Family Literacy Day is observed in Canada every year on January 27 as a way to raise awareness of the importance of reading and taking part in other literacy-related activities as a family.
Storysacks are resources that encourage parents and children to read together. A storysack usually contains a picture book, props or costumes for acting out the story, an audio recording of the story, a non-fiction book, and an idea card with suggested activities. Storysacks may also be based on oral stories and legends.
This video shows a quick method for making a small book out of paper, yarn or string, and a drinking straw.
Once the book is made, an adult can fill the pages with words and drawings on a specific theme, like shapes, colours or numbers. The blank book could also be given to a child so he can write his own story.
This brief video explains why making your own reading material can help small children become enthusiastic about books. It introduces a series of videos that focus on making different kinds of books, including accordion books, foam books, and folding books.
The video shows a mother reading the book she has made for her one-year-old daughter. Each page features a photograph of a member of the family, accompanied by some simple text.
A storysack consists of a book with props, games and ideas for activities to engage children in reading. This video shows a little boy discovering Eric Carle’s “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” through a storysack.
The adult reading the book aloud uses toy food items from the sack to keep the toddler’s attention. As well, she pauses frequently to let the boy respond to the story.
The goal of Family Literacy Day, celebrated annually on January 27, is to raise awareness of the importance of reading and taking part in other literacy-related activities as a family.
This is another in a series of how-to kits developed by the NWT Literacy Council. It includes tips for organizing a family literacy activities night, from choosing a date to advertising the event.
This guide explains how storysacks can be used to get children excited about reading. A storysack includes books, an audiotape of the story, props and suggestions for activities based on the books.
The guide explains how to use a storysack in a variety of settings; offers guidelines for choosing appropriate books; suggests possible activities to go with the books; and provides ideas for props.
