Category: Children’s Resources

Kids’ Update: Otherworldly Octopuses

~ clancygirl1 ~ Leave a comment

The National Aquarium presents: Otherworldly Octopuses? Learn about the highly intelligent octopus with information and videos from The National Aquarium. Otherworldly Octopuses. Explore their website for more interesting information and videos.

Here’s a bedtime story that’s filled with surprises — The Kiss That Missed!

The Youth Services Staff at the Chester County Library and Hankin Branch are presenting Virtual Storytimes beginning April 27th. They will be for three different ages groups — 0 to 2 Year Olds, 3 & 4 Year Olds, and 5 & 6 Year Olds. Registration is required via the Events Calendar at https://chescolibraries.org/. Virtual Storytimes are not registered as multi-week sessions; you will need to register for each storytime individually.

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

~ Sara ~ Leave a comment

Today, April 30th, is National Raisin Day AND National Oatmeal Cookie Day.  The first National Raisin Day was celebrated in 1909 and promoted by the raisin growers of California. Advertisements placed in papers and on the radio, flyers delivered door to door leading up to the day included recipes, deals, and announcements reminding everyone to celebrate National Raisin Day on Friday, April 30th. When the day arrived, restaurants, dining cars, hotels and steamships around the country included dishes featuring the dried fruit.  Schools, local and state governments were involved in providing education and information about the quality of California raisins and their health benefits.   People have been enjoying raisins for as long as grapes have been growing. Raisins are naturally low in fat and contain healthy nutrients.  California produces the majority of the world’s raisin supply.

Although there is no known origin of National Oatmeal Cookie Day.  Oatmeal cookies have been around since the 1800s. The cookies quickly became popular, and by the early 1900s, a recipe for the delicious treats appeared on containers of Quaker Oats. Oatmeal cookies are also considered health food because they are an excellent source of iron and fiber. Just another reason to have an oatmeal cookie today!

In honor of these two complimentary days, a staff member wanted to share her mother Peggy’s hand-written recipe for Old Fashioned Oatmeal Cookies.

Try these 5 Cookies to Celebrate National Oatmeal Cookie Day and eBooks:

The Perfect Cookie    Cookie perfection     My First Cookbook

Kids’ Update: Outer Space STEM with NASA

~ clancygirl1 ~ Leave a comment

Point your eyes to the sky and explore Outer Space STEM with NASA! NASA has lots of fun and educational activities for you to do. Put on your spacesuit and try some of these for a start:

NASA STEM-at-Home-for-Students, K to Grade 4

NASA STEM-at-Home-for-Students, Grades 5 to 8

NASA STEM-at-Home-for-Students, Grades 9 to 12

And there is lots more on the NASA Website, so do some exploring at NASA.

Finally, this are not just another story time, these books are ready by actual astronauts while in space on the International Space Station — Storytime from Space!

The Youth Services Staff at the Chester County Library and Hankin Branch are presenting Virtual Storytimes beginning April 27th. They will be for three different ages groups — 0 to 2 Year Olds, 3 & 4 Year Olds, and 5 & 6 Year Olds. Registration is required via the Events Calendar at https://chescolibraries.org/. Virtual Storytimes are not registered as multi-week sessions; you will need to register for each storytime individually.

April 29th International Dance Day

~ Sara ~ Leave a comment

Did you know today is International Dance Day? It is a day set aside by the International Dance Council to promote public awareness of the “art of dance”. The date was chosen because it is the birthday of famed French dance artist Jean-Georges Noverre, (1727-1810), creator of modern ballet.) The intention of the International Dance Day message is to celebrate dance, revel in the universality of this art form, cross all political, cultural and ethnic barriers, and bring people together with a common language – DANCE!

International Dance Day is especially meant to get those not usually interested in professional dancing interested in it. It’s a time for promoters and practitioners of dance to reach out to a wider public.

