Stay Curious with Your Child
Stay Curious with Your Child
(Updated on 22 June 2022)
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| Upcycle Your Clothes! | Story Crafts! | Build Your Own Robotic Hand! | Introduction to Coding |
Upcycle Your Clothes!
Children grow quickly, and this means their clothes may not fit after a few years. Instead of throwing away clothes that they have outgrown, why not create a reusable bag with your child? This eco-friendly activity can be completed in less than 10 minutes.
You’ll need:
- Scissors
- Old t-shirt
- Ruler
Share your creations with us by tagging us on Facebook and Instagram @publiclibrarysg with #librarysg!
(Last accessed on 14 May 2022)
Be Curious!
Read the following books to learn more about upcycling!
Those Shoes
by: Maribeth Boelts
Publisher: Candlewick, 2016
All Jeremy wants is a pair of those shoes, the ones everyone at school seems to be wearing. Though Jeremy’s grandma says they don’t have room for “want,” just “need,” when his old shoes fall apart at school, he is more determined than ever to have those shoes, even a thrift-shop pair that are much too small. But sore feet aren’t much fun, and Jeremy soon sees that the things he has — warm boots, a loving grandma, and the chance to help a friend — are worth more than the things he wants.
Earth Friends: Fair Fashion
By: Holly Webb
Publisher: Nosy Crow, 2021
The first fantastic book in the series about four friends who want to make the world a better place. Researching her school project on Fairtrade has been a real eye-opener for Maya. She loves clothes and is appalled to find that her favourite sparkly T-shirts are made by poor children in other countries who lead very different lives from her own, privileged one. She knows she must do something about it, but how can she make a difference without revealing her pop star secret to the world?
Clothing Warrior: Going Green
By: Claudia Martin
Publisher: Bearport Publishing, 2021
Landfills are piled high with tossed clothes and shoes, clothing hangers harm our flying friends, and tiny microfibers from our fabrics are becoming fish food. What a waste! But there’s a way to help. Be a waste warrior to put a stop to clothing waste and join the battle to save Earth! Honest text introduces some of Earth’s biggest waste problems, while helpful solutions provide a way for readers to combat the issues. A final eco-activity pairs simple steps with illustrations to give waste warriors a hands-on activity to fight clothing waste.
Tip for parents
Did you know that clothes have a significant environmental impact? The fashion industry is responsible for 10% of the global carbon dioxide output, more than international flights and shipping combined!
With this in mind, families can try to extend the life of clothes together, such as buying responsibly, donating hand-me-downs, repairing or upcycling them.
Source: https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2022-fashion-industry-environmental-impact/
(last accessed 14 May 2022)
The book covers and synopses are the copyright of the respective publishing companies.
Story Crafts!
Write a story and bring it to life! Through simple cutting, folding and gluing techniques, you and your child can make your very own special pop-up book! This can be based on their favourite book, or if they’re feeling extra spunky, even a story of their own creation! The finished product is a personal and fun pop-up book you can read, keep and treasure.
You’ll need:
- Your own written short story, or your favourite short story
- Stationery: Glue, tape, scissors, pencil and colouring markers.
- Cardstock papers
Try this out and tag us on Facebook and Instagram @publiclibrarysg with #librarysg!
(Last accessed 27 May 2022)
Be Curious!
Still feeling artsy? Check out these other cool ways of making your stories come alive!
My First Origami Fairy Tales E-book
by: Joel Stern
Publisher: Tuttle Publishing, 2019
Bestselling origami artist Joel Stern’s book sparks children’s imaginations and keeps them playing happily for hours. The easy-to-follow instructions and colorful, printable folding papers make it easy to create your favorite characters and use them to tell stories.
Kids will have fun folding up the characters and moving them around in front of the downloadable story backdrops to reenact classic stories—or even to set off on brand new adventures!
This eBook is available on Overdrive at: https://nlb.overdrive.com/library/kids/media/4644508
Making Puppets
by: Toby Reynolds
Publisher: The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc, 2017
Puppets are fun to play with and they’re even more fun to make. In this book, readers learn how to create their very own puppets out of materials that are easily accessible, such as socks, spoons, and cups. Brilliant color photographs detail each step in the process, as readers learn how to turn basic materials into lion, bear, and fish puppets, and even a mermaid marionette. Straightforward text and step-by-step instructions help readers gain an understanding of the craft and how it’s made. The book begins with a helpful hint and list of materials to guide readers as they begin to create puppets that are ready to come to life!
