April School Holiday Fun!

Did you know that dragonflies have been around for 300 million years or that our native snail, the Powelliphanta, can live for up to 20 years? What do you know about bugs and other creepy crawlies? Love them or hate them bugs are fascinating! In fact at Wellington Libraries we think Bugs are so awesome we put beehives on the roof of Central Library.

These school holidays we are going to be worming our way into the World of bugs, through games, fun facts, microscopes and crafts. So fly down to your local library and join in with some of the fun, free activities we have on offer, during the April school holidays.

These free events are for children aged 6+

Mervyn Kemp  Library – Tawa: Wednesday 19 April at 11am

Karori Library: Wednesday 19 April at 2pm

Ruth Gotlieb Library – Kilbirnie: Thursday 20 April at 10.30am

Cummings Park Library – Ngaio: Friday 21 April at 11am

Miramar Library: Wednesday 26 April at 10.30am

Wellington Central Library: Thursday 27th April at 11am

Johnsonville Library: Thursday 27th April at 11am

Khandallah Library: Thursday 27 April at 6pm

Newtown Library: Friday 28 April at 6pm

Music Madness at Tawa Library

Tawa Library had a large number of budding musicians at their holiday activity this week.

There were strings galore, double bass, violin, banjo and then the ukuleles’ came out. A big thank you to Rich and Daryl who led the way teaching us musical cords so we were able to join in together to became part of the great Tawa Library Orchestra.

Our musicians started at 3 years of age and went all the way up to 93 years.

Check out the other cool free holidays activities at the Children’s Events webpage.

Tawamusic Tawamusic1 Tawamusic2

Tawa School Holiday Fun!

Hey guys – make sure you come along to Tawa Library on Wednesday 24th July at 2pm for our great Matariki school holiday programme. We are going to hear some awesome Maori stories and enjoy lots of games and activities.

Make a poi or a porotiti – do you know what that is? Well come along and find out.

We will learn how to play stick games and we will also have a fishing game with a difference.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Ages 5-10

 

 

 

Tuatara at Tawa

During the school holidays Tawa library had a visit from a very ancient creature. Spike the tuatara came to visit the library and all the children and even the parents were lucky enough to touch this amazing animal.

Sue Keall from Victoria University did a wonderful talk on the the life cycle of the tuatara and talked about how we can help save this incredible animal. She then brought Spike out of his box and took him around so everyone could see him up close and touch his very soft skin. Spike was a champion – although he did get a bit wiggly at times. We loved having him visit.

 

Slimy Science School Holiday Activities at Tawa Library

Approximately 100 adults and children crowded into Tawa Library on Monday 18th of April for the Slimy Science School Holiday Programme.

The kids loved the fake severed arm!

The kids loved the fake severed arm!

Susannah recited a rhyme from The Slimy Book by Babette Cole, and ate some “worms” in front of the children. Sharyn showed the children how to make all different kinds of slime. The enthusiastic audience loved it!

Susannah eating some "worms."

Susannah eating some "worms."

Here are the recipes for slime that Sharyn used. Make sure you get your parents to help you make them.

Flubber

In a glass or ceramic bowl, add 1/2 cup water and 1 cup white glue.

Stir in 4 drops of food coloring if desired.

In another bowl, dissolve 1/2 teaspoon borax in 1/2 cup water.

Slowly add the dissolved borax mixture to the glue mixture. Stir well.

When not in use, store in a tightly sealed jar.

Susannah and Sharyn making some slime.

Susannah and Sharyn making some slime.

Make your own slime (from Suzy’s World)

What you need:

  • A large bowl
  • ½ cup of soap flakes (like Lux flakes)
  • ½ cup hot water
  • Wooden spoon
  • The help of an adult

What you do:

Put the soap flakes in the bowl and pour the hot water over it. Mix the soap flakes and water with the wooden spoon until the soap flakes have dissolved. Leave it to cool then get stuck in and see how slimy your slime is. It will keep for a couple of days – just keep it in a container with a lid.

Experiment with half a cup of your slime adding more water to it – how does it compare with the original slime? Add more soap flakes to another half cup of slime and stir it until the flakes are dissolved. Do the flakes dissolve as easily as they did in the hot water? What does it do to the slime?

You can also beat your slime with an eggbeater until it’s frothy. How does it compare to the original slime? How long does it stay frothy for? Is it just as slimy?

Cornflour Slime

Put equal amounts of pva and cornflour & water in a sealable bag or bowl, and mix together. (The more cornflour you use the thicker it will become).

Sharyn holding a shrunken "head." Really it's an apple!

Sharyn holding a shrunken "head." Really it's an apple!

Special Storytelling at Tawa Library

Mervyn Kemp (Tawa) Library are hosting a special te reo Maori storytelling session this week! Perfect for 2-6 year olds and their caregivers. Come along to listen to actor and storyteller Toa Waaka weave stories and legends in Maori and English. A perfect opportunity to learn and experience te reo Maori through stories – all are welcome!

Tawa Library, Wednesday 17th November 2010, 10.30-11.15am, Free!