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November 8, 2007 - "Aviation" presented by Miss Juliene from the Greensburg Hempfield Library. 
To kick off, Family Literacy's aviation themed evening on Thursday, November 8, 2007, visiting librarian from Greensburg Hempfield Library, Miss Juliene read Miriam Young's "If I Flew a Plane." Parents were introduced to the fundamentals of flight through interactive play as they assisted their children with the construction of circular airfoils, streamer kites, and pinwheels. Parents read specific paper folding instructions while children followed the auditory and visual construction directions. The visiting librarian also explained the importance of the Federal Aviation Administration aircraft identification numbers as a communication tool. The children wrote their personal identification number upon their paper airplane wings. Parents also assisted the children with the referencing of the phonetic alphabet in order to experience the way pilots and ground crews orally identify themselves. At the end of the activities, everyone enjoyed a healthy snack of vegetable, dip, cheese, crackers, peanut butter, trail mix, chex mix and apple juice. At the end of the event children above the age of 4, received a copy of Flip, Flop, Fly! a Byeway Literacy Ladder book. Children 4 years and under, received a copy of My First Book of Planes a Byeway Board book.Photo gallery
October 25, 2007 - "Build A Skeleton" presented by Dr. Lee VanMeter 
For Family Literacy's Skeleton themed Halloween evening Greensburg chiropractor, Dr. Lee VanMeter visited the Parent/child interactive evening program on October 22, 2007. As Dr. VanMeter previewed You Can't See your Bones with Binoculars, parents assisted their children with the construction of a child sized card stock skeleton, children listened for instructions as they added brass brads which made their child sized skeleton movable. Everyone enjoyed a healthy snack of sliced apples, caramel dip , Ginger Snaps and apple juice. As families exited, each child received a copy of You Can't See your Bones with Binoculars Book or Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes Byeway Board Book. Photo gallery
October 10, 2007 - "Pasta Fun" presented by Greensburg Hempfield Public Library 
To celebrate National Pasta Month, Greensburg/Hempfield Children's Librarian, Miss Janie visited the Private Industry Council's Interactive Family Literacy program on Wednesday, October 10, 2007. Children listened attentively as Rita Goldman Gelman's More Spaghetti, I Say! and April Pulley Sayre & Stephen Costanza's Noodle Man were read aloud to kick off the pasta themed evening. Next, parents were provided with various pasta textures and encouraged to assist their children with 3 academically enriching, hands-on Pasta Fun activities. The evening pasta theme was continued as families enjoyed an authentic spaghetti dinner which included Italian bread, butter, and a delicious, tomato sauce donated by Carbones' Resturant. As families exited, each child received a copy of either Rita Goldman Gelman's More Spaghetti, I Say! Book or My First Alphabet Book Byeway Board Book.Photo gallery
September 27, 2007 - "Journey Into Space" presented by Buhl Planetarium from Carnegie Science Center 
Family Literacy participants discovered how thrust, shape and trajectory play key roles in rocketry when the Carnegie Science Center visited the Private Industry Council's Interactive Family Literacy Journey Into Space program on Thursday, September 27, 2007. Parents assisted Science on the Road's, Beth Colbert with unique, hands-on science experiments to introduce Sir Isaac Newton's third law of motion / for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Kinesthetic-tactile forces were exerted upon 3 different objects as families observed when one object exerts a force on another object, the second object exerts a force of equal strength in the opposite direction on the first object.Photo gallery
September 12, 2007 - "Ants" presented by The Bug Lady, Debbie Schmider from Westmoreland County 4-H 
A good time was had by all when PIC hosted The Bug Lady, Debbie Schmider for Family Literacy's Tuesday, September 12, 2007 interactive literacy evening. To kick off the evening activities, Phillip and Hannah Hoose's Hey, Little Aunt was read aloud with adult education instructor, Rebecca Price reading the dialogue of the boy and Nanette Roddy's, daughter Haley reading the voice of the ant. After constructing magnetized ant clips, Debbie Schmider, leader of the Westmoreland County 4-H Entomology Club, invited families into the Joan Tracy room to visit some of her most unusual friends including a newly metamorphosed Monarch Butterfly, a Giant African Millipede with 278 legs, two Hissing Madagascar Cockroaches and five different species of Asian Walking sticks that measured up to 5.5 inches long. The participants were truly amazed when they realized that in addition to resembling a stick, some walking sticks look like leaves while other walking sticks can actually fly. Families enjoyed a healthy snack of peanut butter, cream cheese, crackers, raisins and punch while bidding farewell to The Bug Lady and her most unusual friends. As families exited, each child received a copy of either Things You Should Know About BUGS Book by Steve Parker or Byeway Board Book In The Park Photo gallery August 30, 2007 - "Put on Your Thinking Cap" presented by Greensburg Hempfield Public Library 
To inspire families to put on their back to school thinking caps, parents and children watched as individual balloon hats were created for each child. Continuing the thinking cap theme, Greensburg-Hempfield librarian, Ms. Donna and her assistant, Emily invited families to select various themed, age appropriate I SPY books. As parents read the I SPY riddles, children explored the featured pictures to locate the hidden object mentioned within the riddles. In order to address tactile/hands on learning, infants and toddlers experimented with a puff paint and folding activity while the older children experimented with a visual I Spy cognitive computer based activity. To celebrate the 2007-2008 Family Literacy Evening Activity Kick off, participants enjoyed pizza and brownies. As families exited the event, School aged children received a copy of I SPY A SCHOOL BUS -Riddles by Jean Marzollo/Photographs by Walter Wick. Infants and toddlers received the Brimax Board Book I Love To Learn.Photo gallery June 18, 2007 - "MEET STUFEE" from Children's Museum of Pittsburgh 
