Did you know that the first Sunday in August is National Friendship Day? At Explore & More, we celebrate how all our friends that visit are made uniquely and differently. You may see a friend using our wheelchair lift to play on the top floor of the Treehouse Exhibit on our 4th floor or a friend who might be sensitive to the sounds of play in the museum wearing headphones to help them have a great experience themselves. We even have a free special event on the 2nd Friday of every month called Au-Some Evening, for our friends on the ASD spectrum to give them a calming experience with intentional limited capacity. We hope that when you visit to explore and play, you will be encouraged by seeing many different faces from our community. We’d love for you to join us to make some new friends too!
It’s almost school time again! Starting a new school year is always full of emotions, especially during a pandemic. You’re probably feeling excited and maybe a little sad that summer is winding down. Some kids (and parents) feel nervous or a little scared on the first day of school because of all the new things: new teachers, new friends, and maybe even a new school. Luckily, these “new” worries only stick around for a little while.
At Together to Kindergarten, young campers are set up for success by providing fun and educational activities based on the following Kindergarten Readiness Skill-Builders: Fine motor skills (cutting, writing, using manipulatives for small motor tasks), Large motor skills (large group games, balancing, climbing), Social/emotional skills (socializing, making new friends, taking turns, sharing, good manners), Language skills (speaking in a whole group setting, asking for assistance), Reading skills (rhyming, recognizing patterns in stories, print awareness), Math skills (counting, patterning, measuring).
Children will get used to “school” routines and separating from parents while playing and learning in the various Play Zones at Explore & More. Register today online at exploreandmore.org. Spaces are limited. Don’t miss out on the fun and learning! AGES: 4 – 5 (entering Kindergarten in September 2021) DATE: Monday, August 23rd – Friday, August 27th TWO SESSIONS: 9:00am-11:30am / Cost: $150 OR 1:00pm-2:00p / Cost: $75
There is no doubt about it: COVID-19 presents a significant challenge for public education. However, as we have witnessed time and time again throughout history, our teachers are resilient; they are qualified, and they are doing one of the most crucial jobs in the world: preparing future generations of citizens to engage in an everchanging and evolving society. If you are a teacher, please know this: your community supports you. If you aren’t a teacher yourself, make sure a teacher gets the message: we have your backs, and we are in this together. I hope to see you soon at the museum.
Best regards, Lisa Chrapowicz Senior Manager of Community & Strategic Initiatives
Thank you to our storytime sponsor: Savarino Companies
Trucking through the Summer A-Z Storytime: Lt. Thompson reads Alphabet Rescue by Audrey Wood and Bruce Wood. In this action-packed adventure, we witness the lowercase letters as they save the day and the uppercase letters. Riding in a fire truck they fixed themselves, these lowercase letters become heroes with firehoses!
Thank you to our storytime sponsor: Savarino Companies
Trucking through the Summer A-Z Storytime: Sheriff Thompson from the Buffalo Sheriff K-9 Unit reads Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathman. When Officer Buckle discovers he’s been upstaged, he vows to give up safety tips once and for all. Can Gloria convince her friend to return to the job he loves, or is Napville about to have its worst accident ever? Thanks to our storytime sponsor, Savarino Companies.
Thanks to the generous support of Mother Cabrini Health Foundation for making this Storytime possible.
Storytime: Ms. Val reads Teddy Picnic by Georgie Birkett. Teddy and his friends are going on a picnic! They spend their day playing and munching on a delicious lunch. Happy and sleepy, Teddy and his friends head home on the train and snuggle up together for bedtime stories and sleep.
