We're Going on a Bear Hunt

"Going on a Bear Hunt" by Michael Rosen and illustrated Helen Oxenbury, is a classic children's book that reads like a song or chant. During library we talk about different ways to tell a story, song and rhyme are really fun storytelling elements that we don't always see in picture books. With this particular children's book, once you know the words it is difficult not to sing along - or at very least hum!

Enjoy this animated story of "We're Going On A Bear Hunt" by Michael Rosen with illustrations by Helen Oxenbury taken from YouTube.

Below are some fun activities to try after listening to the story! 

1. "We're Going on A Bear Hunt" Guided Yoga from Cosmic Kids.

2. Geocaching: Download the free app and go on an adventure of your own, minus the bear. 

3. Experience bears at a safe distance by watching some live bear cams

 Grouse Mountain's LIVE bear cams

Explore.Org's LIVE brown bear cams 

4. Learn some fun facts about bears on Wonderopolis.org

"Who Takes the Longest Nap?" 

Why Are Polar Bears White?

Where Do Spirit Bears Live?

5. Learn how to draw a Grizzly bear at Art For Kids Hub 

6. Enjoy more books about bears online  

7. Organize a neighborhood Bear Hunt. 
See how communities around the globe have been "hunting" bears on their own block in the video clip below.

Let's READ Barbara Reid!

Barbara Reid's children's books are some of my most favourite picture books, and I was so excited to introduce you to them after Spring Break.  The stories are great, but my favourite part of these books are the pictures. Barbara Reid uses plasticine to create beautiful, and delightfully detailed images. They are so unique, and really bring the story to life.

Below is a video of Barbara Reid reading her book "Perfect Snow" taken from her You Tube Channel (BarbaraReidAuthor). I hope you enjoy the story, but if you're like me the pictures may just steal the show!

 

  The pictures in a book can be such a powerful tool in storytelling, Barbara Reid's work always reminds me of this. I know each of you have a story to tell, so I wanted to give you each the chance to work with plasticine to create your own images. You can still do this from home. If you don't have access to plasticine you can use play dough. I will include a recipe for homemade play dough at the end of this post if you don't have any at home already. 

 Barbara Reid has many different video tutorials on her YouTube Channel that help guide and inspire art with plasticine. Below, I have posted the video about Spring trees.  I hope it inspires you to get creative!  I will be posting pictures of my plasticine art on my instagram (andersonslittlelibrary) and would love to see yours too! You can e-mail them to me (micanderson@sd73.bc.ca) or post them on Instagram (with an adult's permission) using the hashtag #andersonslittlelibraryart. 

 

Homemade Play-Dough Recipe: 

         Ingredients:

• 2 cups plain flour
• 1 cup salt
• 1 tbs oil
• 1/2 cup cold water
• 2-3 drops liquid food colouring
  
  Method:
  1. Mix the flour and salt together.
  2. Add remaining ingredients and mix well.
  3. Once combined, knead the dough. 
  4. Add more flour if the dough feels too moist/ or more water if too dry.

Getting Started

It's been hard to keep up with all of the great, free resources and activities popping up in response to our schools closing, but Common Sense Media has created a pretty great list to help! The list is frequently updated, and includes links. Categories include virtual story times, virtual drawing lessons, music classes and performances, lesson plans, virtual tours, and fun games. Check it out here:  Free Online Events & Activities

Also, our Destiny Home page now has some useful links for students, teachers and parents.


Although I miss being the one reading the stories, I have enjoyed listening to read alouds and joining in on virtual story times. I hope you find some that you enjoy too! 

We Can Do Hard Things

Source: Google Images

Until recently I have been using Instagram (@andersonslittlelibrary) as my main method of sharing library events. With all that is happening in our communities right now, I wanted to come back to this space and use it as another (more in depth) way to connect and share.

Right now so many things are uncertain, but here are some things that I do know for certain:

1. I care deeply about all of our students, and miss their presence in the library so, so much.
2. I am here and available to connect with.
3. The education community is AMAZING and so many educators, authors, illustrators, etc. are stepping up and creating digital content to keep us all engaged and learning while we need to be apart. 
4. We can all do hard things.


I am still learning how to be your librarian digitally. So it may take me some time to get it right.  Be patient. Be safe. Be kind. 

New Chapters

Source: Google Images

It is with a heavy heart that I say goodbye to all the wonderful staff and students at Aberdeen Elementary.  I have so enjoyed working and learning with everyone. I will really miss being your teacher-librarian, Aberdeen!

With all endings, come new beginnings and that means that I am off to a new library space. I am looking forward to expanding my community of learners, and can't wait for all the fun we will have in the library this school year.

