LEGO Robotics

This was Week 3 of Robotics Club, hosted at the Gordon-Nash Library by New Hampton School students who are presently part of their school's Robotics program. Here's Ashley (and Ben in the background), explaining the parts of the robot to groups of New Hampton Community School students. 

Kids are learning to program the robot using Scratch on an iPad. NHS students set up simple challenges for them as they learned the program and the capabilities of their robots. 

Moving the robot from a start line to a finish. 

A race to the finish. 

Man-made (kid-made) tunnels to go through on the way to the finish line. 

We have four more weeks of Robotics! Stay tuned!

Thanksgiving Visits & Read-Alouds

Two days before the holiday, I spent some time the New Hampton Community School reading a Thanksgiving book to each class. What good listeners the kids were and we had some interesting conversations based on parts of the books. I hope it was as much fun for the children as it was for me!! Thanks to Ms. Holloran and the teachers there for allowing me this time to visit classrooms!  

2022 Summer Reading Program, with Oceans of Possibilities!

We at the Gordon-Nash Library are so excited to offer this year's in-person, Summer Reading Program to area children and families. Our Tuesday evening family programs and our Thursday Storytimes are all ocean or water-themed. We have reading logs and stickers so kids can easily track reading progress. Wednesday LEGO time is back, with the addition of a few STEM programs. And we'll be holding an end-of-summer raffle with fabulous prizes generously donated by our local businesses.

Details are below - email or call with questions. Be sure to bring your kids to sign up. Keep an eye on this page for updates, Like our Gordon-Nash Facebook page, and look for weekly emails. We can't wait to see you and your family at the library this summer!

2022 SUMMER READING PROGRAM AT THE GORDON-NASH LIBRARY:

OCEANS OF POSSIBILITIES!

Saturday, June 18 or June 25: 11:30-1:30: Kick-off event to SIGN UP for the Oceans of Possibilities Summer Reading Program. Wear your pirate gear, take some pirate selfies, make a pirate craft, pirate games, books, and activities - and maybe some treasure! Pick up reading logs & stickers to track reading progress, and earn a ticket for our end-of-summer raffle with fabulous community-sponsored prizes!

Tuesday Night Family Events 

• June 28: Special Build-a-Bear type workshop, by invitation only, for the first 20 kids to sign up for the Summer Reading Program after June 17. 

• July 5 at 6pm: Movie Night: “Oceans” rated G. Air-conditioned, downstairs at the library.

• July 12 at 6pm: Whales & Seals Storytime, with Hands-On Interactive Experiences Led by Marine Docents From UNH. On the lawn under the maple, across from the library. Bring a blanket and bug spray.

• July 19 at 6:30pm: MiniBoats Across the Ocean: How a student-made boat sailed across the Atlantic (and how to follow other miniboats now at sea!). Presentation with Sheila Adams & Students from Rye Middle School. Downstairs at the library. 

• July 26 at 6:30: Aquatic Critters from The Squam Lakes Science Center. On the lawn under the maple, across from the library. Bring a blanket and bug spray.

• August 2 at 6pm: Movie Night: “The Little Mermaid (Rated G) - the interactive/sing-along version! Air-conditioned, downstairs at the library.

• August 9 at 6:30: Melodious Zach’s Seaside Review. Back by popular demand, Zach Benton with songs, comedy, skits, and friends from the ocean. On the lawn under the maple, across from the library. Bring a blanket and bug spray.

• August 16 at 6:30: Ice Cream Social on the lawn under the maple, across from the library. Bring a blanket and an ice cream topping to share!

Wednesdays: Drop in LEGO or STEM programs from 4-5pm, upstairs in the library.

Thursdays: All-ages Storytime from 10:45-11:45. Ocean-themed stories & a craft & fun with your friends. 

For questions or additional information, call or email

Christine Hunewell, Children’s Program Coordinator

chunewill(at)newhampton.org

___________

Please support our raffle donors! 

Jeremy Hiltz Excavating, Inc ● Store#2369 Tilton Walmart ● Rossi’s Italian Ristorante & Pizzeria ● Subway of New Hampton ● White Meowtain Grooming ● Pinnacle Kitchens ● Newfound Coin & Jewelry ● Twin Designs, Home of Diane the Turtle ● New Hampton Community School ● Lafayette Family Resort-Wells, ME.

The Gordon-Nash Library at New Hampton School

69 Main Street, New Hampton, NH 03256

603-677-3740

October Events for Kids!

 

For Independent Learning: Kourtney LaFavre's If Sun Could Speak

Kourtney LaFavre was a much-loved first grade teacher at the New Hampton Community School for many years. She still lives locally with her husband and four kids, and is now a writer. This year, she came back to the New Hampton Community School with her soon to be published book, If Sun Could Speak, and she read her story to students. Mrs. LaFavre helped kids understand the placement of the Sun and planets in the Solar System by acting as planets themselves. She answered questions about her work. She presented the audience with a quick writing challenge and worked with students individually to get them started on their own writing.

