Free “Bedtime Math” math calendars available at Bridgewater Library

Bridgewater Library is participating in a new initiative to help children retain (and perhaps even increase) their math skills over the summer.   

Somerset County libraries participate in Bedtime Math's summer math program Published: Friday, July 13, 2012, By The Messenger-Gazette

Libraries across 10 New Jersey counties are encouraging young visitors to brush up on their math skills this summer alongside their reading. More than 50 libraries and library systems across New Jersey are participating in Bedtime Math’s “Summer of Numbers” initiative, which aims to counteract the so-called “summer slide” that educators say causes students to lose significant academic skills during extended school breaks.
Bedtime Math is a non-profit organization dedicated to making the nightly math problem as common as the bedtime story. By sending parents a fun new math problem every evening to do with their kids, Bedtime Math aims to change how our culture thinks about math, and make it a natural and fun part of kids’ everyday lives.
Through the libraries, “Summer of Numbers” provides participating students a structure to measure their progress with daily math problems from Bedtime Math, through its growing online community. Participants pick up Bedtime Math calendars and a supply of gold star stickers at their local libraries, then sign up online at bedtimemath.org to receive fun problems to tackle. Once solved, the kids can track their progress by sticking stars on their calendars.
Bedtime Math founder and Short Hills resident Laura Overdeck says the demand for calendars has surprised and delighted her.  Read full article.

Here’s a sample problem:  Getting Loud 

Have you ever wondered how loud you are – whispering, yelling, or (hopefully) just talking?  Just as you can measure distances in miles or weight in pounds, the loudness of sounds is measured in “decibels.”  For some examples, from a few feet away a whisper comes in at 15 decibels, normal conversation is 60 dB, and a lawn mower runs at around 90 dB.  And we speak from experience that a crying baby tops out around 75 decibels (measured with a sound meter bought just for this purpose).
There are countless sounds out there, of course.  How do you match up to them?
Wee ones: If you step outside and hear 2 barking dogs, 2 chirping birds and a motorcycle, how many sounds do you hear?
Little kids: If a dog barks at 30 decibels, and a cat meows at 20 dB, how many decibels louder is the dog?  Bonus: If you call out to the dog “Fetch!” at 45 decibels, how much louder than the dog are you?
Big kids: If you normally yell at 72 decibels, but think you can yell as loud as a lawn mower at 90 decibels, how much louder do you have to yell?  Bonus: Decibels have a funny way of working: when a sound becomes 10 decibels louder, that means it is 10 times as loud.  How many decibels louder does a sound have to rise to become 100 times as loud?
Answers:
Wee ones: 5 sounds.
Little kids: 10 decibels louder.  Bonus: 15 decibels.
Big kids: 18 decibels louder.  Bonus: 20 decibels – each set of 10 multiplies it by 10.



Programs at the Bridgewater Library:


PreSchool of Rock (Ages 2+) Saturday, July 28th At 11:00am Registration required Pool too crowded? Need to beat the heat? Then come by the library and rock out with 'Preschool of Rock!' Your morning will be filled with great music where children will discover, improvise, perform, and have fun!



Sing-a-Long: Campfire Favorites (Children of all ages) Monday, July 30th 10:00am No registration required Join us around our (virtual) campfire for a bunch of silly songs!



Craftacular: Olympic Gold (Ages 3-6) Tuesday, July 31st 10am and 11am Registration required. Celebrate the Summer Olympics with crafts, games, and stories!


Patrick Garner's 'Houdini and the Magic of Thinking Big!' (Grades K-5)Tuesday, July 31st From 2:30-3:30 Registration required Join Harry Houdini himself as he helps tell the classic American success story! The son of poor immigrants, inspired by a borrowed book, dedicates himself to becoming the world's greatest magician! In an age before Television, Film or the Internet, he became the world's first international superstar! With a little bit of magic, a heap of motivation and a whole lot of fun, children will be entertained, educated, and inspired!



Daydreaming: Space Race - Moons, Stars, and Planets (Grades 1-5)From 2-3pm Registration required. Join us for some stories celebrating space flight and exploring our solar system, then perform some 'out of this world' science experiments and crafts.




Book Buddies (For ages 3-8) (For ages 3-8)From 1:30-3:30pm No registration required Come meet up with a buddy…a Book Buddy! Our teen volunteers can’t wait to meet and sit down with your early and pre-readers! Children can choose a picture book to have read to them or they can read with their Buddy. This is a fun way to have a shared reading experience outside the family routine which helps support and encourage reading as a lifelong activity.

