Archive for the ‘democracy’ Category
Kids all over the country ask,
“How do I become President when I grow up?”
Now is your chance to come up with an answer and enter to win a prize!
*
1. Visit challenge.gov/challenges/44 for official entry information
2. Create a poster showing how you would become President.
3. Enter your poster by November 3 for a chance to win!
*
Over $5000 in prizes!
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Start the Week With Words – America!
4th of July weekend is coming up, so now is the time to brush up on our National Anthem. There were four verses written; see if you can memorize more than one!
SPACE
The Star–Spangled Banner
The Anthem was written by Frances Scott Key in 1814.
SPACE SPAC
Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn’s early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thru the perilous fight,
O’er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
On the shore dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe’s haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o’er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning’s first beam,
In full glory reflected, now shines on the stream:
Tis the star-spangled banner: O, long may it wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle’s confusion
A home and a country should leave us no more?
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps’ pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
O, thus be it ever when freemen shall stand,
Between their loved home and the war’s desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav’n-rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause. it is just,
And this be our motto: “In God is our trust”
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
E
To learn more about the National Anthem and the US Government, check out Ben’s Guide to the U.S. Government for Kids. Great for all ages!
http://bensguide.gpo.gov/3-5/symbols/anthem.html
Obama Wrote Us!!!
Posted on: June 17, 2009
It has been months since you wrote your letters to Obama. My sister librarians and I have been waiting anxiously for a response to those wonderful letters and awesome pictures we took, and I know you have been waiting too.
Well, that time has come!! West Palm Beach Public Library’s KidSpace received the letter we’ve been so anxiously waiting for. On June 1st, our President, Barack Obama, took the time out of his very busy day to sign a letter and photo for you.
With pleasure, President Obama thanked you “for your recent notes, and for sharing your thoughts” with him. He also encourages us all to be good citizens and to “work together” to make our world a better place. Today is a great day because President Obama wrote back, and a day to remember because you voted to write to your President and your vote counted.
If you want to see what your President wrote you, come out to KidSpace and take a look.
Until we meet again,
Remember, your vote counts!
Fun activities for the Family!!!
Posted on: February 9, 2009
- In: authors | blogs | books | democracy | development | early literacy | events | family_fun | kids space | kids vote | reading | west palm beach | west palm beach public library
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My sister Librarian, Ms. Jennifer, was reading the September issue of FamilyFun, a Disney magazine about fun activities for kids and parents to enjoy together. As you know, in the fall months we talked about the voting and election process. In this issue, Ms. Jennifer, read an article, Dinner Elections, on the Jebsen family. Chris and Sarah Jebsen wanted to teach their kids about the value of voting through family fun. In doing this, they gave their eldest, Nicholas, “the chance to vote on a topic that he’s quite passionate about: dinner.” They began with 6 parties (six categories of dinner: main dish, vegetable, side dish, fruit, dessert, and drink) and a running campaign (consisting of a chart with all of the contenders under each party). Finally, the day of the election arrived; each member of the family chose their candidate under each category and dinner was elected in a matter of minutes. This activity teaches the kids that each vote counts and just like a real election, they anticipate the results. I found this activity exciting and plan to use it with my nephews.
Think about ways that you can bring Elections, or other “grown-up” responsibilities into your home for some family fun.
Come visit the West Palm Beach Public Library’s KidSpace for some resources on fun activities for you and your kids to enjoy together, like:
Snacktivities: 50 edible activities for parents and children
by MaryAnn F. Kohl
Little hands paper plate crafts: creative art fun for 3-to 7-year-olds by Laura Check
Soap making: 50 fun & fabulous soaps to melt & pour
by Joe Rhatigan
Until we meet again,
~Remember, Reading is Awesome.
Letters to Obama
Posted on: January 22, 2009
On January 20, 2009 our 44th President of the United States of America, Barack H. Obama, was sworn into office. The week of this great event, so many of you visited KidSpace, at the West Palm Beach Public Library, to write a letter to your President. Here are some of the questions we answered:
As President, what do you think President Obama should do first?
How do you feel about the war?
Do you think you will go to college?
Should President Obama help stop global warming?
A lot of you answered these questions carefully and placed them in our very own Presidential mail box. It is never too late to write your letter to President Obama and learn more about him. If you need help, come see us at KidSpace… don’t forget to check out these great reads.
Barack Obama: son of promise, child of hope
Yes we can: a biography of Barack Obama
.
Winston of Churchill: one bear’s battle against global warming by Okimoto
Until we meet again
~Remember, Reading is Awesome
West Palm Beach Public Library is truly going to the dogs…
Not only are Taylor, Oliver, Minnie & Max visiting and listening to kids to read but 
now kids of all ages can also play, Which Puppy Will They PicK?-an interactive, dog book display featuring an Obama family photo and a basket of puppy pics’!
Pedigree or Mutt?
Our new President Elect, Barack Obama, made a promise of a new puppy for Malia, 10 and Sasha, 7, in his election victory speech, which was heard by millions around the world! “I love you both so much and you have earned the new puppy that’s coming with us to the White House,” he told his daughters. We are confident that this is a promise our new president will be able to keep!
As Inauguration Day draws near, the excitement is mounting at the West Palm Beach Public Library, KidSpace, to what kind of a dog will they pick! Kids at the library are picking their favorite puppy pics’ for the new First Family in an interactive dog book display.
This is a wonderful way to showcase our awesome collection of new dog and puppy books, that are now getting lots of attention! Kids’ poke through a basket of puppy pic’s and place their favorite puppy on the “Spot” in the Obama family photo!
Kids …stop by and pick your puppy for our new First Family!
Your Librarian,
Ms. Jeanne
Teach Kids to VOTE!
Posted on: January 10, 2008
I remember the Dukakis vs. Bush election of ’88… It is so vivid in my mind–I was able to get the entire school bus of fourth and fifth graders to vote for my guy! I learned to persuade, educate and stimulate the minds of my fellow elementary age friends. You see, we voted for the next President at my little ole elementary school located in rural Florida. And that memory has stuck with me! I have never, ever missed a single opportunity to vote these past [insert number here] years.
Get your kids involved in what’s going on today in our elections! Have them read the paper, listen to talk radio and watch news clips. Let them form their own opinion on the “best candidate.” You can also teach them about the importance of government, the role of government and the history of democracy!
Here are some book suggestions to encourage your children to be life-long voters!
Voting in Elections by Terri DeGezelle: A look at U.S. democracy and how voting works.
Election Connection: The Official Nick Guide to Electing the President by Susan Ring: A fun book (created by Nickelodeon) that explains everything and anything surrounding an election!
And, of course, some great internet sites:
Inside the Voting Booth by PBS
Election Process from Ben’s Guide
http://scriptorium.lib.duke.edu/americavotes/ This is neat! This site illustrates the nation’s presidential elections in letters, sheet music, leaflets, buttons, and bumper stickers!
Rock on!!
KidSpace Blog 