EXCITING NEWS! The Somerset County Library now subscribes to TumbleBooks! TumbleBookLibrary is an online collection of animated, talking picture books which teach young children the joys of reading in a format they'll love. They are available 24/7 from a banner on our Homepage.
TumbleBooks are created by taking existing picture books, adding animation, sounds, music and narration to produce an electronic picture book (and some classics) which you can read, or have read to you.
Story Books:
The TumbleBookLibrary has a selection of children’s favorite story books. Old time favorites such as “The Paper Bag Princess” by Robert Munsch, as well as favorite fairy tales such as “Jack and the Beanstalk” and “Old Mother Hubbard” come to life in an educational and interactive way.
Read-Along Books:
Older students or more accomplished readers can read our collection of read-along chapter books. Read-along titles feature narration, sentence highlighting, and automatic page turning.
Videos:
Tumblebooks has partnered with National Geographic to bring you videos which support with Core Curriculum Standards, covering subjects such as History, Geography, Social Studies and Science, to name just a few! The great part is that these videos are also paired with our non-fiction titles in the collection! Read “Meet the Meerkat” by Darrin Lunde, for example, then watch an educational video from National Geographic to learn more about this fascinating creature.
Try it (make sure to have your library card number)!
http://www.tumblebooks.com/library/auto_login.asp?U=somersetcolib&P=libra
Speaking of Books -- If you registered for this Saturday’s Program Author Program at the Bridgewater Middle School -- Meeting authors is even better when you know their books, so check out some of these authors’ works above the magazines in the Children’s Room.![image_thumb8_thumb_thumb_thumb_thumb[1]](http://lh5.ggpht.com/-mc_UKNVwcz8/UUKVqvY0MaI/AAAAAAAABgs/tyKKTX72F9Q/s1600-h/image_thumb8_thumb_thumb_thumb_thumb%25255B1%25255D%25255B2%25255D.png "image_thumb8_thumb_thumb_thumb_thumb[1]")
Programs for Children @ the Bridgewater Library:
Enjoy Explore India: Krazy Kats (Ages 4-8) Saturday, March 16th 11am Registration required Wear a mask and costume, hear the jungle drums, learn a tiger dance from India; what fun!
Join this exciting KraZy KatS workshop and about the National Animal of India you will learn. Are tiger stripes yellow on black or black on yellow? How fast can they run? How big is the biggest tiger? Join this exciting workshop to learn fascinating facts about these cool wild cats. Listen to jungle stories from the Panchatantra and the Jataka collections and make a unique yellow and black KooL KraZy KaT costume. View traditional tiger dancers from the state of Kerala and learn the “Pulikali” dance performed to the rhythmic beats of Indian drums.
Happy St. Patrick's Day (Ages 3-10) 4:30-5:30pm Registration required and begins March 4 Join us for an hour of Irish-American stories, crafts, and treats! Erin Go Bragh!
Family Storytimes (ages 2-6) Tuesdays at 10 and 1:30, Toddler Times (ages 18-36 months) Wednesdays at 10 & 11 and Thursdays at 10:30 & 11:30, Baby Times (Birth-18 months) Thursdays at 9:30. No registration is required but we ask that you only attend one session each week. Even though we have four Toddler Times each week, they are quite crowded. If your child is over 3 years old, we ask that they com to the Family Storytime instead. Thanks! Full details are posted our Calendar or you can call us at 908 526-4016 x126. We also offer a satellite storytime/craft on Wednesday mornings at 10:30 a.m. at the Neshanic Station Library.
This month, vote for your favorite Dr. Seuss book and draw your favorite character on our bulletin board.
Advocacy: Tourette's Association Thursday, March 21st from 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm Registration required Presented by Allissa Letts, in association with the NJ Center for Tourette Syndrome and Associated Disorders, Inc.
Tourette Syndrome, an often misunderstood and misdiagnosed disorder, affects 1 in 100 individuals. This workshop reviews the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of Tourette Syndrome and provides further information about the disorders commonly associated with a TS diagnosis. Participants have the opportunity to experience firsthand what it is like to have TS via an interactive activity, and key strategies for interacting with an individual with TS will be reviewed.