Lego Club (Grades K-6) Thursday, August 2nd From 3:30-4:30pm Registration begins July 19th. Hey LEGO fans, here's a club just for you! Get together with other LEGO-maniacs, share ideas and tips on building, and have a great time! Library LEGOS will be available for building, so you do not need to bring your own. Please Note: Parents are welcome to stay; however, younger siblings cannot be permitted to join this program.

Days of Knight (Grades K-5) Saturday, August 4th From 10:30-11:30am Registration required. Through a unique fusion of medieval history and storytelling, we deliver an engaging, interactive, hands-on experience that inspires young learners as they travel back to Medieval Times, back to the days of kings and castles, swordfights and jousts, adventure and romance, chivalry and honor.
Just like the heroes in these stories, volunteers from the audience will have their knees buckle under the weight of real steel armor, experience the solitude inside a jousting helm, feel the surge of power from wielding a knight's broadsword, and much more.We invite you to travel back in time with us as we explore knighthood, arms, armor, and chivalry!


Lunch Bunch: 'Big Dreams' (Grades 3-4) (For students entering grades 3-4) Monday, August 6th From Noon-1pm Registration required. Get ready to listen to stories about all kinds of dreams and big dreamers.



Craftacular: Knights and Friends! (Ages 3-6) Tuesday, August 7th 10am and 11:30 a.m. Registration required. Good night, good knights! Celebrate the last of summer with knights, mythical creatures and more!




Storytelling and Book Signing: 'Fabrizio's Fable' (for families with children of all ages) Tuesday, August 7th From 4:30-5:30pm Registration required.
Join local author Patricia Brady-Danzig as she reads her wonderful new story “Fabrizio’s Fable” in both English and Italian. Children will learn the beautiful Italian language when this charming story about Fabrizio and Luigi is read to them. Ms. Brady will also lead children through an original song performed in both languages.After the program, the author will be available to talk about her debut book, as well as sign copies for program attendees.


Daydreaming: Up All Night - Nocturnal Animals (Grades 1-5) Wed Aug. 8th From 2-3pm Registration required. Join us for stories, activities, and experiments starring the creatures of the night.


Sing-a-Long: Summer Songs (Children of all ages) Tuesday, August 14th  at 2:00pm No registration required  Join us for a bucketful of songs celebrating all things summer!
Save the Date: Summer Reading Club Celebration Carnival! (For all ages)  Thursday, August 16th drop in anytime from 1-4pm No registration required.  Step right up!  Step right up...for an afternoon filled with games, prizes, and activities for children of all ages!  Bring your family and friends for a fun-filled summer afternoon!

If you have registered for a program and realize that you won’t be able to come, please call (908 526-4016x126) or email us (bwljuv@sclibnj.org) as early as possible so we can make someone on the waitlist very happy. Next time that waitlisted participant might be your child!



In addition to the programs above, the Bridgewater Library offers Toddler Times  on Thursdays at 10 & 11, and Baby Times on Fridays at 9:30 & 10:30. (No registration required.) 
Looking for an evening storytime? Bound Brook Library is offering Campfire Adventures on Wednesdays through Aug. 15th, 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM(Ages 5 - 9) Finish your day at the library around our simulated campfire to sing songs and listen to some exciting stories. Registration Required. When you register your child, he or she will be registered for all sessions. If you are unable to attend any session, please notify the library at 732-356-0043, ext 111.

There are  LOTS OF ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS at other system libraries for children & teens…find their online calendars under the “events/programs” tab on our home page.
@ Bridgewater Library for Teens:


The Teen Summer Reading Program continues through Sept. 8th. Stop by anytime this summer to register or record your time.


5th & 6th Grade Volunteers (For students in grades 5-6) Wednesday  July 25th, and Aug 1st, From 7-8pm Registration required. STUDENTS IN GRADES 5 AND 6: Make a difference by volunteering at the library!

Open Mic Cafe Night (Ages 13+)
Thursday, July 26th. location has moved to RVCC @ Bridgewater and Aug. 9th From 7:00pm – 8:30pm Registration Required to perform. Repeats Think you’ve got what it takes to get up on stage in front of your peers with nothing but your voice and guitar? Want to share your poetry, comedy, or original music? Then this is your night! Join us for this one of a kind experience, and help local musicians and writers get their voices heard.
Depending on registration, artists will receive 10-15 minute slots to play music or recite poetry. Sign ups will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Please check back for more registration information. **You only need to register if you are interested in performing.**


Teen Lock-In (Grades 7-11) Friday, July 27 From 7 pm – 12 am Registration required. Get locked in the library after it closes! We’ll watch movies, play games (including video games and a scavenger hunt in the empty library!), eat snacks, make crafts, and much more! Wear your pajamas, if you’d like, and be prepared to experience the library like never before!


