St. Helena Parish Schools Seeks to Improve Literacy Through Fun Opportunities!
ST. HELENA - We are very excited to partner with Kid School News Louisiana to open the doors of discovery for elementary school children by providing interactive, engaging and relevant age appropriate materials designed to awaken the magic of reading at school, at home and throughout their lives. Reading is key to a child’s potential for success in life. And the more kids read, the more they succeed. In third grade students make the leap from ‘learning to read’ to ‘reading to learn.’ But too many learners fall behind and struggle, and some never catch up.
To read, kids need topics they’re interested in presented in a way that entices them to read. That’s where Kid Scoop News, a non-profit to get kids reading more, comes in.
Each month they will distribute a reader, called Kid Scoop News, in our classrooms. Each issue has favorite topics like sports, pets and science in activities such as word searches, drawing and puzzles kids really love. That’s the magic!
Unlike digital devices, with Kid Scoop News, learners will get their own personal copy to hold and read, write in, cut up and take home! The August issue is already here and ready to distribute!!
What’s in the August 2024 Issue?
Articles and activities include:
WHAT’S IN THE NEWS? Summer is the time for festivals of all kinds, and Spain hosts one of the most popular—the Tomatina. It’s the messiest festival welcoming over 60,000 people to participate in a tomato throwing fest. After reading this article with students, ask about their memories of a favorite festival and foods, maybe not thrown, that they typically find at fairs and festivals.
SPOTLIGHT: The Wizard of Oz. Students will learn more about the first book in a series of 14 books about the land of Oz. Who was the author? What is a tornado? Who lives in Munchkin Land? Why were Dorothy’s shoes so important in this story? Who were the new friends Dorothy made? So many questions! Help your students discover the answers and build curiosity around the games that follow this story in this edition of Kid Scoop News.
BRAILLE: Where did Braille originate from and why? Students will get a first hand lesson in decoding the braille alphabet. Using just six raised dots, the Braille system was developed. From this activity, launch into a fun and important activity to help students understand what it means to use our senses. Have students Close their eyes and try to walk across the room without opening them. Stumble or fall? Use your hands to help find your way? Your ears?
RAPTORS: Raptors are birds of prey. Discover the amazing facts about these magnificent creatures on these pages. Students will love learning about their special abilities and strength, including their eyesight and grasp!
FIT & FUN: Encourage your students to consider the movements of a certain raptor—the owl. Exercise that mimics the antics of an owl!
SURVIVAL: Survival tips for trailblazers! Students will have fun with these activities and some pointers on what to do if you get lost, which people do!
ACTIVITY CALENDAR: Challenge your students to select one activity a week to complete with a family member and have that person sign their name on the calendar!
SUMMER FUN: A Day at the Zoo. A visit to a zoo gives you a chance to see animals from all around the world, animals you would never see in your neighborhood. Zoos are more than places to see animals. They also help save animals from extinction.
HEALTH: What’s Your VERB? Keep students thinking about staying active! We talk about ‘Verbs’ because they are the ‘DOING ACTION’ words—Run! Jump! Swim! Dance! Wiggle! They are all verbs and human bodies need physical activity every day.
MONEY MATTERS: Counting your change. Students are challenged to use mental math to practice addition and subtraction skills with dollars and cents.
HOW TO DRAW: The cutest gorilla is just an easy eight steps away! Let students practice their small motor skills and symmetry as they learn the features of a gorilla. Make sure you leave time for painting or coloring the gorilla, too!