Play Group (For parents or caregivers and children ages birth to 3 years) Monday, March 25th 10:00am No registration required. Next meeting on Monday, April 1st. Join our new group where you can play with toys, dance to music, and meet new friends! Some weeks will have special speakers; inquire at the Youth Services Desk.
Things with Wings (Ages 4-6) Monday, March 25th 4:30-5:30pm Registration required Yum! Buffalo wings! Wait a minute, do buffalo have wings? Well, birds are not the only animals with wings. Discover who has wings and how they are used. Flying, singing, swimming, warming up, and showing off are just some of the many reasons for wings. Activities may include a craft, a hike, and a game. This program is sponsored by the Somerset County Parks Commission.
Lego Club (Grades K-6) Tuesday, March 26th 4:30pm Registration required 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.
Afternoon Movie: The Wizard of Oz (All ages) Wednesday, March 27th 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm Registration required What better way to spend your afternoon off than by dropping by the library for a fun-filled movie adventure! Today we will be watching the original 'The Wizard of Oz!'
Drop-In Game Day (All ages) Saturday, March 30th and Monday, April 1st. All Day No registration required Sure, you have the day off from school, but do you really want to be sitting in your room twiddling your thumbs? Of course not! That's why you should join us for 'Board Game Day!' We'll have all of your favorite board games available so that you and your friendscan have fun all day long. There'll be Scrabble, Chutes and Ladders, Connect Four, and plenty more!Registration is not required, just come on in! Repeats on Monday April 1st – we’re not April Foolin’!
What's Inside the Envelope?! (Ages 7-11) Thursday, April 4th 4:30-5:30pm Registration required and begins March 21 April is National Poetry Month, so let’s look at poems and poetry a whole new way! The secret? It’s inside the envelope! Read, write, create, enjoy!
Storytime Yoga for Children (Ages 6 and below) Friday April 5th 10 a.m.
Friends Concert Series: Caryn Lin 'Bach to Rock' Saturday, April 6th 11am No registration required The Friends of the Bridgewater Library present Caryn Lin and the simplicity of the solo acoustic violin and its origins. Whisked into present day, Caryn uses the five string electric violin and sound effects to transcend that 'solo' sound by doing what is called 'looping,' creating sound loops live that she adds to and embellishes, playing in essence, live duos and trios with herself. This 3 dimensional sound magic is performed right before your eyes!! Audiences of ALL ages are captivated, and are always included and anxious to participate on stage.
Take Me Out to the Ballgame (Ages 3-10) Monday, April 8th 4:30-5:30pm Registration required and begins March 25 Join us for stories, songs, and crafts celebrating America’s national sport.
Kids Club (Grades 3-4) Tuesday, April 9 4:30-5:30pm Registration required and begins March 26 We will celebrate National Poetry Month.
Sing-along: Sing Spring (All ages) Wednesday, April 10th 10am No registration required Join us as we celebrate the month with some high energy tunes!
Rocket Readers: 'Henry and Mudge in Puddle Trouble' (Grades 1-2) Wednesday, April 10th 4:30-5:30pm Registration required and begins March 13 An exciting program for brand new readers! At each program we will discuss a book, play some games, or create a story related craft. This month's book: 'Henry and Mudge in Puddle Trouble'By: Cynthia Rylant. For Henry and his big dog Mudge, spring means admiring the first snow glory, playing in puddles in the rain, and watching the five new kittens next door. **Students should read the book prior to the program. Copies of the book will be available at the Youth Services Reference Desk.**
Tail Waggin' Tutors: Children Reading to Dogs (For Children of All Ages) Thursday, April 11th, 4-5pm In-Person and Phone Registration Only begins March 21st. Did you know that dogs like listening to stories as much as kids do? Come to the Bridgewater Library for Tail Waggin’ Tutors, our new program where children will have the opportunity to practice their reading skills by reading a story to Xena the Therapy Dog, a friendly, six-year-old chocolate labradoodle. Each child will have 10 minutes to read a favorite story to his or her new, canine friend. For more information, please visit www.tdi-dog.org.**Please be on time for your time slot. If you can no longer make your scheduled time, please call the desk at 908-526-4016 ext. 126**
If you register 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!
