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=**Welcome to the PS 131 Summer Reading Wiki for 2012**=

5 THINGS TO DO THIS SUMMER TO STAY SMART:
(After you click on one of the links below, just click the back arrow on your computer to get back to this page.)

Summer Reading Programs:
[|Summer Reading at the Public Library] Sign up. Create an avatar. Keep track of the books you have read. Earn badges. Rate books. See what other people are saying about books. [|Summer Reading at Barnes & Noble] Read 8 books, write down the titles, bring it to a Barnes & Noble store and get a free book! [|Summer Reading Challenge at Scholastic] Join other kids around the world to log in more minutes read than ever before! Play games, too!

Read books at the library:
[|The Borough Park Branch of the Brooklyn Public Library]is located at 1265 43rd St., between 12th & 13th Avenues. The phone number is 718-437-4085. Dial Extension 111 for the children's room. Here is a copy of the July events calendar. Here is a copy of the August events calendar.

**Read magazines:**
[|Highlights] Read stories, find fun projects, jokes and recipes. Play games. Click here to [|subscribe] to the print edition which will be delivered to your home. Not free. [|National Geographic Kids] Learn about science and nature. Read articles, watch videos, play games. Click here to [|subscribe] to the print edition which will be delivered to your home. Make sure to click on the KIDS version. Not free. [|American Girl] Read about the historical dolls, get advice, make cards and crafts. Click here to [|subscribe] to the print edition which will be delivered to your home. Not free. [|Sports Illustrated for Kids] Read articles, watch videos, play games. Click here to [|subscribe]to the print edition which will be delivered to your home. Not free. [|Weekly Reader] Read news articles on your grade level. [|Time For Kids] Read news articles on your grade level.
 * Magazines for Children:**
 * The on-line sites are free. The actual, print versions, of the magazines are not free. You must subscribe. It is a lot of fun to have a magazine delivered to your house, just for you!**

Read books on your level. Sign in with the password your teacher gave you. Watch a video of a fiction book and read a related non-fiction book. You must use your public library card to sign in. Read along as you listen to some great stories narrated by actors and actresses. [|INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN'S DIGITAL LIBRARY] Read just about any story, from anywhere, in any language. [|Tumblebooks] Read books. Play games related to the book. You must sign in with your library card number. This will only work for //**new**// library cards--or NYPL cards (not the old green Brooklyn Public Library cards).
 * Read Books on Your Computer:**
 * [|RAZ-KIDS]**
 * [|BOOK FLIX]**
 * [|STORYLINE ONLINE]**

Why is listening to books a good idea?
[|Downloadable Media at the Brooklyn Public Library] Parents, First you will need to download the appropriate software to your computer. Follow the directions provided on the site. Go to the library and ask for help if you can't do it by yourself. This is a wonderful free service! Once you download an audiobook and put it on your ipod, you can leave it there for as long as it takes you to finish it. Once you download an ebook, you only have 2 weeks to read it before it expires.
 * 1. Children can listen to stories--and understand stories--that are up to three grade levels higher**
 * than what they can read on their own. By doing this they are getting exposed to more new ideas**
 * and more new words--two very necessary things required to be a good reader.**
 * 2. Children can pick up new vocabulary words while listening to them in the context of a story.**
 * When they see these words in print, later on, they will know and understand them much more quickly**
 * than a child who has never heard them.**
 * 3. Listening to a story helps a child create a picture in his/her mind. This is a skill that all good readers**
 * must learn. You can't be a good reader if you can't picture the story in your mind.**
 * 4. Children practice listening, which is a very important skill. Some struggling readers are struggling because**
 * they really aren't paying attention to what they are reading, not because they can't figure out what the words**
 * are.**
 * Listen to Audio Books:**
 * Audio Books and Electronic Books (for Kindles, ipads, tablets and computers)**
 * You will need a parent to help you with this.**


 * Listen to a Family Member read aloud to you**:

No matter how old a child is, or how good a reader he/she is, it is always a pleasure to hear a story read aloud. Parents, read to your children. Children, read to your brothers and sisters and parents.

