Presenting the Past: Natural heritage in the classroom

On Friday, February 27, 2009 the Indiana Council for History Education will be holding the conference Presenting the Past: Natural Heritage in the Classroom here at the Main branch of the Allen County Public Library. Don't miss this exciting opportunity to spend a day immersed in the natural and human history of Indiana. For more information about this, click here.

Time 2 Chime Makes the Front Page!

Did you see Wednesday's Journal Gazette newspaper? If so, then surely you noticed the large photograph of Time 2 Chime on the front page!

photo by Cathie Rowand The Journal Gazette

Time 2 Chime is a group of homeschooled students that meets twice a month at the Main Library to learn to read music and practice ringing handchimes. On Tuesday, a photographer from the Journal Gazette stopped by the beginning group's rehearsal to take photos and put together a video. You can view the video on the Journal Gazette's website.

This year, over thirty students have been involved in Time 2 Chime. While we aren't enrolling new students at this time, everyone is invited to attend the group's performance in May (watch here for more details to come).

Remnant Trust at IPFW

Don't miss the Remnant Trust at IPFW, now through April 2009! The Remnant Trust is a collection of manuscripts and early editions of works. Included are Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass, the Magna Charta, the Emancipation Proclamation, Frederick Douglass' Life of Frederick Douglass, and Plato's Plato, His Apology of Socrates to name only a few of the 50 items available to see, to read and, quite unbelievably, to touch.

The exhibit is in the Helmke Library on the IPFW campus. It is open to the public:
Tuesday 5:30pm to 7:30pm
Wednesday 1pm to 3pm
Friday 9am to 1pm
Saturday 9am to 12pm

To arrange a class visit or to borrow a document for classroom use, contact the Helmke Library Services Desk at 481-6512. There are many interesting programs for adults too.

Cat Tales

Join us for Smart Start Preschool Storytime today at 10:30 a.m. to listen to a few Cat Tales. If you can't make it today, you can always pick up some cat books the next time you visit. Check out Drat That Fat Cat! by Pat Thomson, Kitten's First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes, A Kitten Tale by Eric Rohmann or If You Give a Cat a Cupcake by Laura Numeroff.

If you like to sing about cats, check out "Three Little Kittens" on Wee Sing Nursery Rhymes and Lullabies by Pamela Beall, "I Bought Me a Cat" on 100 Sing-Along-Songs for Kids, V. 2 or Classic Animal Songs.

Early Learning Center Mailbox

Thank you for the lovely drawing! It is a great reminder that Spring is just around the corner.

Be sure to stop by the Early Learning Center today to explore, play and create with your preschooler.

The Early Learning Center hours are:

Monday through Thursday 9am to 8pm
Friday & Saturday 9am to 6pm
Sunday 12pm to 5pm

See you at the ACPL!

Fun ways to work on spelling & reading skills

Do you enjoy fun, online games?

Check out Anagram Sleuth for a spelling game. You'll need to rearrange the letters to spell new words that will solve the puzzle of a rock star's disappearance.

Or go to The Big Escape 3 for a treasure hunt style reading game. Both games are great fun and work on spelling and reading skills.

Have fun!

Just in Time for the Super Bowl XLIII

Nothing makes a Super Bowl party better than some funny football jokes and riddles! Check out Matt Christopher's book, Football Jokes and Riddles, for "50+ facts and funnies to keep you laughing!" Here are some examples...

What four letters can stop a quarterback sneak?

(O, ICU!)

Why was Cinderella thrown off the fooball team?

(Because she ran away from the ball!)

Quarterback: I passed your house this morning.
Wide Receiver: Wow! You did? What an arm!