If Sun Could Speak has since been published and is now available through links on Kourtney's website at https://kourtneylafavre.com/. In the "Book Activities" section of this website is a recording of Kourtney reading her book. She has also posted activities for kids to have fun and to experiment with the power of the Sun. Additionally, there's a link to her Pinterest board for more ways to have fun with the sun.

A great way to learn - with a wonderful website, a fascinating STEM story, and lots of exciting and fun activities to do during these warm Spring and Summer months. Check it out!! https://kourtneylafavre.com/

For Independent Learning: The New Hampton Nature Trail

Today was a beautiful Spring Wednesday, and I took my first walk of the year on our New Hampton Nature Trail. I walked the trails, I did some of the exercise stations, I sat and read my book, and I took lots of photos. What a great place to relax, rejuvenate, and learn!

All along the trail, there are woodland flowers and plants, many with tiny signs giving the name of the plant.

There are little streams and even a vernal pool, with lots to notice! Can you find the eggs?

Look at this long tree trunk! Do you suppose creatures live here?

What sort of bird made this nest in the grasses?

A beautiful walking trail - right in our own community! 

Don't forget the importance of social distancing! But get out!

The New Hampton Nature Trail website has maps and lots more information! Here's the link!

And here's a not-so-great video. Next time, I'll remember to turn my phone!

Crazy 8s Club: "Road Trip"

The New Hampton Community School After School Program kids used a math skills to calculate mileage and gas consumption as they drove their vehicles from coast to coast. In the process, they learned about cardinal and ordinal directions, the patterns in our interstate highway numbers, and practiced with the abbreviations for each state.

Local Writers' Science Fiction!

Fourth and fifth Grade writers from the New Hampton Community School have their science fiction work on display at the Gordon-Nash during our "Universe of Stories" Summer Reading Program. In early June, students were challenged to compose an original piece, then illustrate it by drawing a book cover. The last week of school, an assembly was held, with each contributor receiving a certificate for their work and first place prizes of a free book.

Fourth grade writing is on the bulletin board at the landing of the rear staircase. Fifth grade writing can be found in a basket in the periodical section. Please take a few minutes to a look at this creative and imaginative work by our local student writers!

Special thanks to NHCS teachers Melissa Markey and Angie Bergholm for working with us this year and in the past. Thanks to the Friends of the Gordon-Nash Library for sponsoring this program and providing wonderful science books as prizes. Kudos to Gretchen Draper - resident, “Friend”, and teacher-consultant for the National Writing Project in NH - for organizing this yearly collaborative program with our local school.

2019 Caldecott Award

The Caldecott Medal is awarded annually by the American Library Association to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children. This year's winner is Hello Lighthouse by Sophie Blackwell. I took this beautifully illustrated book to the NHCS Kindergarten this month and we read it together. 

The book tells the story of a lighthouse keeper and his mission to keep his light lit. Children were surprised and delighted to see that the lighthouse keeper lived in the lighthouse. Several liked the idea that a tender came to the lighthouse regularly to deliver food, mail, and even visitors! Kids noted that the lighthouse keeper and eventually his family took good care of the lighthouse and some were sad when they all had to leave. But everyone agreed that the ending was satisfying and happy. You will have to read Hello Lighthouse yourselves to see why!

Why Read? Celebration

Each June the Friends of the Gordon-Nash Library sponsor the Why Read/Why Write essay contest at the New Hampton Community School. Gretchen Draper, New Hampton resident, Gordon-Nash Friend, and teacher-consultant for the National Writing Project in NH, organizes the contest which is open to all fourth and fifth graders at the New Hampton Community School. The theme of the library's Summer Reading Program is the basis for the writing and drawing that the students do, and, after judging, their finished work is displayed at the library during the summer months.

This year, students wrote about why "Libraries Rock!" Books, CDs and DVDs, programs, after school program connections, and helpful staff were some of the things students wrote about in their essays. Writers also created posters to accompany their essays. Judging was very difficult this year - there were many wonderful ideas and well-worded essays.

An assembly was held at the school, where all writers received a Certificate of Participation and a Why Read Why Write bookmark. First place winners in each grade level were awarded their choice of book purchased by the Friends. Students' essays and posters will be on display upstairs at the Gordon-Nash during the Summer months. Stop in to see them!

School Visits

Yesterday and today, I visited classrooms at the New Hampton Community School to talk about summer fun at the Gordon-Nash Library. We discussed the importance of summer reading and how much fun it can be. Students asked questions about tracking reading progress and the prizes associated with reading and library visits. I described our Tuesday night family presentations and listed our Wednesday night movies. Each student received a "Libraries Rock!" bookmark to take home with a complete schedule of Summer Reading Program events printed on the back.