__3. DO__
Good readers need lots of experiences to learn from, too. This is called background knowledge. The more background knowledge a child has, the better reader he/she becomes. Knowing a little bit about something helps you understand it better when you read about it and helps you extend your knowledge of a topic more easily, too. Below are some close to home and free or almost free activities that you can enjoy this summer. I guarantee that you will learn something new with each activity you do. Click on the EVENTS tab or look at FACILITIES. There is much to do in this park and most of it is free. Visit the [|Leffert's House]--a 17th century farm house right in the park. They always have fun activities going on. Right near that is the [|zoo]and the [|carousel] (merry-go-round). There are [|playgrounds], [|pedal boats], [|electric boat rides], and a [|bandshell] (stage) for concerts. There is even a whole educational center for kids that has free programs and activities about birds and other wild life. It is called the [|Audobon Center] You can take a walk through the [|ravine] and you will feel like you are in the forest! Maybe you would prefer a [|tour]with a guide. There are many to choose from. You can even get [|fishing lessons], though you have to throw the fish back in after you catch them .Check out these [|special programs for kids]
 * With every thing you do, you learn something new!**
 * Things to Do for Free or Almost Free**
 * [|Prospect Park]**

This park has one of the highest spots in Brooklyn. Not only do you get a beautiful view of Manhattan, but it is so cool and breezy up there on a hot day.But, the best thing about Sunset Park is its enormous [|pool!] Take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to swim in a great big pool right near your h.
 * [|Sunset Park]**

[|Learn to Swim Program] You have to register to enter the lottery for this program. That's because it is such a bargain--10 weeks of FREE swimming lessons. This program takes place at one of the city's indoor pools. Check out the website for information.

[|The Central Branch of the Brooklyn Public Library] Right outside of Prospect Park, you must visit this library at least once in your life. It is enormous and beautiful and of course, full of books! There is a great children's section with a computer loft. You get to climb upstairs, over the books and people, and use the computer. There is a children's garden. There is even a cafe on the first floor. There are plenty of events for kids and grown-ups at this library. You can use your new library card there.

[|The Borough Park Branch of the Brooklyn Public Library]is located at 1265 43rd St., between 12th & 13th Avenues. The phone number is 718-437-4085. Dial Extension 111 for the children's room. Here is a copy of the July events calendar. Here is a copy of the August events calendar.

IKEA is a giant furniture and home goods store. It's fun to spend a day wandering around it, trying out all the furniture, and pretending you live in the beautifully designed rooms! Or, your parents can wander around, while you play in the ball pit. If it is a good weather day, head outside to the waterfront. You might even want to bring a picnic lunch. You might prefer to eat in [|IKEA's restaurant]. On Monday, breakfast is free! Also on Monday, you can get pasta for lunch for 99 cents. On Tuesday, kids eat free--when a parent buys a meal. One parent meal purchased gets one free kids' meal. There are good specials during the rest of the week, too. IKEA provides lots of [|free transportation]to their store, too.
 * [|IKEA]**--Head to Red Hook and have some free fun!


 * [|FAIRWAY MARKET]**is a gigantic supermarket also in Red Hook. They have lots of free food samples throughout the store. They also have a cafe. You can buy salads, sandwiches, hot food, and ice cream. You can eat it inside or outside. Seating is right on the pier and you can look out on the waterfront and see the Statue of Liberty. There is even a very old trolley car and trolley tracks outside the store. You can see how people in Brooklyn used to travel. This is a great little trip on a very hot day. Between the air conditioning inside the store and the fabulous breeze off the water, you"ll stay cool. See some of the photos.

