Imagine your story this week in the Land of the Ocean Deep!
This week, we'll focus on the Land of the Ocean Deep Activity Badge and all of the virtual programs that accompany this. You will find these on Beanstack when you log into your account and click on the tab for Activity Badges. If you don't have your account set up, we have links at the bottom of this post to help you navigate our summer reading program.
If you have a Pre-Reader who is logging books read, scroll until you see this picture:
Complete 3 activities related to this theme that include the Five Practices of Early Literacy-Talking, Singing, Reading, Writing, Playing - to earn a virtual raffle ticket.
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Talking - Talking - Take a look at these ocean animal flashcards with your little one: https://www.teatimemonkeys.com/sea-animals-flashcards/ Say the name of each animal, talk about what color it is, what it looks like, if it’s big or small, etc.
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Singing - Lullabies are a wonderful way to stimulate language and cognitive development in both babies and young children, while promoting relaxation for the child and singer, decreasing stress and anxiety.
This Scottish song can be sung as a lullaby while rocking.
You can learn the song when you check out Laurie Berkner Band’s CD “Favorite Classic Kids’ Songs” from the library or download from Hoopla, or check it out here: https://youtu.be/aWa6kdXEWpg - Reading - Check out and read any book from this week’s search tag: #landofocean
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Writing - Let your child “write” in sand. Fill the bottom of a sheet pan with sand and help your little one trace letters in the sand. This is a great sensory activity. If you don’t have sand substitute sugar or salt.
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Playing - In and Out: This game is one that will introduce beginning concepts such as full and empty, big and small.
When playing this game with your child, point out these opposites as they go.
Supplies:
• Small boxes or baskets
• Blocks
• Soft Toys
• Rattles
• Measuring Cups
• Plastic Bottles (cleaned and empty)
Instructions:
Fill each box or basket with a few items of different sizes, shapes, and colors.
Parents and caregivers should help the child pick up the box or basket, turn over, and dump items out.
Work together with your child to put the items back in the box or basket.
Ask your child to pick up items based on color, shape, or size and place them in the box or basket. - Watch one of the Land of the Ocean Deep virtual storytimes during the week of July 13, found LIVE on social media. Details at https://www.handleyregional.org/youthvirtualprograms. Watch anytime on the Youth Services YouTube playlist at HRLS Virtual program.
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Watch a virtual program on the Youth Services YouTube playlist: HRLS Youtube Playlist
We'd love to share in your successes! Post what you did and share with us on Facebook or Social Media by tagging @handleyregional.
There is still plenty of summer left to join the challenge! Here are your important links to know. 
- HRLS Youth Summer Reading Main Page - Learn about the challenge and how to sign up.
- Beanstack Video Tutorials - Need help registering, earning badges, or applying tickets to a drawing? Detailed videos can be found at this page.
- HRLS Youth Virtual Programs - View our online programs for the month.
- YouTube Playlist for Past Virtual Programs - If you miss a program, find it on YouTube!
Don't forgot that you can now reserve books for curbside pickup. Check out details here on how to get your books.
Remember, if you watch a virtual program with a story included, it counts towards your logged reading and activity badges, so track those books! Virtual programs have their own activity badges too, so when you go online to watch, look for the corresponding badge and activity through Beanstack. The calendar will give you a hint for the badges to look for.
Each week we'll highlight an activity badge and activities, but keep in mind, you can work on these badges at any time during our summer reading challenge.
Have fun this week in the Land of the Ocean Deep!