Hello Cupcake! (Grades 6-12) Monday, July 30 From 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm Registration required. Attention future Cake Bosses: Here’s your chance to show us your cupcake decorating skills! Each participant will have the opportunity to decorate their own cupcake using icing, candy, and other edible decorations (just like in the book Hello Cupcake!). At the end of the program, we’ll vote on the most creative cupcakes and prizes will be given!

Movie and a Sundae (For students entering grades 6-12) Title TBD. Mon. Aug. 6th From 6-8:30pm Registration required 
Come cool off at the library by making your own ice cream sundae and watching a good movie! Movie titles have yet to be determined, but will have a rating no higher than PG-13. Check our website for more information as the program dates get closer! Have a suggestion for a movie? Email Lynn at lmazur@sclibnj.org.

TAB (Teen Advisory Board) Meeting (Grades 6-8) Tuesday, Aug. 21st from 5:30-6:30pm TAB Meeting (Grades 9-12) (For students entering grades 9-12) from 6:30-7:30pm. Registration required.
Do you want to make a difference at your library? Do you have suggestions for programs, new books, movies, or video games? Then come to one of our upcoming T.A.B. meetings! Community service hours will be awarded for attendance and snacks will be served.
We have lots more great teen programs at the library this summer, check out our August teen calendar here. 


Around the Community:

Teen Volunteers Needed for Children’s Museum Program   Teens looking for volunteer hours?The Children’s Museum will be making big paper-Mache bugs for the 4H fair this Saturday morning.    They also will be needing volunteers for the Children’s Museum Tent at the 4H Fair in North Branch August 8-10th anytime between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. each day.  If you want to help, please give them a call, an email, or just sign up using the link below.
Contact: Tom Davidson, volunteer coordinator
908-725-4677 tadavidson@gmail.com
The Children's Museum    120 Finderne Ave.  Bridgewater, NJ 08807

CHILDREN’S CLASSIC @ THE GROWING STAGE THEATRE
THE WIZ
WHEN: July 14^th to the 29^th with performances Saturday evenings at 7:30 PM and Sunday matinees at 4:00 PMWHERE: The Growing Stage, The Children’s Theatre of New Jersey, located in the Historic Palace Theatre on Route 183 in Netcong
TICKETS: $12 General Admission, with group rates available.
Tickets can be purchased by calling the TGS Box Office at 973.347.4946 or logging onto their website at www.growingstage.com.
THE WIZ is an urbanized retelling of L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz; THE WIZ was adapted from the 1975 Broadway musical of the same name specifically for young audiences. The story follows the adventures of Dorothy, a shy young girl who finds herself magically transported to the Land of Oz, which resembles a fantasy version of New York City. Befriended by a Scarecrow, a Tin Man, and a Cowardly Lion, she travels through the land to seek an audience with the mysterious "Wiz", who they say has the power to take her home.
THE WIZ is a new summer initiative of the Growing Stage that features the talents of high school and college aged students under the direction of the company’s professional artistic team.

COURTROOM DRAMA BY BERNARDSVILLE PLAYWRIGHT ONSTAGE @ TRILOGY REP   This courtroom drama is a perfect introduction to serious theater for your teenagers, what with the battle over evolution continuing today.

INHERIT THE WIND, by Hugh Wallace of Bernardsville,offers a fictionalized account of the famous 1925 Scopes Monkey Trial of John Scopes for teaching Charles Darwin’s “Theory of Evolution” to his high school science classes in Tennessee. In that trial, former Vice President William Jennings Bryan prosecuted John Scopes for breaking the law, which forbade the teaching of evolution in Tennessee schools. The famous Clarence Darrow defended the science teacher while reporter, H. L. Mencken, covered the trial.
The authors, Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee, used the 1925 trial to explore the Communist witch-hunt of the McCarthy hearings of the 1950s, similar to the device used by Arthur Miller in “The Crucible.”
Presenting INHERIT THE WIND as an allegory, the authors created fictional names for the famous players: Bertram Cates represented Scopes: Matthew Brady stood in for the prosecutor Bryan; Henry Drummond became the defender Darrow, while E. K. Hornbeck represented the reporter Mencken.
 