There are ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS at other system libraries for children & teens…find their online calendars under the “events/programs” tab on our home page. Planning ahead for April? -- Check out our library calendar.
@ Bridgewater Library for Teens:
TAB Meeting (Grades 6-8 Tuesday, March 19th 5:30-6:30pm TAB Meeting (Grades 9-12) Tuesday, March 19th 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM 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!
Open Mic Cafe Night (Ages 13+) Thursday March 28th, 2013 From 7-8:30pm. Registration required TO PERFORM. 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? Not an artist, but would like to witness some of the most inspiring artists Somerset County has to offer? Then join us for this one of a kind experience, and help local musicians and writers have 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 help support local artists and musicians – you don’t need to be an artist to enjoy our Open Mic Night!**
5th & 6th Grade Volunteers Wednesday, April 4th 7-8pm Registration required. ATTENTION STUDENTS IN GRADES 5 AND 6: Here is your chance to make a difference by volunteering at the library! You can help the library with special projects including creating bookmarks for young children, organizing and tidying up the Children’s Room, and much more!
SAT/ACT Combo Test (Grades 9-12) Saturday, April 6th 1:00 pm - 4:30 pm Registration required and begins March 15 Deciding between the SAT and ACT? Kaplan's combo test will allow you to take both!
A free practice test is one of the best ways to get ready for the real thing. By taking this practice test, you will learn exactly what to expect on test day and receive a complete individual analysis of your results. Don’t forget a calculator and number 2 pencil! Scores will emailed 7-10 business days after the test. **Please note: The practice test begins at 1 PM and is 3.5 hours long. Please come to the library 15 minutes early so we can start the test promptly at 1 PM. The library closes at 5 PM on Saturdays. All participants must have a ride home at 5 PM.
Journal Making & Blackout Poetry (Grades 6-12) Wednesday, April 10th 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm Registration required and begins March 20 It’s National Poetry Month! Come celebrate by making a unique journal and creating some blackout poetry (artistic poems created out of recycled book pages by selecting certain words and covering unwanted text with colorful sharpie markers).
Want more info about upcoming programs? Check out our April teen calendar here.
Around the Community:
Be Healthy ● Stay Active ● Add DANCE into your daily life!
13th Annual Family Arts Festival: Dance for Life
For children of all ages accompanied by a parent or favorite adult
Saturday, March 16, 2013 | 1-4 PM
Arline and Henry Schwartzman Courtyard at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital New Brunswick, NJ
The Family Arts Festival is a program of Young Audiences New Jersey & Eastern Pennsylvania in partnership with the Community Health Promotion Program at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, made possible by the generous support of
Johnson & Johnson.
A fabulous FREE family event!
- Come learn Latin, Hip Hop, West African and Mexican dance.
- See performances by professional and student dance groups.
- Explore free family health information.
Join us and your community for an interactive dance celebration of healthy living!
Stay active by participating in our fun family dance workshops, taught by professional dance teachers.
Come see performances by professional dance groups Illstyle & Peace Productions and Mexico Beyond Mariachi, as well as presentations by student dance groups. Learn how to lead a healthy lifestyle by stopping by our Family Health Information booths.
Event Schedule:
12:45 Registration opens
1:00 Performance by Illstyle & Peace Productions
1:50-3:10 Family Dance Workshops: Latin, Hip Hop and Mexican dance!
2:00-3:00 Youth Group Dance Performances: Hungarian American Athletic Club Folk Dance Group, King’s Academy of Dance Arts and Inspira Performing Arts & Cultural Center
3:00 Free Snack Time
3:10 Performance by Mexico Beyond Mariachi
Don’t forget to join in our ongoing wellness and art activities!
- Creative Movement with Michelle
- RWJ Fitness Obstacle Course
- Decorate a Festival Hat
- Stained Glass with Zach
MAKE IT, TAKE IT THIS SATURDAY @ NEWARK MUSEUM
Click below to watch the Family Arts Festival Video!