Since this is the summer that "Libraries Rock", I wanted to leave kids with a "rockin'" story. I chose Punk Farm by Jarrett J. Krosoczka because everyone knows the song in it! At the appropriate part of the story, I turned on my disco ball bluetooth speaker and played the Punk Farm version of "Old MacDonald Had a Farm." As music blasted and colored lights danced across classroom walls and ceilings, we laughed and sang along to the story. No photos - but here's the book trailer! Many thanks to NHCS teachers for inviting me into their classrooms at such a busy time of year!

After School Program Reading Celebration

I was honored to be guest reader for this year's New Hampton Community School After School Program's Literacy Day. I read one of my favorite stories, Clever Jack Takes the Cake by Candace Fleming. In this story, Jack a poor village boy, gets invited to the princess's birthday party so he works hard to make her a beautiful birthday cake. As he is traveling to the party, he runs into all sorts of problems - trolls, giants, magical places - lots of elements found in fairy tales! In the end, Jack reaches the party with a very surprising gift!

After the story, kids got to pick two books to take home for the summer. There were so many great titles provided by the organizers that I would have had a hard time making a choice! When everyone had their books, we sat and READ! What a great event!

Thanks to the After School Program for inviting me to be part of this wonderful afternoon!

Finally, Spring!

This was the week we finally read the books I've been saving since Spring appeared on the April calendar! In Fletcher and the Springtime Blossoms by Julia Rawlinson, Fletcher thought he saw snow so he warned all his animal friends that it was still winter! Spring is Here by Will Hillenbrand told how Mole, who knew it was Spring, wanted to celebrate with his sleeping friend Bear. In Mouse's First Spring by Lauren Thompson, Mouse experiences Spring for the first time with his Momma. Our last book, When Spring Comes by Kevin Henkes, tells what our world looks like as we wait for Spring.

We made spring flowers with pipe cleaner stems and creative flower heads - made from paper, foam, tiny cups, cupcake papers, and more!

A few days later, kids came from the New Hampton Community School's After School Program, and listened to Fletcher and the Springtime Blossoms. Then they too made flowers with the same materials. Here are some of their creations!

Crazy 8s Club: Funny Money

The Crazy 8s Math Club this week worked with coins to determine values and to have fun! We decided that coins are handy in case something doesn't cost a whole dollar. Also coins like quarters are good because it's easier to carry that coin than twenty-five pennies!

We won rulers and pencils by quickly combining coins of the correct value. 

We also played a game like Son of Rock, Paper, Scissors, where one coin could beat out another of a higher value - except for a penny, which could beat a quarter. We secretly chose a coin, then said, "Penny, Nickel, Dime, Quarter" and then showed our partner our coin. The player whose coin had the highest value won that hand. 

Crazy 8s: It's About Time!

we began this week's Crazy 8s Club by discussing time and the way it can be measured. We talked about big and small chunks of time, and made a list on the whiteboard. Hours, minutes, seconds, decade, century, millenium...we came up with lots of words! We talked about months, then lined up in birthday order (including Mrs. Markey and Mrs. Hunewell). We learned a knuckle method of recalling how many days there are in each of the months.

Then we worked with stopwatches! We practiced starting, stopping, and resetting our stopwatches. We estimated how long twenty seconds might be by starting the stopwatch and stopping it when we thought the time was up. We timed each other doing "ridiculous challenges" like standing in a yoga stork pose or dabbing.

It was not easy to estimate time, but we found that the more we did it, the more accurate our guesses became. Be careful if you tell us to wait a minute, because we may!!

Crazy 8s Club: Sound Investigations

This week's Crazy 8s Club at the New Hampton Community School After School Program dealt with pitch and volume.  After cutting straws into specific graduated sizes, we taped them together to make a pan flutes, investigated the relationship between a straw's length and its pitch as we worked.

We also used a sound meter app to see how loud we could play and how that measurement changed when we factored in distance. 

Here's the completed flute, and an able player!

Crazy 8s: Glow-in-the-dark Geometry & Pattern

We began a new "Crazy 8s" Math Club this week with twelve 3rd, 4th and 5th graders from the Project Promise After School Program at New Hampton Community School. This eight week program will reinforce math skills in a fun and experiential way!

This week we built geometric shapes out of glowsticks. First, we made different kinds of triangles, like equilateral and isosceles, then we made four-sided shapes like trapezoids, parallelograms, rhombuses, rectangles, and squares. 

Then, working together, we made repeating patterns on the floor. Certain regular polygons worked perfectly, like triangles, squares, and hexagons. We had to work closely with each other to be sure our shapes were accurately made so the pattern could continue. We also figured the area and perimeter of some of our biggest shapes!

How many triangles do you see in the shape below? 

Count carefully!