Our Libraries are Amazing!
National Library Week starts on April 7th and I hope your family can find the time to go to your local library and enjoy its offerings. Thank you to Ben Franklin for establishing America’s first public library in 1731 and helping America be a place where we can all be literate and educated.
Here are some notable offerings at the library districts in the our area in the coming days and weeks:
Maricopa County Libraries
1,000 Books before Kindergarten Literacy Program
That’s a pretty big number but your child’s life will be enriched by the investment of all that reading and snuggle time while they are small and their brains are developing. Plus you’ll gain some major parental bragging rights for having actually pulled it off. If you are up for the challenge, below is a general guide on how to make it happen!
If you child is a newborn - Read about 4 books a week to your child. Easy Peasy!
If your child is 1 already - Read about 5 books a week
If your child is 2 - Read 1 book a day and you’ll get there without ever needing to break a sweat!
If your child is 3 - Read 2 books a day
If your child is 4 - Don’t worry, most children’s books are short & sweet. So even though you need to read 3 books a day to reach 1,000 by Kindergarten, it’s still doable!
Program info is here: https://1000books.mcldaz.org/
Peoria Libraries
Citizen Science & Skills Unlocked Presentations
If you have an older child, tween or teen who is always asking why and how come and trying to understand the mechanics of the world we live in, they might just love the April lineup at the Peoria Main Library.
- Basic Automotive and Car Care - Apr. 5 @ 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. - Skills Unlocked - a series of workshops teaching important life skills. To register, Click Here.
- Fight the Bite - Th., Apr. 10, at 3:30 p.m. Maricopa County’s Vector Control Department offers a free STEM classroom presentation on Mosquitoes. Students will learn about the mosquito lifecycle, ways to prevent mosquitos from being around the home, and how to help “fight the bite”. (Also at Sunrise Mountain Library, Wed, April 9, at 2 p.m.
- Rocks & Minerals - Th., Apr. 17, at 3:30 p.m. The University of Arizona's School of Mining and Mineral Resources presents "Rocks and Minerals, Properties and Uses". This presentation is geared for grades 4-12. Students will learn how to identify minerals, or practice using the skills they already have, with a set of minerals commonly used as ore minerals for the metals and materials we use to build the world around us. (Also at Sunrise Mountain Library - Th., Apr. 24, at 5:30 p.m.)
- Sewing and Clothes Repair - Apr. 19 @ 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. - Skills Unlocked - a series of workshops teaching important life skills. To register, Click Here.
- Flood Safety - Th., Apr. 24, at 3:30 p.m. The Flood Control District of Maricopa County offers a free STEM classroom presentation on Flood Safety. This program will help students understand weather, monsoon storms, and the dangers of flooding specific to Maricopa County, complete with hands-on activities.
Program info is here. and here.
Surprise Libraries
Ladybug Adventure: Learn and Release!
Sat., April 12 @ 10:30 am at Surprise Regional Library
Wed., April 16 @ 3:30 pm at Hollyhock Library
Sat., April 19 @ 10:30 am at Asante Library
We'll learn all about these cool insects and why they are super important for our environment. Then, we will go outside and release thousands of ladybugs into nature!
Program Info Here
