Summer Reading: Music Lesson for ages 3-Grade 2

Today we learned all about musical instruments! Have fun trying these activities!

Wiggler: Flap your arms, turn around, run in place, now sit right down. Put your finger on your nose, and wiggle it around, Put your finger on your lips, and make this sound, Shhhh….

Book: The Remarkable Farkle McBride by John Lithgow

Kids helped tell this story by demonstrating the instruments Farkle played in the book. We also discussed the instrument families, how different sounds are made, and how music can portray a character.

Activity Stations: Instrument petting zoo where kids played...

· Piano, Music Tree, bongo drums
· Violin, flute, clarinet
· Tambourine, trombone, sax
· Xylophone (experiment with water levels), trumpet, tambourine

Crafts: paper plate maracas and cards for Conrad Music. To make the maracas, put a few handfulls of dried beans on a paper plate. Staple another plate to the top. Add hole punches for ribbon, yarn, or jingle bell decorations. Color, add stickers, and personalize your artwork. The thank you cards were for Conrad Music of Corydon, IN who loaned many of today's instruments. The kids added pictures of their favorite instrument, what animal it sounded like, and drew themselves playing with them.

Can't get enough music? Join us on Friday, 7/3 from 1-3 at David T. Wilson Elementary for a performance by Marie Augustine's Garbage Can Band. We will be making instruments to take home after the show.

Next week we will be learning about dance and enjoying a presentation from Kim Meyers of Dancetime Studio! Hope to see you there!

Summer Reading: Art Lesson for Ages 3-2nd Grade

This was our program for sessions 1-4 (ages 3-5 and grades 1-2) for the first week of Summer Reading. Hope you can use this information at home if you were unable to attend or would like to try parts of it again!

Wiggler: Flap your arms, turn around, run in place, now sit right down. Put your finger on your nose, and wiggle it around, Put your finger on your lips, and make this sound, Shhhh….

Book: I Ain't Gonna Paint No More by Karen Beaumont

Slideshow: Going to an art gallery

Together we looked at pictures of famous artwork and how the artists created them. It was fun to see the different styles and methods of artists such as Pollock, Michelangelo, Monet, and the Surrealists.

Activity Stations:

· Sistine Chapel (need: butcher paper, crayons)- replicated by putting butcher paper under the table and letting kids lie on their backs to color. The papers have now been hung on the Annex ceiling!
· Impressionists (need: q-tips, washable paint, picture templates)- kids made art with "Dots" by filling in patterned circles to make a picture. Check out the Children's Library for examples of their work. This can be done at home without templates since it's fun to see what they create on blank paper!

· Bubble paintings (bubble solution, food coloring, bubble wands, cups, butcher paper)- stand over the paper and blow bubbles. When dry, this makes a great "splatter painting" like Jackson Pollock created!

· Surrealists- exquisite corpse (paper, crayons, markers) and crazy faces (face outline on paper, collage materials- Click here for directions on how to make an Exquisite Corpse. This is a great group activity! Younger children made crazy faces with collage materials and had their faces painted!

Visit the Library: Readers picked a prize out of the treasure chest if they checked out 5 books. Bring them back the following week and feed the "Shark" in the Children's Library. Parents should check their child's bag for important handouts and coupons for local attractions.

Be Creative at Your Library!

Join us for Summer Reading 2009 for 4 weeks of programs for children age 3 through teens in Grade 12! Check out the schedule and stop by the Library to register:
All sessions begin the week of June 22nd and end on Friday, July 17th.

Session 1: Mondays from 9:30-11:30 for children entering grades 1-2 (Waitlist only)
Session 2: Mondays from 1:30-3:30 for children entering grades 1-2 (Waitlist only)
Session 3: Tuesdays from 9:30-11:30 for children ages 3-6 (Waitlist only)
Session 4: Tuesdays from 1:30-3:30 for children ages 3-6 (Waitlist only)
Session 5: Wednesdays from 9:30-11:30 for children entering grades 3-4
Session 6: Wednesdays from 1:30-3:30 for children entering grades 3-4
Session 7: Thursdays from 9:30-11:30 for children entering grades 5-6
Session 8: Thursdays from 1:30-3:30 for children entering grades 5-6

Session 9: Friday evenings for teens in grades 7-12. Enjoy a Twilight program with a presentation by someone who worked on the set of the first film, have fun at a concert, and make Japanese cards. Reading program available all summer so start checking out books soon- you could win a Nintendo DSI, iPod, or $25 gift card. See Library calendar for schedule.

Do the sessions not fit with your busy schedule? Even if you are not registered for Summer Reading, you are welcome to attend our Friday programs at David T Wilson. No sign-up required, just bring your friends and family!

Friday, June 26th from 12-4: Art Day featuring the Game Krazy Video Game Van
Friday, July 3rd from 1-3: Music Day with a performance by Marie Augustine's Garbage Can Band
Friday, July 10th from 1-3: Let's Dance! Don't miss this concert from the Wulfe Brothers and production by Dancetime Studio.
Friday, July 17th from 5-9 at Riverfront Park, Brandenburg: Celebrate your success at Summer Reading with a Family Fun Night featuring inflatables, food, and games.

Feel free to call the library at 422-2094 for additional information on these programs.

6/2 Story Hour

Theme: Owls
Rhyme: Baby Bumblebee
Book: Owl Babies by Martin Waddell
Song: The Owl in the Tree (See previous week for lyrics)
Flannelboard: 5 Little Owls
Craft: Owl puppets made out of paper bags

Story Hour will continue to be held on Mondays and Tuesdays at 10:30 until Summer Reading begins on June 22nd. The programs will pick back up on Monday, July 20th.

5/26 Story Hour

Theme: Birds
Book: The Best Nest by P.D. Eastman
Song: The Owl in the Tree
"The owl in the tree goes who, who, who,
Who, who, who,
Who, who, who,
The owl in the tree goes who, who, who,
Who, who, who are you? (point to child who says name)"
Craft: Make a birdfeeder with a pinecone, peanut butter, and birdseed.

Great Websites for Children

Check out this resource of many outstanding websites for kids. The list is organized by theme to help you find just what you're looking for!