For more information and to register, please visit our website:
http://www.yanj-yaep.org/family-arts-festival-2013/
Young Audiences programs are supported in part by:
Last Weekend for 'Jungalbook' at the Growing Stage
The Growing Stage, The Children’s Theatre of New Jersey, located in the Historic Palace Theatre on Route 183 in Netcong, New Jersey will present the Studio Series Presentation of "JUNGALBOOK" from March 8th through March 17th with performances Friday evenings at 7:30 p.m., Saturday and Sunday matinees at 4 p.m.
JUNGALBOOK Adapted by Edward Mast Based on the Mowgli stories of Rudyard Kipling
This dramatization places the jungle of India on a children’s playground. The dialog and action refer to the jungle, but the play draws color and style from a child’s intense world of playfulness, loyalty, adventure and betrayal. Mowgli, the human child grows up in the jungle, raised by wolves under the guidance of Baloo the bear. The tiger Sherakhan killed his parents and wants the boy’s flesh, but Bagheera, the lone panther, protects him. Mowgli grows up wild and unconcerned, believing he’s a wolf; but the tiger works long and hard to poison the wolf pack against him. With rope stolen from the human village, Mowgli meets and destroys Sherakhan; but his use of “manthing” has broken jungle law. Mowgli must choose whether to defy the law or leave the jungle forever. JUNGALBOOK received the Distinguished Play Award from the American Alliance for Theatre & Education
All Tickets $12.00 Click Here to Purchase
"JUNGALBOOK" received the Distinguished Play Award from the American Alliance for Theatre & Education.
This is an all youth production featuring 27 young performers. This production is a part of GS's Studio Presentation Series. This series initiated in the fall of 2009 has succeeded in engaging both patrons and artists. Targeted for specific-aged audiences rather than the wide-reaching family fare of the Main Stage, the series provides community artists with a unique opportunity to participate in the creative process of “trying our” new, more experimental works under the direction of professional artists. This program allows the company to both cultivate new talent and challenge audiences.
Looking for fun in nature? Check out the Spring programs at the Environmental Education Center. The Somerset County Park Commission Environmental Education Center at 190 Lord Stirling Road in Basking Ridge has Naturalist-led programs to help children and adults enjoy the wonder and the beauty of nature in Somerset County.
LAST WEEKEND FOR THIS PRINCESS CELEBRATION
A Fairy Tale Princess Celebration Pax Amicus Castle Theatre in Budd Lake, NJ; 11 am In this new musical, Cinderella, Snow White, Rapunzel, and Sleeping Beauty are giving the Little Mermaid a bridal shower, and Prince Charming and four superhero friends make a guest appearance. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to dress like royalty! Tickets required. This event occurs weekly on Saturdays.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
KidsVill at the Villagers Theatre in Somerset
Opens: 03/09/2013 – Closes: 03/17/2013
Performance Times:
Saturdays at 12NOON and 3:00PM, Sundays at 12NOON.
Ticket Prices:
General Admission - All tickets $10
Buy Tickets Reservation Request When the Wicked Queen asks the audience, “Don’t you think I’m beautiful?” and her magical Mirror (who must always tell the truth) replies, “Yes, Oh Repulsive and Ravishing Queen.” the tone is firmly set for this delightfully fanciful version of the well-known tale. All the other familiar characters are here, as well: the Dwarfs (all seven), the Huntsman, the Prince and, of course, Snow White. You may have heard it before, but this original retelling will put you under the spell (no poison apple ingestion required) of an enchantingly enjoyable theatrical experience.
RVCC Planetarium
Public Star Shows
- Admission / General Policies
- 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!
Magic Tree House: Space Mission
Monday, March 25 at 2:00 p.m.
Tuesday, March 26 at 2:00 p.m.
Join Jack and Annie as they discover the secrets of the Sun, Moon, planets, space travel, and more. Who can help them answer the questions left for them by the mysterious "M"? This show is based on the same-titled, best-selling series of novels.
Recommended for ages 5 and older.
The Secret of the Cardboard Rocket
Friday, March 15 at 6:00 p.m.
Monday, March 25 at 3:00 p.m.
