Local Author Visits Grade 3

The Magic of Norumbega

The temperature almost hit 90 today in Newton, but we kept cool in the library with a special visit from local author Leena Kutner.  Ms. Kutner captivated her listeners with stories about historic Newton and the long lost park of Noruembega.  Currently this park is a dog park, but decades ago, it was a popular destination spot.

Peppering her talk with historic photographs, and wondrous stories of this park that no longer exists.  At the turn of the last century, Norumbega Park was THE park in all of New England.  Rides, boating on the Charles River, a zoo, and the famous Totem Pole Ballroom.  Third graders were spellbound by stories of Newton's past, and laws, and many wish Norumbega still existed today.  Thank you, Ms. Kutner for your stories!

Norumbega Park, opened in 1897 and closed in 1963

Spellbound Third Graders

Grade 4 and 5 Coloring and Coding

Fourth and Fifth graders have been testing for PARCC and MCAS for several days.  I decided they needed a brain break during library class for some coloring and coding.

Jung believed that coloring was a great relaxation technique.  Coloring activates different areas of our brain, and as we color we focus on the project in front of us and not on our worries.  I found large group coloring book and fifth graders took turns coloring it together.  I also printed out coloring pages on card stock, cut them, and students got to color their own bookmarks.

Coding and puzzles have a similar effect, students get to use both parts of their brain.  When students complete a level or solve a puzzle, their brains produce the feel-good chemical dopamine, improving their performance and skill.

All in all a lot of positive energy can be created in 30 minutes!

Coloring bookmarks

Group coloring

Coding

Thinking the puzzle through

Students were so pleased with themselves for solving these puzzles!

Thinking the puzzle through

Coding!

Group coloring, and making bookmarks

Irene Smalls visits Grades K-3

On Monday May 16th, local Boston writer visited grades K-3 for storytelling, poetry, movement, and songs.  A special thank you to the generous Creative Arts and Sciences Program for funding this wonderful event!

We have several of Ms. Small's books in the Zervas Library, see Ms. Kinney for availability.

Kindergarten acting out "Down Down Baby"

Grade 1 listening to the story of the Jack Muh Lantern

Grade 2 Taking Dancing Steps

Spring at Zervas

Overdues by Shel Silverstein

It's May, and the weather is glorious, which means there are only a few more weeks until summer vacation!  Time to start looking everywhere for those missing library books: under beds, in closets, on book shelves, grandparents houses...

If a book can't be found, replacement costs are $15 for all books.

The Newton Free Library will be visiting grades 3-5 to showcase their summer reading program. You can find out more about their reading suggestions and incentives here:

Newton Free Library Summer Reading