This eBook is available on Overdrive at: https://nlb.overdrive.com/library/kids/media/3602261
Tip for parents
Creative writing and storytelling are excellent tools to help your child develop their language and vocabulary. These activities further your child’s inference and comprehension skills, and are just some of the fun ways you can encourage their self-expression, in order for them to become a more confident and effective communicator!
Source: 4 Benefits of kids telling their own stories [https://rainforestlearningcentre.ca/4-benefits-kids-telling-stories/]
(Date Accessed: 16 May 2022)
Build Your Own Robotic Hand!
Equip your child for their next superhero mission with this robotic hand! Using just a few household materials, you will be able to construct a simple machine which explores how human anatomy and engineering intersect. Gather your supplies, and let’s get building.
You’ll need:
- Foam paper
- Hand stencil
- Colourful straws
- Colourful yarn
- Popsicle stick
- Binder clip
- Glue
- Marker
- Scissors
Try this out and tag us on Facebook and Instagram @publiclibrarysg with #librarysg!
(Last accessed 22 June 2022)
Be Curious!
Check out these eBooks for more engineering exploits!
Robots
by: Melissa Stewart
Publisher: National Geographic Society, 2013
Discover the coolest robots of today and tomorrow in this colourful, photo-packed book. In this inviting and entertaining format, kids will learn about the science behind these amazing machines.
This book is available on OverDrive at: https://nlb.overdrive.com/media/2232124
Human Body Theater
by: Maris Wicks
Publisher: First Second, 2015
Welcome to the Human Body Theater, where your master of ceremonies is going to lead you through a theatrical revue of each and every biological system of the human body! Starting out as a skeleton, the MC puts on a new layer of her costume (her body) with each “act.” By turns goofy and intensely informative, the Human Body Theater is always accessible and always entertaining.
This book is available on OverDrive at: https://nlb.overdrive.com/library/kids/media/2399553
Tip for parents
Introducing your child to the world of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Maths) isn’t as daunting as it may seem. One easy way to broach these topics is by utilising the environment and activities in your daily life.
When you’re indoors, cooking can be a fun exercise in chemical and physical reactions. If you’re heading out, nature parks present an immersive space to talk about biodiversity. STEAM concepts are all around, and each day is a new opportunity to discover them.
Source: How To Get Your Kids Interested In STEAM (Last accessed: 20 May 2022)
The book covers and synopses are the copyright of the respective publishing companies.
Introduction to Coding
Growing up in a digital world, coding is an important skill for children to learn. Try this activity to introduce the topic of coding to your child.
You’ll need:
- Pencil
- Notepad
- A few pieces of paper
- Flat spaces for grid layout
Try this out and tag us on Facebook and Instagram @publiclibrarysg with #librarysg!
(Last accessed 23 June 2022)
Be Curious!
Read these eBooks to learn more about coding and programming for beginners.
Scratch 3 Programming Playground: Learn to Program by Making Cool Games
by: Al Sweigart
Publisher: No Starch Press, 2016
Scratch, the colorful drag-and-drop programming language, is used by millions of first-time learners worldwide. Scratch 3 features an updated interface, new programming blocks, and the ability to run on tablets and smartphones, so you can learn how to code on the go.
This book is available on Overdrive at: https://nlb.overdrive.com/media/5077413
Machine Learning for Kids: A Project-Based Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
by: Dale Lane
Publisher: First Second, 2021
A hands-on, application-based introduction to machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) that guides young readers through creating compelling AI-powered games and applications using the Scratch programming language. Machine learning is one of the building blocks of AI, or artificial intelligence.
This book is available on Overdrive at: https://nlb.overdrive.com/media/5588931
Tip for parents
Establish a secure online setting by keeping tech use in the open. Children need room to research and socialize. Download the apps your kids use to your own device so that you understand firsthand how they work. You don’t need to be the expert, instead, use the possibility to ask questions of your child. If you exhibit true activity in an app, they may additionally be extra in all likelihood to share it with you.
Source: https://edtechreview.in/trends-insights/insights/5489-digital-safety-tips-for-parents
(Last accessed 16 June 2022)
The book covers and synopses are the copyright of the respective publishing companies.