Travel with two adventurous youngsters in their cardboard rocket as they explore the Sun and the planets of the solar system.
Recommended for ages 6-12)
Laser Kids
Friday, March 15 at 7:00 p.m.
Our popular show has gotten a new song list. Songs include "Supercalifragilisticsexpialidocious" and "Yellow Submarine," to name just a few.
Recommended for ages 6-12)
Space Shapes & Tycho to the Moon
Sunday, March 17
2:00 p.m.
Let's find circles, squares, and constellations in the sky. Then join Tycho the dog as he blasts off to the Moon and Sun. Recommended for ages 5-10.
Storybooks in Space
Sunday, March 17
3:00 p.m.
Pages from children's books float among the stars. We'll share stories and learn about the stars and planets too. Recommended for ages 4-8.
Earth, Moon, Sun and Coyote
Tuesday, March 26 3:00 p.m.
Coyote has a razor-shart wit, but he's a little confused about what he sees in the sky. Join this amusing character (adapted from Native American oral traditions) in a fast-paced and fun show that tells Native American stories, explores lunar phases, eclipses, and other puzzles of the sky. Engaging and immersive, "Earth, Moon & Sun" also examines how humans learn through space exploration. Recommended for ages 7-12.
STUDENT WORK EXHIBITED @ CENTER FOR CONTEMPORARY ART THROUGH THE MONTH OF MARCH
Free Public Youth Art Month Events
WHEN: Youth Art Month Exhibit Part II features students in grades K through 5 and runs from March 15-March 24. Public receptions will be held from 2- 3:30 PM on Sunday, March 25th for Part II. Awards presentations will be held at 2:30 PM.
WHERE: The Center for Contemporary Art, 2020 Burnt Mills Road, Bedminster, NJ.
ADMISSION: Free
908.234.2345 www.ccabedminster.org
Each year for the past thirteen years, in celebration of Youth Art Month, The Center for Contemporary Art has hosted exhibitions of Somerset County student work in partnership with Art Educators of New Jersey. Youth Art Month has a long history going back to 1961 and is supported by the National Art Education Association. Each year, each state submits a Youth Art Month report to NAEA and awards of excellence are given to 4 states. New Jersey has been in the top 4 for the past 11 years.
This year thirteen Somerset County schools will be participating in two exhibitions during the month of March. Six works of art from Somerset County have been selected for a State-wide exhibition which takes place at the Statehouse in Trenton where over 100 pieces of student work are on display from every county in the State. The young artists selected from Somerset County are Veronica Fabiano, grade 3, from the Cedar Hill School (Basking Ridge); Sophie Marsillo, grade 5, from Central Elementary School (Warren); Jennifer Adams, grade 6, from Montgomery Lower Middle School (Montgomery); Gianna Clarke, grade 8, from Montgomery Upper Middle School (Montgomery); Rose Tarantino, grade 11, from Hillsborough High School (Hillsborough); and Kaitlin Marion, grade 12, from Somerville High School (Somerville).
Free public events are planned in conjunction with each reception.
On Sunday, March 25th, The Center will hold a Family Open House with hands-on art projects for younger artists, and artist demonstrations led by The Center’s faculty.
About The Center for Contemporary Art
Founded in 1970, The Center for Contemporary Art is a vital regional art center with a vibrant studio art school, extensive exhibition program and important community outreach component. For further information, please call (908) 234-2345 or visit The Center for Contemporary Art online at http://www.ccabedminster.org/
Gallery Hours
Monday – Thursday 9:00 AM –5 PM
Friday & Saturday 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Open evenings when classes are in session
Closed Sundays and major holidays
Do You Have a Child With Special Needs? – Check out Somerset County’s Therapeutic Recreation Offerings
The Therapeutic Recreation (TR) Department is dedicated to providing year round recreation and leisure opportunities for people with developmental disabilities. The goal of the TR department is to promote an active leisure lifestyle that improves social, physical, cognitive and emotional functioning and health while enhancing each participant’s abilities. With highly qualified staff at programs, participants can register for many types of programs. By providing a variety of social, cultural, artistic, and culinary programs, as well as sports, fitness, community outings, horticulture, and special events, participants can recreate in the day, evening, or weekend.
