Science Explorers: A Program for Homeschoolers

Homeschool students in kindergarten through 5th grade are invited to take part in Science Explorers at the Main Library in Children's Services. At our first meeting, we'll have fun exploring the science of bubbles!

Tuesday, August 23, 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.: Blowing, Bouncing, Bursting Bubbles

Upcoming Science Explorer programs include:
Tuesday, September 13, 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.: Flying Things
Tuesday, October 25, 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.: Dramatic Static


We hope you'll join us as we have fun exploring the wonders of science. Think - Do - Learn!

Special Opportunity for Homeschoolers!

Tomorrow, Thursday, October 7th, at 10:00 in the morning, homeschoolers will have a special opportunity to visit the Main Library's Rare and Fine Book Room. Have you ever wondered what is kept behind lock and key in the Rare Book Room of the Allen County Public Library?

Maybe it's some papyrus from the 9th or 10th century.



Maybe it's an original letter signed by General Anthony Wayne. -->



Kids in 3rd through 6th grade -- and their families -- will meet in Children's Services at 10:00. We will all head downstairs for a behind-the-scenes look at some of the items kept in this special climate-controlled, temperature-controlled room.

What do YOU think you'll find?

Science Explorers

Homeschoolers, don't miss this new science program at Main Library, Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. We'll have all the supplies that you need to create some very mysterious mixtures. Science Explorers will meet monthly this fall and is designed for students at K-5 grade levels. Be curious! Think - Do - Learn!
Tuesday, September 28, 2:00 p.m. -- Explore the OZIEST, GOOIEST SCIENCE experiments, books, and activities.
Tuesday, October 26, 2:00 p.m. -- Explore the most COLORIFIC SCIENCE experiments, books, and activities.
Tuesday, November 23, 2:00 p.m. -- Explore LIGHT, SIGHT, and CAMERAS with experiments, books and activities.
(Clip art licensed from the Clip Art Gallery on DiscoverySchool.com.)

Amy Hodgepodge Has Arrived!

Amy Hodgepodge is a new series by Kevin and Kim Wayans. The series features a fourth grade girl, formerly homeschooled, who is attending a "real" school for the first time! Read along as she learns to navigate friendships, teachers and life in general. You will meet her friends, her twin brother and Giggles, her dog! Amy is endearing and adorable ~ stop in your library today and get started on book one in this series!

Time 2 Chime Makes Marvelous Music

Congratulations to the students of Time 2 Chime! They celebrated another school year of making music with a wonderful concert last Tuesday - way to go Time 2 Chimers!

Puppet-palooza!

Last Thursday at our Puppet-palooza Event, a group of creative homeschoolers learned about puppets and how to plan and prepare for a puppet show. Everyone got to pick out a puppet, then they practiced different voices and tried to show different actions and emotions with their puppets. Finally, they rehearsed and then performed a puppet show to the rhyme
Who Stole the Cookies from the Cookie Jar .




Didn't they do a GREAT job?

Don't forget, Children's Services will be presenting their annual Spring Puppet Show this week! Make plans to attend one of the following performances with your preschool-age children:

Sunday, March 21, 2:00 p.m.
Monday, March 22, 9:30 and 10:30 a.m.
Tuesday, March 23, 9:30 and 10:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m.
Wednesday, March 24, 9:30 and 10:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m.
Thursday, March 25, 9:30 and 10:30 a.m.

Lesson Pathways

Are you looking for a great place to find free lesson plans? Check out Lesson Pathways. I just took the site tour and was amazed. It is FREE to use the site, but you do have to sign up for an account. If you try it, let us know what you think.

Homeschoolers' Tour of the Rare Book Room

Have you ever wondered what is kept behind lock and key in the Rare Book Room of the Allen County Public Library?

Maybe it's some papyrus from the 9th or 10th century.

Maybe it's an original letter signed by General Anthony Wayne. -->

Kids in 3rd through 6th grade -- and their families -- are invited to join us on Monday, February 22nd at 2:00 for a look at some of the items kept in this special climate-controlled, temperature-controlled room.

What do YOU think you'll find?

Art Out of the Box: Self Portraits

On Friday, October 9th the Art Out of the Box kids met to discuss famous self portraits and create some self portraits of their own. See the rest of their amazing work here. Thanks to Scrumdilly-do! for the project idea!

