North Merrick Library Media Voice
November/December Edition 2021
Take a peek into our Library Media Centers!
K & 1 STEAM Projects
2 & 3 STEAM Projects
4 & 5 STEAM Projects
Grades 4, 5 ~ Dinner Table Challenge! Students explored videos and books on “Woodworking” as well as reviewed models of area and perimeter prior to designing and building tables in groups that will hold all of the food for the feast.
Grade 6 STEAM Projects
Grade 6 ~ Mini Magnet Parade! Students read aloud Balloons Over Broadway and created their own parade route mapped out in their town near their home. Their routes were to include landmarks and street signs. Students then created their own mini floats using balloons and magnets to assist their floats as they parade through the town!
Capstone Connect ebooks and Digital Libraries
All of our North Merrick teachers have access to 5000+ e-books and articles on Capstone Connect to support research and literature in our classrooms. Our Library Media Centers are using these fantastic resources to discuss and explore holidays from around the world. In collaboration with Computer Science Education Week, students are reading articles and ebooks on careers in the computer science field, how computers work, and other computer science topics.
Computer Science Education Week
CSEdWeek is an annual program dedicated to inspire K-12 students to learn computer science, advocate for equity in computer science education, and celebrate the contributions of students, teachers, and partners to the field.
This year’s theme highlights the impact that computer science is making everywhere and the relationship that computer science has to different subjects, industries, career paths, and our everyday lives. All classes participated in Hour of Code events where they explored the grade appropriate concepts of coding and developing algorithms.
Our Favorite November Read-Aloud
Balloons over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy's Parade by Melissa Sweet is our most favored picture book for November!
Winner of the 2012 NCTE Orbis Pictus Award
"Everyone rises early to see what giant new balloons will fill the skies for Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Who first invented these “upside-down puppets”? Meet Tony Sarg, puppeteer extraordinaire! In brilliant collage illustrations, the award-winning artist Melissa Sweet tells the story of the puppeteer Tony Sarg, capturing his genius, his dedication, his zest for play, and his long-lasting gift to America—the inspired helium balloons that would become the trademark of Macy’s Parade."
Our Favorite December Read-Aloud
Owl Moon by Jane Yolen tops the charts this December!
Caldecott Medal Winner
Our students were captivated by Yolen's beautiful language, imagery, and poetic rhythm in this read loud. They followed the story of a young girl and her father journeying through the forest late one wintery night to go owling. Our students made friends with the vivid writing, literary devices, and tools showcased throughout the story.
Enjoy this read aloud with your family. Can you spot the many similes and metaphors throughout the story?
You've Been Book'd by our Library Media Team!
Our Library Media Team is excited to announce our You’ve Been Book’d Event this month! The event began when someone from our Library Media Team secretly book'd one class per grade level. Book selections varied by grade, but all have a common theme- reading is a journey and a process of discovery. After a class was book'd , the teacher read aloud the story to the class followed by a discussion about the main characters’ love of reading and how reading helped to create excitement and adventure in the character’s life. Each student was then gifted with a 💓Love to Read💓bracelet for participating in the event. Each class then secretly book'd another class on their grade level. What an exciting way to end the year and share in a discussion about the power of words! All books were added to each Library Media Center's collection for all students to enjoy!
Award Winning Books of 2021!
2021 Winners: Newbery, Caldecott, King, Printz & More Awards from the American Library Association
For anyone who loves and promotes books for children and young adults, the Youth Media Awards are as good as it gets. Announced annually at the American Library Association's midwinter meeting (held virtually this year), authors and illustrators are recognized in a variety of categories.
Click here to see if your favorite took home a prize! You can explore the full list (including all of the honor books and lifetime achievement awards) on the ALA's website and find almost all of them in our collection, most also as e-books.
A Look Ahead to the New Year!....January 2022
✨Our Book Clubs for grades 4 & 5 will begin in January. Book Club facilitators, Mrs. Constantino (OMR and Fayette) and Mrs. Sigler (Camp) are excited to share the love of literature in a positive, nurturing environment while discussing what matter most to them. Text to self connection prevail in the novel Because of Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea.
✨Superheroes in action! Our students will use print and digital resources to research real life superheroes with powers that help make our lives better! Students will present and communicate their research conclusions and reflections using the digital media tool, Flipgrid.
Library Media Teachers
Lead Library Media Teacher
Old Mill Road School & Harold D. Fayette School
Ms. Diane Sigler
Camp Avenue School and Harold D. Fayette School
North Merrick Library Media Program
Christine A. Talbot
Supervisor of Instructional Technology, Library Media, and Data Reporting
Email: chtalbot@nmerrick.org
Website: https://www.nmerrickschools.org/Domain/309
Phone: (516)282-1811
Twitter: @NMLibraryMedia