The 'Build a Book Bag' service is no longer available. You can find books and other Library materials by searching the catalogue. Ebooks and audiobooks are also available through the Libby app.
Did you know that sensory play lays an important foundation for your child’s learning? It encourages brain development, open-ended thinking, fine motor skill building, and even language learning. We’ve rounded up three of our favourite sensory activities to help preschoolers explore sounds and engage their sense of hearing — all you need are a few household objects. Besides, who doesn’t love making some noise. 1. Egg Shaker Matching GameThis fun and simple activity turns listening into a game and helps preschoolers refine their sense of hearing while promoting problem-solving skills.What you’ll need:Six plastic eggs in two different colours for a total of twelve eggs (e.g. six purple, six orange) Small objects that make noise. Some good options include: Small jingle bells Buttons Pennies Dry beans Rice Cheerios Broken crayons Paper clips What to do:Fill pairs of eggs with different items so that there is one egg of each colour filled with the exact same noisy object. For example, there should be one purple egg with rice and one orange egg with rice, and so on. Tape the eggs shut to prevent peeking or spilling. Have your preschooler listen to an egg of one colour and try to find its match in the other set of eggs. For example, have them listen to one purple egg, then try to find its match in the orange eggs. This game can also be done with siblings to encourage social-emotional skills and negotiation. 2. Rain MakerThis craft is easy to make at home with a few household supplies and creates a beautiful rain maker that preschoolers love to tip back and forth.What you’ll need:Cardboard paper towel roll Paper bag Aluminum foil Tape 1 cup corn kernels, uncooked rice, or a mix of both Paper Markers What to do:Cut out a circle from a paper bag that's slightly larger than the circumference of your paper tower roll. Trace the paper towel roll in the middle of your circle. Then, cut out about 4 equally spaced slits from the edge of the paper bag circle to your traced circle. Fold up your paper bag circle over your cardboard roll. Use masking tape to attach your circle to your cardboard tube and seal off an end. Rip out a sheet of aluminum foil that's about three times as long your tube. Scrunch the aluminum foil into a long snake (your child can help with this fun task). Then, fold it back and forth, creating a bunch of kinks in a zigzag (this will slow down the fall of your rice or corn to make it sound more like a real rain stick). When you're done, slide the foil snake into your tube. Pour the rice or corn (or a mix of both) into your cardboard tube. Then seal the other end following the same directions found in steps one and two. Now it's time to decorate your rainmaker. Cut out a piece of paper that will cover your cardboard tube. Doodle a design, tape it around your tube, and you’ll have a lovely rainmaker that creates a soothing pitter-patter sound. 3. “Guess the Sound” JarsA simpler version of the plastic egg activity, you only need one container for this fun guessing game that will engage your child’s sense of hearing.What you’ll need:Opaque jar or container, like a yogurt tub Variety of small items (e.g. beans, salt, jewelry, rubber bands, coins, buttons, rice, bouncy balls) What to do:Fill your jar with a small object that makes noise when you shake it. If you have more than one container, you can set up multiple containers with different objects. Ask your child to guess which object is making noise. Then hide a different object in the container and repeat as many times as they’re willing to guess. This is also a great opportunity to expand vocabulary if you and your child try to describe each sound with words like rattling, ringing, loud, soft, etc. Enjoy this fun game together with your preschooler! Learning is fun with these simple but engaging sensory activities. Want even more great early literacy activities you can do at home? Be sure to check out Your Library at Home for more resources like these.Not yet a member? Sign up for your free Library card.Sources:https://playtolearnpreschool.us/sound-matching-game/http://www.pinkstripeysocks.com/2015/09/how-to-make-cardboard-rainmakers-preschool-craft.htmlhttps://handsonaswegrow.com/easy-sound-sensory-jars-to-make-play/
Read more about "Stories Three Preschool Sensory Activities that Explore Sound"Family Reading Kits are now available at six Library locations. Featuring four different titles for school-age children and one picture book, the kits include discussion questions to spark lively conversation, related activities, and more staff-recommended titles to keep reading as a family.
Read more about "Start a family book club"Join Author Rebecca Morrison in her debut children's picture book, The Search for the Magical Egg. Enjoy an author reading with a PALS dog, take part in a 'magical egg' hunt, and...
Read more about "The Search for the Magical Egg Book Launch"Join us for the launch of the book “Truth and Reconciliation Through Education: Stories of Decolonizing Practices," including discussion with contributing authors. Written by...
Read more about "Book Launch: Truth and Reconciliation Through Education"Room bookings are back! Save quiet working space at your favourite location now.