Children's Museum of Pittsburgh's Outreach Teacher, Callie Rimmel and seven foot tall, blue-haired Stuffee traveled to the Private Industry Council's Greensburg site to present dramatic anatomy, nutrition, personal wellness and respect for others "bring to life lessons" to Family Literacy participants. After Stuffee was introduced to the participants, Miss Callie removed Stuffee's internal heart, lungs, liver, pancreas, gall bladder, esophagus, stomach, small intestine and large intestine. As each internal organ was extracted, the function of each organ was explained. At the end of the presentation, Family Literacy children were invited to engage their tactile and visual learning skills to actively explore the shape and color of Stuffee's organs presented in the lesson. In order to cognitively reinforce the newly learned information, Susan Vucish read Brimax book's Learn About The Body and Amber Festa engaged children in a fine motor cut and paste activity; thusly, families learned the importance of reinforcing cognitive exploration thru active tactile manipulation. To celebrate the 2006-07 final parent and child activity, Family literacy participants enjoyed refreshing vanilla, chocolate and strawberry ice cream cones.Photo gallery May 23, 2007 - "OVER IN THE MEADOW" 
The evening began with Susan Vucish reading Olive A. Wadsworth's OVER IN THE MEADOW to the attending families. Magnetized, color clipart, oak tag cutouts of the baby animals features in the story were randomly distributed to the children. As Susan re-read the story, children located the matching baby animals and placed the magnetized cutouts upon a, 3' by 6' hand painted, paper meadow scene. Next, Mr. John from the Carnegie Science Center presented a science on the road classroom discovery day program entitled Animysteries. To experience how animals communicate in nature, families participated in visual, auditory, tactile and olfactory activities. For the evening's finale' each participant frosted a vanilla cupcake with watery blue icing; sliced a green gumdrop in half, pressed the tip of a white chocolate chip into the cut surface of each gumdrop half/near the bottom edge and dabbed a dab of black decorator's icing onto each chip. To create the effect of a bullfrog floating at the surface of a pond , the eyes were pressed into the top the frosted cupcake.
School aged children received a copy of Olive A. Wadsworth's OVER IN THE MEADOW. Preschool children received a copy of Brimax's board book Look and Learn About ANIMALS the LAKES and RIVERS.Photo gallery April 26, 2007 - "EGGS & CHICKS" 
Each child received a zip lock bag containing 1 shelled boiled egg; each parent received a zip lock bag containing 2 shelled boiled eggs. Participants used tactile and fine motor skills to squish the egg(s) within the see thru baggies. Family Literacy Instructors added 1 tablespoon of mayonnaise per egg to each baggie. Per participant, two slices of bread were distributed and everyone was instructed to squish the egg and mayonnaise mixture into a bottom corner of the baggie. Parents and children used scissors to cut the bottom tip of the baggie before squishing the egg salad mixture onto the bottom slice of bread; finally, the second slice of bread was then placed top of the egg salad. Children were then invited to use various cookie cutters to create various "cut out" shaped tea sandwiches. Participants then enjoyed an evening snack of egg salad sandwiches, pretzels and frothy, fruit punch. For the second interactive craft, children painted the white shell of a hard boiled egg with tacky glue; rolled the glue covered egg in blue, smashed egg shells; thusly, creating bumpy fish scales before adding a pipe cleaner mouth, googly eyes, a paper tail and fins. For the evening's finale, Ms. Mary Ann joyfully read Fiona Patchett's Eggs and Chicks. Preschool thru first grade children received a copy of Eggs and Chicks. Additional books, relating to the evening's theme, were distributed in order to appropriately match the reading level of each child attending the activity.Photo gallery April 12, 2007 - "FIVE SILLY FISHERMEN" 
Greensburg Hempfield Public librarian, Ms. Donna assisted the children in a "go fish" matching activity before reading author Richard Scarry's Harry & Larry the Fishermen. As Ms. Donna finished reading, she encouraged children to imagine what else fishermen might catch when fishing. Each child received a fish sticker for their first, unique answer. Next, parents directed children ages 6 and older to the giant, paper fish mosaic craft station; children ages birth to age 5 were directed to the glitter fish and hook craft station. After finishing the craft projects, families enjoyed fish sticks, goldfish crackers and punch. For the evening's grand finale, Ms. Donna enthusiastically read Robert Edward's Five Silly Fishermen. Children reading at the preschool thru first grade reading level, individually received a copy of Five Silly Fishermen. Older and younger children received various fishing themed books were distributed in order to match each child's reading level.Photo gallery March 29, 2007 - "INCH BY INCH"> 
Prior to reading Baby Bird's First Nest, Greensburg Hempfield Public Librarian, families participated in a pasting construction paper birdhouse picture activitiy. After refreshments, completing another pasting construction paper birdfeeder picture activitiy, families rolled pine cones in Crisco; then, bird seed to create real bird feeders to take home and Ms. Janie read Leo Lionni's Inch by Inch aloud and each child of appropriate reading/age level received a copy of the book. Appropriate books related to the Inch by Inch theme were distributed to the other children in order to match their individual reading /age level. For the evening finale, an Easter Gift Bag filled with books and toys was distributed to each child.