FREE. No parking, no tolls, bring a picnic and blanket and you’re set for an exciting evening of theater.
The partnership of Trilogy Repertory and Bernards Township has produced over twenty-five years of family entertainment and achieved several awards for both groups for excellence in theater programming. Most prominent are the awards from ACT (Achievement in Community Theater) and the prestigious “Excellence in Cultural Arts Programming.” INHERIT THE WIND is made possible, in part, by support from New Jersey State Council on the Arts.
The Sky Above RVCC planetarium show for families with children on the Autism Spectrum or with other developmental disabilities. Sunday, August 12, 2012, 4:30 - 5:30 p.m.
All ages are welcome to this one-hour sensory-friendly program. The show will provide a comfortable and judgment-free space that is welcoming to all families. The doors will remain open so that children will be able to come and go. Lights will be left dim and audio will be lowered and at a consistent level. The sky show will include: music, videos, planets, the Moon, constellations and laser lights. Ticket Price: $5.00 per person Please call 908-231-8805 to make a reservation as we are limiting the number of visitors for each show.

July & August – RVCC Planetarium Schedule All shows run approximately 40 minutes. Admission: $7 for one show, $12 for two shows on the same day. Call 908-231-8805 for reservations!


Solar System Odyssey Tuesdays, July 10 - August 28 2:00 p.m.Go on a futuristic journey through our Solar System. With Earth's resources being rapidly depleted, a tycoon sends our hero, Jack Larson, on a mission to discover a new home to colonize. This character-driven show is perfect for middle school students! (recommended for ages 8-12)



 Attack of the Space Pirates Tuesdays, July 10 – August 28 3:00 p.m.Hidden somewhere in the vast reaches of space is an alien technology so powerful that it threatens the very galaxy itself. A gang of rogue pirates will stop at nothing to find that technology and unleash its awesome power against the rest of the universe. Now, only one valiant ship stands between the pirates and their total domination of space. It’s a race against time for the Starship Intrepid as it seeks to find the alien technology first while defending itself against the attack of the space pirates! (recommended for ages 8-12)


Magic Tree House: Space Mission
Wednesdays, July 11 - August 29 2:00 p.m. And Fridays, July 6 - August 24 7:00 p.m.What would you do if you found a note with lots of question on it? "How many stars in the starry night sky? If we flew to the Sun, how long would we fly? Will we travel to planets and will it be soon? Will we ever be able to live on the Moon? How does it feel to journey through space? Why is our Earth so special a place?" From the authors of the best-selling novel series, join Jack and Annie as they discover the secrets of the Sun, Moon, planets, space travel, and more. Who can help them answer the mysterious "M's" questions? (recommended for ages 5 and older)

 Laser Kids Wednesdays, July 11 - August 29
3:00 p.m. Our popular show has gotten a new song list. Songs include "The Lion Sleeps Tonight," "Supercalifragilisticsexpialidocious," and "Yellow Submarine," to name just a few. (recommended for ages 5 and older)


Space Shapes & Tycho to the Moon
Thursdays, July 5 – August 23 2:00 p.m.
Exploring shapes in space: are the Moon and its orbit "round" like a ball or a pancake? Play connect-the-dots with the stars to find triangles and squares and constellations. Meet Tycho, a dog who doesn't just howl at the Moon, but wants to go there. Blast off on an amazing ride. Learn about night and day, space travel, the phases of the Moon, and features of the lunar surface. Watch meteors shoot across the sky and see the Earth from space. (recommended for ages 5-10 accompanied by an adult)

SkyLights Thursdays, July 5 – August 23
3:00 p.m. Our youngest audience members can sing along with songs by Mr. RAY (Family Ride, Kalien the Alien) and Jane Murphy (Moon Rock Rock, The Planet Song). Some songs are illustrated with lasers and other songs feature video images. (recommended for ages 5-10)


Morris Museum Hosts Camps for a Day, Theater Performances & Other Programs Camp for a Day - Make your own schedule For children ages 6 –10 Members: $30/day; Non-members: $40/day

Pre-registration is required at least one week before the program date. Click for flyer with more information, call 973.971.3718 or email.

Check out the Programs at the Environmental Education Center. Programs include WHITEWATER RAFTING, EVENING EXPLORATION and more!


Summer Draggin’, Kids Bored?  There are still some summer camp programs available in our area: Click on the titles for more info.