Our local cemetery is an historic site. It may seem a little strange to visit a cemetery, but there is so much to learn there! They offer lots of tours and talks. It is one of Brooklyn's most beautiful and peaceful spots. They encourage visitors, but you must remember to behave respectfully as you are visiting the final resting place of thousands of Brooklynites. Check out the [|visiting hours and rules]before you go. [|June 24th is Family Day]--$15 for a family of 2 adults and 4 children. Regular visiting on your own is free.
 * [|Green-Wood Cemetery]**

This museum also provides discounted admission to military personnel (active or retired) and their families with proper military ID. Call them for more information-(718) 735-4400.
 * Museums**
 * [|Brooklyn Children's Museum]**has **free hours** on EVERY THIRD THURSDAY from 4:00–7:00pm and on the FIRST FULL WEEKEND of every month 2:00–5:00pm, except on holiday weekends. Here are the free admission dates: Thursday, June 21st and Thursday, July 19th. Saturday and Sunday, Juley 7th and 8th. Check out the website for traveling directions. This museum is a marvelous place for children, but if you can't get there, at least check out their [|at-home activities website].

The **[|Brooklyn Museum]**has a PAY-WHAT-YOU-WISH policy. This means that the admission price is only a suggestion. You do not need to pay the whole amount. You can tell the cashier what you want to pay, or can afford to pay, and just pay that amount. The museum has this policy because they want everyone to be able to enjoy and learn from the exhibits there. The museum also has free admission nights on the first Saturday of every month. These are called [|TARGET 1st SATURDAYS]and they are lots of fun! During the summer, these nights will be on July 7th and August 4th. Admission on these nights is free from 5 p.m to 11 p.m. The Target 1st Saturday in July will feature the artist, Keith Haring. You have probably seen some of these Keith Haring books. Why not check one out of the library before or after you go? Here is a link to [|Haring Kids online]--create pictures like Keith Haring's and play some games. The Brooklyn Museum offers [|some suggestions]about how to plan your trip, what to do inside a museum, how to behave there, what to talk about while you are looking at the art work, what to talk about after you've seen the art work. This is helpful if you are just getting started as a museum visitor.


 * [|Brooklyn Botanical Garden]**--See beautiful flowers and gardens and learn about plants. What a beautiful and peaceful place this is! Check out the website to see what is going on--or just go and walk around. Here is [|a list], with links, to all the different gardens you can see. My favorites are the [|Japanese Garden]and the [|Fragrance Garden]where every plant has a smell. Kids, you will probably enjoy the [|Discovery Garden] where there are lots of things to touch and do. Admission is **free on Tuesdays** and on **Saturdays from 10-12**(unless there is a special festival/event going on that Saturday--call ahead and double check--718-623-7200)

__**4. TALK**__ Before we can read, we have to know how to talk. Being a good talker is a necessary skill for being a good reader. Knowing lots of words and knowing how to put them together is the key to being a good reader and writer--a good communicator. Talking is free and easy--do a lot of talking this summer. Learn new words. They are the tools you need to understand and express new ideas.

Ways to learn new words: READ, READ, READ--reading is all about words. Without even realizing it, you will be learning new words every time you read a new book. COLLECT WORDS--write down interesting words. Find out what they mean by looking them up in a dictionary. Keep them in a special place. Share them with others. TALK--Talking is practice using words. Here are some [|conversation starters]. Kids, use some of them to get your parents talking. Parents, use some of them to get your kids talking. There are enough here to keep you talking all year, but if you want more, here they are: [|more conversation starters]and [|even more conversation starters.]

__**5. WRITE**__ Don't forget to practice and improve your writing skills over the summer. Writing is just as important as reading. Here are some ideas to help you to keep writing over the summer:

Get a notebook Keep a journal. Write about what you read. Write about your plans for what you are going to do this summer, then write about what you did. Write about what you would like to do. Write about your family. Write about your pets. If you run out of ideas, use the [|writing prompts on this page]to help you. Here are some more ideas: Write a schedule for an outing you are planning. Write down the directions so you won't get lost. Take photographs and write captions under them explaining what is going on in each picture. Think of what you know how to do--write down step by step instructions for doing it. See if someone can follow your instructions. Hide something in your house. Draw a treasure map and write down clues so your brothers and sisters can find it. Write down a shopping list of all the food you would like your mother and father to buy. Watch a grown up make something for lunch or dinner and write down the recipe as she or he goes along. Interview your mom or dad about their job. Write up a list of questions to ask and write down the answers. Interview your brother or sister about something special in their life--a sport, a hobby, a pet.........