial parents.

 

Spy School was open to grades 3 through 5. All 38 new recruits received a packet with the necessary supplies and had to go through several training exercises in order to graduate.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ransom notes- Spies used scissors, magazines, and glue sticks to infiltrate the villainous practice of making ransom notes.

Observation test-Future spies memorized objects on a tray, then had to recall the objects after they were hidden from view.

Crack the code- Spies used a variety of ciphers to crack coded messages.

Laser obstacle course-Spies had to use balance and agility to make it through the course without touching the laser beams.

Paperwork- New recruits used a spy name generator to discover their spy names, created ID badges, chose disguises, and recorded fingerprints and shoe prints.

 

Children and their families were invited to celebrate this popular character with a storytime followed by crafts and activities. Over 150 people attended this program!

Puppet stage- Children used the character puppets to make up their own stories.

Make a watch- Children, with the help of an adult, made a watch like Daniel’s to take home and practice telling time.

Paper bag puppets- Children made a puppet of one or more of the characters to take home and make up their own stories.

Felt board fun- Children used the felt pieces to make up their own stories.

Tiger hat

Imaginative play station- Daniel Tiger loves to pretend. Children could pretend to be librarians and make a library card, use the scanner, stamp a due date card, and more in our pretend library.

Children ages3 to 8 and their families learned popular nursery rhymes by playing games like London Bridge Balance Beam and Jack & Jill Crown Relay. Each station had an activity, instructions about how to do the activity, and the corresponding nursery rhyme. Families were encouraged to recite the rhyme at each station.

Jack Be Nimble Candlestick Hurdles

A-Tisket, A-Tasket Basketball

Mother Goose Waddle Race

London Bridge Balance Beam

Jack & Jill Crown Relay

Ring Around the Rosie Ring Toss

To Market, To Market Alphabet Relay

 

Children ages 3 through 6 and their families were invited to get squishy, gooey, and wet exploring their five senses.

Children rotated among stations, sorting, writing, making texture rubbings, experimenting with things that float in water, and creating with play dough.

Children in Kindergarten through 5th grade were invited to attend this program to transform themselves into superheroes with accessories and feats of strength for both body and mind.

Children created a superhero ID badge, decorated a mask, completed an obstacle course, disposed of kryptonite, bowled over villains, and took a picture in front of the city. After they completed the checklist of tasks, they exchanged it for a graduation certificate from Superhero Academy.