August 7, 2023 Imagination Library Restarted by Foundations, City of Pittsburgh Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, a free book access program, is restarting in the City of Pittsburgh thanks to funding from the City and local foundations, including The Benter Foundation and the Mary Hillman Jennings Foundation. The free program sends one book per month in the mail to enrolled children ages birth to five at no cost to families. How to Enroll Families who reside in the City of Pittsburgh can enroll in the program by visiting the Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library website. Families who were previously enrolled in the program will not need to re-enroll and should start receiving books again automatically. About the Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Restart The program halted at the end of April 2023 for most city children after funding had run out. (A small group of children in three zip codes were still eligible to participate.) Reading Ready Pittsburgh, a local nonprofit that supports access to books and encourages family engagement through reading, will administer the program at the beginning of the restart period. Related Content & Resources Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh’s Summer Reading Extravaganza 2023 2023 Summer Reading Programs for Young Readers Hill District Conducting Survey on Parent Engagement in Child Literacy Restaurants Add Books to the Menu with Summer Reading Programs Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Releases 2023 Best Books for Babies List 2023 Virtual Summer Learning and Literacy Road Trip LDA of PA Offering Free Reading Tutoring to Children in Hill District Toolkit: Families and Schools Partnering for Children’s Literacy Success
May 10, 2023 Storytelling Spectacular Summer Camp – Afternoon Session Summer doesn’t have to mean their learning is over! Budding artists can learn something new or explore their favorite art forms during Trust Arts Education Camps for Creatives. For early learners (ages three-to-five), there will be two half day sessions focused on storytelling and early literacy. Storytelling Spectacular Summer Camp is created for the youngest audiences in mind. This camp will engage learners three- to five-years-old in the world of storytelling. Storytelling occurs in many different ways–teaching artists will lead the students in visual art, creative play, movement, and music. When: Monday, July 24 | Afternoon session begins at 1 p.m. Where: Trust Arts Education Center, 807 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pa. 15222 Afternoon Session Details: Critters of all shapes and sizes will guide the storytelling for the afternoon sessions. Campers will experience stories about different animals and engage with the stories through all mediums of art; move your body like jungle critters, create a visual representation of sea critters, make sounds like farm critters–the possibilities are endless! We ensure a seamless and quick drop off and pick up process for all summer camps. Students will be ready to go when you arrive between 3:30 – 4 p.m. Students should plan to pack a lunch, water, and snacks. Campers must be FULLY potty-trained prior to the beginning of camp. If the cost of these camps is a hindrance to your participation, please email george@trustarts.org. To learn more and grab your tickets, visit Storytelling Spectacular Afternoon Session event page.
May 3, 2023 Storybook STEAM Join the Allegheny Intermediate Unit for Storybook STEAM, an introduction of the dual approach to early learning that combines storytelling with hands-on learning in the fields of STEAM. Attendees will learn to engage children’s natural curiosity and creativity, while also helping them develop important problem-solving and critical thinking skills. Event Details Thursday, May 11 | 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Allegheny Intermediate Unit 475 East Waterfront Drive Homestead, PA 15120 Registration not required. About Storybook STEAM Lessons In a Storybook STEAM lesson, a teacher or educator begins by reading a storybook that relates to a particular STEM or STEAM concept. The storybook serves as a starting point for the lesson, providing context and engaging students’ imaginations. After the story, students are given a hands-on activity or project that relates to the STEM or STEAM concept introduced in the story. For example, after reading a story about the water cycle, students might conduct an experiment to observe the different stages of the water cycle. The goal of Storybook STEAM is to make STEM and STEAM concepts more accessible and engaging for children. By using storytelling as a starting point, children are more likely to be motivated and interested in learning about these subjects. Additionally, by incorporating arts and creativity into STEM learning, Storybook STEAM helps children develop a well-rounded set of skills that will serve them well in the future. Overall, Storybook STEAM is a creative and effective approach to teaching STEM and STEAM concepts to young children. It encourages children to think critically and creatively, and it helps make these important subjects more accessible and engaging. Learn More This event is part of Remake Learning Days. To learn more, visit the Remake Learning Days website.