Read more about "Book a Space"Did you know that sensory play lays an important foundation for your child’s learning? It encourages brain development, open-ended thinking, fine motor skill building, and even language learning. We’ve rounded up our favourite sensory activities for preschoolers who love to paint — all you need are a few household objects. Besides, who doesn’t love getting a little messy?Sensory Spice Painting This simple activity engages the senses with fragrant spices and encourages your little one’s fine-motor skills as they mix and paint with brushes. What you’ll need:Paper, washable white paint, four small containers, four paint brushes, and four kinds of ground spices like cinnamon, turmeric, paprika, and cardamomWhat to do:Pour washable white paint into four small containers or bowls, then add one spice to each bowl. The more spice you add, the deeper the colour. Use paint brushes to mix the spices into the paint until blended. Watch your preschooler paint with the beautiful and fragrant earth-toned shades. Be mindful that spice paints have the potential to stain clothes. Sensory tip: ask them which spice they like the smell of best, and why. Shaving Cream Finger Painting Soft, cool, and fluffy, shaving cream is a sensory delight for little hands to play in — you don’t even need paint brushes for this activity. What you’ll need: Shaving cream, kitchen table or tray, rags for cleaningWhat to do: Spray shaving cream on your kitchen table (or a cookie tray) and let children spread it all over with their hands. They can squish it between their fingers, draw pictures in it, or practice their letters. Give them wet rags to clean it up with after, and you’ll have a sparkling clean table. Snow PaintingIf there’s snow outside, this is a great way to engage in outdoor sensory play with preschoolers. What you’ll need:Spray bottles, food colouring, snow What to do:Fill spray bottles with water and add food colouring to each bottle. Spray the coloured water on the snow to write letters, create pictures, or turn your backyard into a snowy rainbow. Your preschooler’s creativity will shine with these simple but engaging sensory activities. Want even more great early literacy activities you can do at home? Be sure to check out our Library at Home section for more resources like these.Not yet a member? Sign up for your free Library card.Sources:Craftulate: Sensory Spice PaintingLittle Rock Family: 6 Sensory-Stimulating Activities using Common Household ItemsFive Minute Fun: Five-minute Sensory Play Ideas
Read more about "Stories Three Sensory Activities for Preschoolers Who Love to Paint"Have you ever wondered how a book gets added to our collection? Learn more about our Selectors as we show you just how a book gets on our shelves.
Read more about "How are our books selected?"Family Reading Kits are now available at six Library locations. The kits include discussion questions to spark lively conversion, related activities, and more staff-recommended titles to keep reading as a family.
Read more about "Start a family book club"Join the Calgary Public Library’s 2020 Author-in-Residence Lori Hahnel as she celebrates the launch of her fifth book, Flicker. This fast-paced time-travel novel being released by...
Read more about "Flicker Book Launch and Author Signing"Did you know that sensory play lays an important foundation for your child’s learning? It encourages brain development, open-ended thinking, fine motor skill building, and even language learning. We’ve rounded up our favourite sensory activities for preschoolers who love to paint — all you need are a few household objects. Besides, who doesn’t love getting a little messy?Sensory Spice Painting This simple activity engages the senses with fragrant spices and encourages your little one’s fine-motor skills as they mix and paint with brushes. What you’ll need:Paper, washable white paint, four small containers, four paint brushes, and four kinds of ground spices like cinnamon, turmeric, paprika, and cardamomWhat to do:Pour washable white paint into four small containers or bowls, then add one spice to each bowl. The more spice you add, the deeper the colour. Use paint brushes to mix the spices into the paint until blended. Watch your preschooler paint with the beautiful and fragrant earth-toned shades. Be mindful that spice paints have the potential to stain clothes. Sensory tip: ask them which spice they like the smell of best, and why. Shaving Cream Finger Painting Soft, cool, and fluffy, shaving cream is a sensory delight for little hands to play in — you don’t even need paint brushes for this activity. What you’ll need: Shaving cream, kitchen table or tray, rags for cleaningWhat to do: Spray shaving cream on your kitchen table (or a cookie tray) and let children spread it all over with their hands. They can squish it between their fingers, draw pictures in it, or practice their letters. Give them wet rags to clean it up with after, and you’ll have a sparkling clean table. Snow PaintingIf there’s snow outside, this is a great way to engage in outdoor sensory play with preschoolers. What you’ll need:Spray bottles, food colouring, snow What to do:Fill spray bottles with water and add food colouring to each bottle. Spray the coloured water on the snow to write letters, create pictures, or turn your backyard into a snowy rainbow. Your preschooler’s creativity will shine with these simple but engaging sensory activities. Want even more great early literacy activities you can do at home? Be sure to check out our Library at Home section for more resources like these.Not yet a member? Sign up for your free Library card.Sources:Craftulate: Sensory Spice PaintingLittle Rock Family: 6 Sensory-Stimulating Activities using Common Household ItemsFive Minute Fun: Five-minute Sensory Play Ideas
Read more about "Stories Three Sensory Activities for Preschoolers Who Love to Paint"Family Reading Kits are now available at six Library locations. The kits include discussion questions to spark lively conversion, related activities, and more staff-recommended titles to keep reading as a family.
Read more about "Start a family book club"Due to COVID-19, the Calgary Public Library can no longer accept book donations. We encourage you to support a number of other organizations locally that accept book donations. For information on other ways to support the Calgary Public Library, please visit the Library Foundation’s
Read more about "Book Donations"Receive additional activities, resources and special event invitations, right to your inbox, twice this year.
Read more about "Sign up for a Family Reading Kit Book Club"Find the Book Truck at regularly scheduled locations with books, movies, and other Library services on board for all ages.
Read more about "Bringing the Library to your community."Large print book collections include best sellers, mysteries, non-fiction, and some languages other than English.
Read more about "Large Print and Talking Books"