CREATIVITY AND LITERACY PROGRAM GRAND OPENING
Former Family Literacy Center now located at Kerr Elementary School & All of Us Care in Sharpsburg
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reschoolers moved about the brand new
Creativity and Literacy Program classroom,
becoming engaged in each of the activities –
creating, making, and playing. The former Family
Literacy Center for district residents with preschool-age
children has been expanded to include an emphasis
on STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering,
Mathematics, and Medicine) and 21st century skills,
integrated with literacy through creativity, exploration,
design, and play.
Teacher and program facilitator Alison Francis explained how to
weave fabric around a hula hoop. The hula hoop weaving teaches
fine motor skills, collaboration, pattern, color, and counting.
Teacher and program facilitator Alison Francis spent
several months researching and planning before the
program, sponsored by the Fox Chapel Area School
District, was rolled out in November. Preschoolers
and their families had the opportunity to explore and
participate in different learning centers in the classroom at
Kerr Elementary School during the two-day open house
event.
FOX CH APE L AR EA SC H OO L NE WS
ox Chapel Area
Joe Zgurzynski, who attended the open house with his
five-year-old son Nico, said, “I’m a big fan of science.” He
believes the more science the better and added, “I like
seeing the connection to literacy.”
Four-year-old Brice, who will attend kindergarten next
year, could not say which of the learning activities was his
favorite. “I liked all of them best.” He explained the kinetics
activity in which he was engaged. “I was trying to build
something that blows in the air.”
A volunteer demonstrated how the drawbot (drawing robot) moves
across paper to make a picture. The children had the opportunity to
create their own pictures using the drawbots and different colored
markers.
“This is an amazing space for the kids to learn and explore,”
said Brice’s mother, Janene Kay, who also brought along
three-year-old Asher. She pointed out how Brice built his
structure and tested it with the fan and then continued to
work with the box of materials to explore and learn. “The
activity provided interest, and then he continued to build
with the materials on his own.” She added, “This is science
integrated in the literacy. My boys are just loving it.”
Technology is an important component of the program
with computers, iPads, and a SMART Board available for
students, but reading and books will remain an integral
part of each lesson. Additionally, families will have the
opportunity to experience and enjoy the many books
that are part of the program’s library and there will be
take-home activities to extend the learning opportunities
beyond the program hours. Mrs. Francis said that the
program’s location at Kerr will offer the added bonus of all
of the resources that the school has to offer. Additionally,
she anticipates that concepts used in the Creativity and
Literacy Program will be developed for use by the school
district’s elementary-age children as well.
Reading is a part of every session. Children and families took
the opportunity to explore books in the Creativity and Literacy
Program’s library during the November open house.
10 Fox Chapel Area