EcoKids: Clean Green

On Monday, Kira Blacketor from the Allen County Solid Waste District visited the library to present her Clean Green program for the EcoKids club.

Kira explained why we should think about the chemicals that we use to clean around the house and then taught the kids this simple recipe for All Purpose Cleaner.

All Purpose Cleaner
3/4 cup warm water
1/4 teaspoon liquid soap
1/4 teaspoon borax or baking soda
1 tablespoon white vinegar

Cleans countertops, floors, walls and carpet.

For more Green Cleaner recipes click here.

The ACSWD is hosting America Recycles Day at Science Central on November 14th from 10am to 2pm. Admission is FREE for the event. Don't miss this chance to learn about reducing, reusing and recycling while enjoying all that Science Central has to offer.

This Friday -- Fabulous Fridays Homeschool Book Clubs!

Homeschoolers - this Friday, October 2, from 2:30-3:30, our Fabulous Fridays Book Clubs will be meeting. It's so much fun to talk about books!

Early Reader Round-up - Grades K-2 - will be discussing Little Bear, by Else Holmelund Minarik.









Reading Rocks! - Grades 3-5 - will be talking about Poppy, by Avi.










Do you have other books that are your favorites? Bring them along and share your ideas with the group. Parents are invited too!

Valerie Tutson - Storyteller Extraordinaire!

We are thrilled to present internationally renowned storyteller, Valerie Tutson!
Valerie will be performing Tales from Around the World Thursday, October 22.
The first performance will be at 10:30 am.
The second performance will be at 1:00 pm.
Do not miss this one of a kind opportunity!
Registration is required for this FREE event - contact Children's Services 421-1220.
Seating is limited - Call today!

Art Out of the Box: Art Cars III

The Art Cars were beautiful! Check out photos from the program here.

Bats, Beautiful BATS!

EcoKids Club meets today at 2pm. This month you can meet a REAL LIVE BAT (or two) and hear all about the many ways that bats benefit the environment from Bob Walton, local bat rehabilitator.

Homeschoolers: Paint a Car Tomorrow!

Art Out of the Box: Art Cars - Friday, September 11th 2pm to 4pm
Discover art cars and create a collaborative piece with your friends on the Library Plaza. Then you can create a car of your own to take home. Dress to paint!

Back to School -- for Teachers!

Teachers and Homeschooling Parents:

Plan now to attend our annual "Back to School for Teachers" program, and find out about the many resources available to you and your students here at the Main Library. We'll provide a brief presentation, an introduction to INSPIRE's Kids' Search, Indiana's online database for kids, a tour of the Main Library and Children's Department, and we'll answer any questions you may have.

All attendees will have the opportunity to enter door-prize drawings for gift cards to United Art and Education and other classroom resources.

It's all happening on Monday, August 3, from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. in the Globe Room, at the entrance to Children's Services at the Main Library.

Art Out of the Box: Ceramics

Friday, April 10th
2:00 p.m.

Join us for "Art Out of the Box" focusing on the art of ceramics!

Explore the traveling art gallery and interact with the art works as you learn about history, artist, and art techniques!


Homeschoolers in grades 2-6

Children's Literature Resources

Looking for extension activities, discussion questions, or supporting information for your classroom, literature circle, or book club? Take a look at these two websites, graciously provided to us by a homeschooling mom:

Reading Units lists dozens of children's titles with links to questions and activities.

Literature Websites is a source for study guides, literature units, author websites, and lesson plans that extend children's literature.

Happy Reading!

Art Out of the Box: Indiana Quilts

In March the Art Out of the Box kids met to learn about Indiana Quilts. After the discussion, the kids sat down to design a quilt block which will be made into a quilt for Project Linus. To see the rest of the quilt blocks click here.

Learn about the Star Spangled Banner!

The Smithsonian Museum of American History has published a COOL website about the Star Spangled Banner. You can:

• Explore the original flag that inspired Francis Scott Key to write our national anthem using an interactive tool...
• Take a quiz to test your knowledge...
• Enter a Star Spangled Banner singing contest...
• and more!

Teachers and Homeschoolers -- clicking on the Resources button at the top of the site will give you access to a great many lesson plans, book lists and other resources for your classroom!

Click here to check it out!