• Art Camp at the Morris Museum
• Art Camp at Center for Contemporary Art in Bedminster
• Nature Camp at Raritan Headwaters Assn.
• NJ Audubon Nature Camps

Let Your Fingers Do More Walking…
#656: Do You Have Perspective?

If you love art, then today’s Wonder of the Day is definitely for you!
Have you ever wondered…

• Do you have perspective?
• How do street artists make 3D pictures?
• Can you make art with sidewalk chalk?

Did you know?Do you love art? Most kids are naturally creative. Whether you give them pens, pencils, crayons, markers, paint, clay, yarn or sidewalk chalk, they can create works of art that are priceless to their parents.
There all sorts of canvases that can be used to create art. Of course, paper is a favorite of many children. Many artists, though, think outside the box and make art on ceilings or even on the side of buildings.
In cities, some artists have turned ordinary streets into fantastic works of art. This type of art is called by many different names, including street painting, pavement art, street art and sidewalk art. Have you ever seen street art in your city?
Since street art is by its very nature temporary (people still have to use the streets!), many artists use materials that can be removed easily. One of the most popular materials for street art is sidewalk chalk.
Street art isn’t a new phenomenon. Would you believe that pavement artists — called screevers — have been around in England since the 1700s? Historians believe that over 500 street artists made a living from creating street art in London alone by 1890.
Screevers did more than just make beautiful pictures. They would often add poetry or political commentary to their artworks. In this way, they created visual images of what was going on in the world around them. These images were loved by working people, many of whom could not read the newspapers of the day.
Today, street artists turn simple streets into eye-popping works of art. Some of their pieces seem to jump off the pavement to reach out and grab you.
How do street artists make these incredible 3D works of art? It’s all a matter of perspective. Street artists use techniques that have been around for hundreds of years.
First, they decide upon how the picture should be viewed. In other words, where will most people be standing to look at the picture? With this information, they can then use one simple fact — objects that are farther away appear smaller — to plan a work of art that creates the illusion of three dimensions on a flat surface.
When viewing a work of 3D street art, you have to be standing in the right position — the one from which the artist created the work — to fully appreciate the illusion. If you’re standing in the wrong area, the work of art will look smeared or distorted.
Try it out!
Ready to make street art of your own? Grab some sidewalk chalk and head outside. The sidewalks and streets are your canvas!
What do you like to draw? People? Animals? Machines? Can you create a 3D artwork like you saw in today’s video?
To help inspire you to create something great, check out these cool websites featuring street art:

• Sidewalk Chalk Art Photo Gallery
• Extreme Sidewalk Chalk
• How to Play Creatively with Sidewalk Chalk Art!

When you’re finished, take a picture of your street art and post it to Facebook for all your Wonder Friends to see. We can’t wait to see what you create!
 

From National Public Radio: Best-Ever Teen Novels? Vote For Your Favorites

Harriet Russell

See Picks From Previous Years:

2011: Top 100 Science-Fiction, Fantasy
Last month we asked you, our audience, to nominate titles for a top-100 list of the best young adult — YA — fiction ever written. Thousands of you sent in nominations. We've tabulated those suggestions and, with the help of an expert panel, narrowed the list to the 235 finalists you see below.
In winnowing the roster to a manageable size for voting, we considered both a book's popularity — as represented by the number of nominations it received — and the question of how well it fits the YA category. The latter sparked plenty of debate; there is, after all, no objective test for teen fiction. Is Pride and Prejudice YA? What about The Catcher in the Rye? Or The Lord of the Rings? (No, yes and yes, respectively.) The judges looked at qualities such as a book's themes, the age of its main characters, its reading level. But in the end, the most important test was often whether a given book is one that teens themselves have claimed — whether they do, in fact,voluntarily read it. The resulting list is an interesting mix of classics and new titles (click here for a printable list of all the finalists).

But Where's MY Favorite Book?

What's In, What's Out, And Why: A Guide To The YA Fiction Finalists
And so, let the voting begin! Everyone gets 10 votes. Once you've selected your top-10 titles, scroll to the bottom of the poll and click "Submit." Feel free to reminisce about your favorites — or lobby for them — in the comments section. We'll be back in a few weeks with a list that should keep the young people in your life entertained and inspired until long after their teen years exist only as cringe-worthy memories.
Useful site for parents of children with special needs: http://www.facebook.com/Special.Education.Advisor

And finally in a week with horrible news surrounding the Batman movie shooting, something from the good guys: The window washers at a children's hospital in London dress up as super heroes to lift the children's spirits…