Library Butterflies

Our library learning commons hosted some Painted Lady larvae and then butterflies over the month of May. It was so exciting to watch the larvae complete their journey into butterflies. With the help of our morning book collectors, we successfully released 7 beautiful Painted Lady Butterflies into the garden area at the front of the school.

Painted Lady Caterpillars arrive in the library!

The caterpillars soon out grew their beginning container.

Shortly after being transferred each caterpillar prepared to form their chrysalis at the top of the net. 

 

 

 

 

Finally ready for release day.

The butterflies left behind some really fascinating stuff, like their final caterpillar skin shed, seven empty chrysalis and intricate webbing. Some of these things can now be found under microscopes in the library.

National Volunteer Week

April 7- 13 was National Volunteer Week, and we have some really fantastic library volunteers to celebrate. Our volunteers help us with morning book collection, shelving and displays. They are a great help to us, and we are always happy to see them in the library.

A HUGE thank you to Mrs. Guido for organizing a fantastic event to recognize our super helpers and thank them for "Chipin' In at the Library!” We enjoyed playing a game and snacking on chips and juice with all who were able to attend.

Day of Sucwentwecw Displays

Spring has been a busy time in the library and school!

Our library learning commons has been transformed into an art gallery in honour of the Day of Sucwentwecw. Thank you to all who brought down their wonderful art to display. Below are just a few of the great displays featured in the library right now.

Pink Shirt Day

Pink Shirt Day is coming up! Why will we wear pink on Wednesday, February 27th? Below is a piece from an article about the incident that inspired Pink Shirt Day.

“David Shepherd, Travis Price and their teenage friends organized a high-school protest to wear pink in sympathy with a Grade 9 boy who was being bullied [for wearing a pink shirt]…[They] took a stand against bullying when they protested against the harassment of a new Grade 9 student by distributing pink T-shirts to all the boys in their school. ‘I learned that two people can come up with an idea, run with it, and it can do wonders,’ says Mr. Price, 17, who organized the pink protest. ‘Finally, someone stood up for a weaker kid.’ So Mr. Shepherd and some other headed off to a discount store and bought 50 pink tank tops. They sent out message to schoolmates that night, and the next morning they hauled the shirts to school in a plastic bag. As they stood in the foyer handing out the shirts, the bullied boy walked in. His face spoke volumes. ‘It looked like a huge weight was lifted off his shoulders,’ Mr. Price recalled. The bullies were never heard from again.”

— Globe & Mail

 

By wearing a pink shirt on February 27th, you let others know that you will not stand for bullying of any kind in your community. 

 

Our library has a lot of great books about friendship, compassion and standing up for what's right. Here are just a few of the great titles you can find on the shelves:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Year, New faces, New books!

Happy New Year! I am your new librarian, Mrs. Anderson. I am so excited to be in the library at Aberdeen Elementary for the rest of the school year. I am looking forward to learning, reading and working with all of you.

Speaking of new, keep a look out for the great new library books hitting the shelves this month...

Photo Source: Amazon.ca

Be A Friend by Salina Yoon

"Dennis is an ordinary boy who expresses himself in extraordinary ways. Some children do show-and-tell. Dennis mimes his. Some children climb trees. Dennis is happy to BE a tree . . . But being a mime can be lonely. It isn't until Dennis meets a girl named Joy that he discovers the power of friendship--and how special he truly is"  (Amazon, 2018)

Photo Source: Amazon.ca

Most People by Michael Leannah

"The world can be a scary place. Anxious adults want children to be aware of dangers, but shouldn't kids be aware of kindness too? We see what they see: the hulking dude with tattoos and chains assisting an elderly lady onto the bus; the goth teenager with piercings and purple Mohawk returning a lost wallet to its owner; and the myriad interactions of daily existence, most of them well intended.This reassuring picture book is a courageous, constructive response to the dystopian world of the news media." (Amazon, 2018)

Photo Source: Amazon.ca

Friendship is like a Seesaw by Shona Innes 

"Written by a clinical child psychologist, these books encourage youngsters to share and discuss tough topics with family and friends. Friendship is Like A Seesaw compares friendship to the classic playground ride--there are ups and downs, but in the end it's all about balance." (Amazon, 2018)

Photo Source: Amazon.ca

  


That's Not Mine by Anna Kang 
"Two fuzzy creatures both want to sit in the same comfy chair. The trouble is, they can’t agree who it belongs to. They get madder and madder, until…" (Amazon, 2018) 







Amazon LLC. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.amazon.ca/