So how about we take time to dance today, in our homes, in our yards? How about organizing a social distancing dance party with your neighbors? Have everyone come out at one time and dance in your front yards. Or set up a virtual dance party with friends and family on a video chat platform such as FaceTime, Zoom or Skype?

Let’s Get Moving!

Also check out these eBooks:

How do you dance    Pete the cat  Ballet stars

Kids’ Update: A Trip to the National Zoo

~ clancygirl1 ~ Leave a comment
Aldabra Tortoise at the Smithsonian National Zoo

The Smithsonian National Zoo has a Virtual Zoo School just for you! It offers Activities You Can Do at Home and Resources to engage learners in grades pre-K to 12 with science, the natural world, wildlife and conservation. Check out the animal webcams, learn about wildlife careers, or take the online zoo highlights tour. National Zoo Activities and More!

If you didn’t find a bat on your visit to the zoo, you can visit Stellaluna!

The Youth Services Staff at the Chester County Library and Hankin Branch are presenting Virtual Storytimes beginning April 27th. They will be for three different ages groups — 0 to 2 Year Olds, 3 & 4 Year Olds, and 5 & 6 Year Olds. Registration is required via the Events Calendar at https://chescolibraries.org/. Virtual Storytimes are not registered as multi-week sessions; you will need to register for each storytime individually.

Financial Aid Webinars and Virtual Application Sessions

~ lshupp13 ~ Leave a comment

PHEAA will offer Financial Aid Webinars in May on the following dates from 6-7 pm: May 7, 14 and 21 as well as offering one on one virtual application assistance.

Representatives from the Pennsylvania Higher Education Agency (PHEAA) will be providing an overview of how to apply for all types of financial aid, including completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which is required to determine eligibility for most student aid programs such as the Pennsylvania State Grant, Federal Pell Grant, institutional offers, and federal student and parent loans. This will also be a great opportunity to have PHEAA representatives answer questions you may have.

Click Here to register for the May 7 webinar from 6-7 pm 
Click Here to register for the May 14 webinar from 6-7 pm 
Click Here to register for the May 21 webinar from 6-7 pm 

Go “Outdoors Online” with Natural Lands!

~ ccllauras ~ Leave a comment
Natural Lands’ ChesLen Preserve in Chester County, PA (Photo by Mae Axelrod)

“Explore nature remotely with a myriad of fresh, flexible, and fun online content” from Natural Lands, including the following:

Visit Natural Land’s Outdoors Online site for more information about these and other online offerings to help you connect virtually with nature!

Kids’ Update: Get Moving!

~ clancygirl1 ~ Leave a comment

Tired of sitting around? Take a Brain Break! Everyone needs a Brain Break every once in a while. Take a minute or two between lessons to move that body! The Learning Station has a series of brain breaks on their YouTube station. This link has 30 minutes of brain break activities. The Learning Station’s Brain Breaks.

The Youth Services Staff at the Chester County Library and Hankin Branch are presenting Virtual Storytimes beginning April 27th. They will be for three different ages groups — 0 to 2 Year Olds, 3 & 4 Year Olds, and 5 & 6 Year Olds. Registration is required via the Events Calendar at https://chescolibraries.org/. Virtual Storytimes are not registered as multi-week sessions; you will need to register for each storytime individually.

Kids’ Update: More Fun with Music

~ clancygirl1 ~ Leave a comment

Find lots of music games on PBS Kids and make music with your favorite PBS characters. Join Daniel Tiger, Pinkalicious, Martha, Peg & Cat, Sesame Street friends, and others to explore musical instruments and create your own tune. PBS Kids Music Games.

Have fun making music, but don’t do it at night! No More Noisy Nights!

The Youth Services Staff at the Chester County Library and Hankin Branch are presenting Virtual Storytimes beginning April 27th. They will be for three different ages groups — 0 to 2 Year Olds, 3 & 4 Year Olds, and 5 & 6 Year Olds. Registration is required via the Events Calendar at https://chescolibraries.org/. Virtual Storytimes are not registered as multi-week sessions; you will need to register for each storytime individually.