March 15, 2007 - "THE TINY SEED" 
Thursday, March 15, 2007 marked the first of two evening Parent & Child Literacy activities scheduled for the month. Miss Erica from the Phipps Conservatory 2007 Green & Growing Outreach Program expressively read The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle while the children listened and expressed their comprehension through dramatic participation. Families examined storyboards and role play and examined a wide variety of edible seeds while learning about the seasonal life cycle of seeds. With assistance from parents, children individually planted flower seeds in plastic green pots. Before taking their tiny seeds home and grow, children covered the soil with plastic to create an eco habitat. Light St. Patrick's refreshments were served before each child of appropriate reading level/age received a copy of Eric Carle's The Tiny Seed. Themed books related to The Tiny Seed were individually distributed to children whom The Tiny Seed did not match. For the grand finale` St. Patrick related door prizes and free passes to Phipps Conservatory were distributed to families.Photo gallery February 27, 2007 - "ONE POTATO" 
Family Literacy members and guests traveled to the Greensburg Hempfield Public Library to celebrate National Potato month.
To kick off the evening activity, PIC Instructor, Rebecca Price encouraged families to focus their attention upon interactive participation while reading author Diana Pomeroy's One Potato. Special, Family Literacy guest, Miss Erica from Phipps Conservatory presented a Green and Growing community outreach program entitled Terrific Taters. While exploring the world of potatoes, families, created a potato stamped art collage, planted potato eyes, tasted organic potato chips and learned the potato is actually part of the vine. For the evening the National Potato Month celebration finale, each child received a copy of Diana Pomeroy's One Potato after participants enjoyed various flavored potato chips, dips and juice.Photo gallery January 25, 2007 - "THE GINGERBREAD MAN" 
The theme for this evening's program was based on the ever-popular story, "The Gingerbread Man" as retold by Jim Aylesworth and illustrated by Barbara McClintock. Thirty-two children representing eighteen families began the evening by creating a mischievous-looking gingerbread man refrigerator magnet out of card stock paper, pompoms, and wiggly eyes. PIC staff members and parents were there to assist with this project. Afterwards, everyone enjoyed a belly-warming meal of warm sloppy joes, oven baked tater tots, rich gingerbread cake (don't forget the dollop of cool whip!), and fruit punch before gathering back together for story time. A Family Literacy Program parent volunteered to read "The Gingerbread Man" to a contented group of children. This activity was followed by a gingerbread cookie decorating party. Children were given the choice of a gingerbread man or woman and, assisted by PIC staff and volunteers, decorated their cookies with vanilla icing, sprinkles and chocolate chips. The end results were beautiful and edible! The gingerbread cookies were baked by PIC Family Literacy Program parents under the guidance of Oneida Sedok from the Penn State Westmoreland County Cooperative Extension Nutrition Link. When the evening closed, the children were sent home with a copy of "The Gingerbread Man" which was provided by the PIC Family Literacy Program. Many thanks to the PIC staff and parents/volunteers who assisted with making this program a success. This series of literacy events was made possible and is supported by the Private Industry Council's Family Literacy Program and through grants provided by the Target and Wal-Mart Foundations.Photo gallery January 10, 2007 - "NATIONAL PENGUIN AWARENESS NIGHT" 
The special guest for the fun-filled evening was Donna Davis from the Greensburg Hempfield Public Library. Twenty-seven children representing fifteen families enjoyed Donna's engaging narration of "Tacky the Penguin," written by Helen Lester. Story time was followed by craft time. Three age-appropriate crafts were taught by PIC staff and volunteers. Older children were taught to fold an origami penguin, while the younger children had the opportunity to paint a multi-paint do penguin or to make a penguin finger puppet out of paper and foam parts. Afterwards, everyone enjoyed a health smart selection of vegetables and dip, multicolored Goldfish crackers, and fruit punch. Donna graced the children with one more story and was assisted by several children who read supporting story lines before they were sent home with a copy of "Tacky the Penguin." This series of literacy events was made possible and supported by the Private Industry Council's family Literacy Program, and through grants provided by the Target and Wal-Mart corporations.
For more information on Family Literacy Program and Events, please contact the Family Literacy Coordinator/Instructor, at (724) 836-2600 ext. 208. |
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