To the Editor:
Parents and children are excited for summer vacation, but that doesn’t mean we should take a vacation from learning. Research shows that children who don’t read over the summer lose some of the literacy skills they gained during the school year and have a difficult time adjusting to school in the fall. This summer, try out these fun activities from HSBC Family Literacy First to keep their skills sharp!
Visit www.familyliteracyfirst.ca to find four stories and lots of activities to keep you learning all summer long!
Read the stories together!
Paper boat stay afloat! Learning a new craft, skill or game is a great way to practice literacy. Download Module 1 to find directions for how to build a paperboat!
Beat the drum! We practice our literacy skills when we follow directions. Download Module 2 to find directions for how to build an Iroquoian Water Drum!
Sing along! Music is a part of almost every culture and community in Canada. Download Module 2 to find sing-a-longs in both official languages—and in Simplified Chinese.
Origami is a fun way to practice literacy skills. Download Module 4 to find out how you can make your own origami panda!
Get active! Play the Hokey Pokey as you practice naming and singing the different body parts. Download Module 3 to find games and lyrics to practice naming the parts of the body.
Trace your heritage! Where in the world is your family from? Download Module 4 and practice geography by mapping out your heritage!
HSBC Family Literacy First offers four independent modules, each with a story and various activities designed to bring families together to celebrate and practice their literacy skills. Modules are available in three languages: English, French and Simplified
Chinese, with more languages to be added in the coming years.
— www.familyliteracyfirst.ca
