Winter Reading Program Displays

Winter Reading Program poster

Winter Reading Fun and Family Day Social

Calling all children to join in the fun at the Swift Current Public Library on Jan 24, from 2-3p.m. Listen to Polar Bear Stories, enjoy rhythms and two puppet shows. Participate in over six different activity centers such as:

Ø Games-Frosty Toss, Pin the Hat on Frosty, Cold Snow Ball, Polar Bear Toss, Polar Bear’s Lunch and Balloon (snow) pop.

Ø Polar Bear Comic Strip—draw your own Polar Bear comic


Ø Crafts—Polar Bear face, Colour the ball necklace, and lace the Polar Bear.

Ø Photography—Show how to print a Polar Bear Picture.

Ø Campfire—outside activity. Participants can sit around the fire and drink hot chocolate and roast marshmallows.

Ø Polar Bear Food Court—Marsh Mellow Snowman poop, Popcorn balls, snow cones, and doughnuts.


Ø Mascot Store—children will be able to shop at the mascot store using paper money. Paper money can be purchased for $0.10 on the day of the event.

Ø Carrot’s First Snow Day—Carrot reads about snow in one of his library books. He has never seen snow he decides to go out and explore. Tomato wonders what Carrot is up to so he follows Carrot out into the cold day. Tomato learns that he should be properly dressed and Carrot teaches him that snow is lots of fun when you are warm.

Ø Carrot and the Polar Bear—a lost Polar Bear aims to make Carrot his lunch. After chasing Carrot around, the Polar Bear falls asleep and Carrot sneaks up on the Polar Bear to discover what had chased him. After learning that it is a hungry Polar Bear, Carrot goes back to the Old McDonald’s to get the Polar Bear some food. When the Polar Bear wakes up, he is happy to eat what Carrot brings him. Carrot makes a new friend.

For more information please contact the Swift Current Public Library at 778-2752 or visit www.swiftcurrent.ca/library and click on Winter Reading Program. Please preregister and pick up your 10 cent ticket booklets at the library.

Winter Reading Program promotion in schools

Puppet Show at Oman Elementary School
December 17, 2008
Three classes of grade 1 and 2 students at Oman Elementary School were entertained by visitors from the Swift Current Library on Wednesday, Dec. 17. A very well behaved and attentive audience, they listened to three seasonal poems read by Margaret Lottridge. The two nonsense poems, Exploding Gravy and Snowflake Souffle, brought some giggles from the group and Robert Frost’s classic Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening was one child’s favourite – “I like that one best”.
Manisha Khetarpul then introduced Tekeyla Friday who has extensive training in theatre arts and is also a prolific writer of puppet scripts. Tekeyla began her program with a fingerplay, Mr. Wiggle and Mr. Waggle, which was recently taught at a storytelling workshop by Kevin Mackenzie at the library. It was action-filled drama as the children followed along miming Tekeyla’s thumb and hand moves as fast as they could. Mr. Wiggle’s bump off the toboggan and Mr. Waggle’s run in with a tree were the best part. They loved it.
The puppet show, Mr Johnny-cake followed with Manisha and Tekeyla as puppeteers. Sitting in the back row of Oman’s library I could hear the dialogue very clearly and took note of the good arm positions of both puppeteers throughout. The action of the story was most entertaining as well as the voice and pitch changes. Manisha and Tekeyla enjoyed their puppets as much as the children and it was reflected in their showmanship. The play, Santa has a Cold, had some minor script changes since the last time it was performed at the REM Christmas party. Each time it is performed the story gets better. Once again the audience became engaged in the plot-telling Santa repeatedly that medicine will help him to get better. Mrs. Claus took his tips to heart and added her own advice-chicken soup.
It was a delightful morning that was well received by teachers and students at Oman.
A handout was given to all the students inviting them to the Swift Current Library for the January Reading Workshop co-ordinated by Tekeyla Friday.
P.S. I saw on Oman student on a school bus this morning showing another student a fingerplay.

Weaver
Margaret Lottridge

St. Patrick's Elementary School

Mr. Wiggle and Mr. Waggle