Benefits to participation may include improving social skills, enhancing self–esteem, improving overall health and well-being and physical ability, enhancing communication skills, constructive use of leisure time and eliminating boredom, and reduction of stress and anxiety. Come discover the benefits with us.
If you would like to be included in local recreation programs offered by your municipality, call us and we will assist with the inclusion process and help with activity modification or adaptation.
To be placed on our mailing list, find out about registration, or obtain more information about these programs, please contact the Therapeutic Recreation office at 908 526-5650. We are here to help you recreate! Individuals with a hearing/speech impairment, please call the Relay Service @ 711. Click here for the Therapeutic Recreation Brochure. (PDF)
WINTER/SPRING 2013 PROGRAMS
Fitness, crafts, cooking, dining out, sports, and movie nights are just a few of the types of programs being offered this
season. Stay healthy and active while learning lifetime leisure skills and come socialize with friends. Register and become a part of the fun at the TR Activity Center. Participants must reside in a TR participating municipality. Program offerings are divided into specific age groups..
Adults ages 18 and older
Teens ages 14 - 21
Children ages 6-13
Call the TR office find out what programs are being offered for your age group. If you have questions or if you want to receive a flyer/brochure please call the TR department at 908 526-5650 or visit us on the web at www.somersetcountyparks.org. Individuals with speech or hearing impairments, please call the Relay Service at 711
T.R.A.I.L.S.
Therapeutic Recreation Adapted Instruction at Lord Stirling. Adapted horseback riding instruction for children, teens, and adults ages 9 and older who have a developmental disability and reside in Somerset County. This program is run conjunction with Lord Stirling Stable. For more information, please call 908 526-5650.
CAMP OKEE SUNOKEE
A six week day camp for children with learning disabilities or Asperger's
Syndrome, ages 6-14, that encourages the development of recreation and social skills and enhances self confidence and educational growth through the participation in a variety of activities including arts & crafts, sports & games, music, cooking, trips, and swimming. Tentatively, the camp will begin on June 24. Only 40 children are accepted on a first come-first served basis and must reside in Somerset County. Applications will be mailed in February. For additional information please call 908 526-5650.
Camp Registration coming soon!
If you are on our mail list and eligible for camp, look for a camp brochure in your mailbox soon!
Registration will be accepted for Camp Okee Sunokee -- As of Friday, February 22, we will begin accepting registrations by fax between 8:00 am – 4:30 pm, by mail, or you may drop it off at the office during office hours. No email or phone registrations will be accepted.
SUMMER ADVENTURE
Looking for a great way to have some summer fun? Then Summer Adventure is the program for you. Through trips, outdoor activities, swimming, and cooking, this will be a great way to experience new recreation opportunities and develop your leisure skills. The goal of this program for teens is to build self-esteem and confidence, develop friendships, encourage team building, and improve life skills. There may be some additional costs for activities during the two weeks. Youth activity program will be held August 5-16, 2013 and is open to teens ages 15-21 who are receiving special education services due to a learning disability, Asperger's Syndrome or cognitive impairment-mild. Sixteen teens will be accepted on a first come first served basis and must reside in a TR participating municipality in Somerset County. (Call the TR office to verify municipal eligibility). For additional information, please call 908 526-5650.
E-mail the Therapeutic Recreation Dept. with any questions or comments.
PROGRAM BROCHURES & FLIERS (PDF)
Social Story Yoga (Ages 7-13)
2013 Adult Winter/Spring Programs
Teen/Young Adult Connection
(Ages 14-21)
Winter/Spring 2013
Kids Corner (Ages 6 - 13)
Model Car Club (Ages 6-11)
2013 Camp Okee Sunokee brochure
Adobe Reader is required. (Free download)
Speaking of books – Don’t forget to check out the new Continuous Book Sale near the Adult Music collection. The sale is sponsored by the Friends of the Bridgewater Library.
Thanks to Ruth Ross at NJARTSMAVEN.COM for some of these listings.
There are lots more things to do around our community. Look at the “Useful Websites for Families” (on the right side of this blog – click the headline if you are reading this as an email) for many more options!
Looking for events around our community? Check out the “Events” links under the “Useful links for families” list on the right side of this blog listing. (If you are getting this as an email, click on the headline title to open it as a webpage and then you’ll see all these useful links!)
Let Your Fingers Do More Walking:
Today is Pi Day. Pi, also written as π, is a very special number: It's the number of times that the line through the middle of a circle wraps around the outside of that circle. You can take any perfect circle and the distance around that circle will always, always be 3.14159265... times the distance across it. The number pi is an infinitely long number...Chao Lu holds the world record for memorizing almost 68,000 digits, which took him 4 years of practice. But the rest of us usually shorten it to 3.14, which is why today (3/14) is Pi Day. Pi can also be used to figure out the area of a circle - and when it comes to cutting pie, that's a very important number to know.
Wee ones: What's the biggest circle in your house? If you have a measuring tape, try measuring the distance across it. If you round off π to 3, what's the distance around that circle?
Little kids: If you roll a 3-foot wide hula hoop, about how many feet will it roll on the ground for 1 complete turn? (You can round off π to 3). Bonus: If you have a yo-yo that's 2 inches wide where the string wraps around, and the string wraps around 10 times, about how far can you shoot your yo-yo?
Big kids: As a shortcut, you can round off π to 3 1/7 (since you're bigger kids). If you kick a 7-inch soccer ball, how far will it roll on one spin? Bonus: If you build a snowman with a 21-inch-wide neck, will your 70-inch scarf be long enough to wrap all the way around?
The sky's the limit: You can use π to figure out the area of a circle, too. Take half the distance across (the "radius"), then multiply it by itself and then by π. You can then multiply by height to get the "volume" of a cylinder of that width and height - like a drinking glass. If your local diner serves milkshakes in perfect cylinder glasses, which full glass will give you more milkshake: a 4-inch wide glass that's 8 inches tall, or a 6-inch wide glass that's only 5 inches tall? (You can keep π in your answers without multiplying it out - you'll still be able to compare).
Answers:
Wee ones: Different for everyone...pick an object and measure across, then around.
Little kids: About 9 feet. Bonus: About 60 inches!
Big kids: 22 inches. Bonus: The snowman will need 66 inches of scarf (63+3), so you're good to go.
The sky's the limit: The first glass holds 32π cubic inches of milkshake (half of 4 is 2, giving you 2 x 2 x 8 x π), and the second one holds 45π cubic inches (half of 6 is 3, so you have 3 x 3 x 5 x π). In general, you always want the shorter, wider glasses at restaurants!
Bedtime Math
Website: Find all your favorite bedtime math problems (BMPs) at www.bedtimemath.org.
Some of you may have come to my program featuring A Winter’s Tail about a dolphin who learned to swim with a prosthetic tail. Here’s a similar story about a sea turtle.
Injured Sea Turtle Enjoys a Swim With Her New Prosthetic Fins By Andri Antoniades See Video Here
Several years ago, a loggerhead sea turtle was discovered while entangled in fishing nets off the coast of Japan. Severely injured from what researchers believe was a nasty shark attack, the turtle was missing her two front fins.
Partially backed by an outpouring of funding from concerned citizens, researchers from the University of Tokyo devised a way for the animal to have a better life; they fit the turtle, now known as Yu Chan, with prosthetic flippers.
According to National Geographic, these are actually the 27th pair engineered by Yu Chan’s doctors. As human prosthetic technology evolves, so too does the turtle’s. Her prostheses are often updated and tested to see which will allow her the greatest mobility and eventually, also allow her a faster swimming speed. This current model involves a soft vest that slips over her head and attachments that allow her mobility on land and in the water.
As Naoki Kamezaki, the director of the Sea Turtle Association, told the AFP, “Ours may be the only case in which a turtle with artificial limbs is still swimming without a problem.”
Yu Chan currently resides at the Suma Aqualife Park in Kobe, Japan, where she will remain for the foreseeable future. But her story isn’t over; her doctors continue to find ways to improve her flippers so that eventually Yu Chan’s disability doesn’t hold her back from keeping up with her able-bodied counterparts.
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