Weekend Events Round-Up: March 30-April 1

It's the weekend before Easter. Many of the area's schools have released the kids for spring break. So  NOW you are starting to think about things to do, events and activities for the kids.

While the weekend planner looks a bit on the light side, there is still plenty to do in Ann Arbor with kids. Between the many area Egg Hunts, including the one at Hudson Mills on Sunday, spring story time programs, free movies at the local Quality Theaters or Festifools in downtown Ann Arbor on Sunday there's something for everyone in the family to enjoy.

Saturday, March 31:

• Take the family to check out a free movie! See Yogi Bear during the Free Movie weekend at local Quality Theatres, Saturday and Sunday at 9:00 a.m. or 10:00 a.m.
• Oh what fun are the Fairytales and Troll Houses at the Matthaei Botanical Gardens (1800 N. Dixboro Rd., Ann Arbor). See the many fairies and trolls that visit in early spring! Welcome them by helping us construct fairy dwellings for the Conservatory and the Gaffield Children’s Garden. Also, build a fairy garden and a troll house to coax fairies and trolls into visiting your home.  10:00 a.m. - noon. Cost $5.00. 
• I wrote about it earlier this week, but don't forget that the Critter House is now open on the weekends at the Leslie Science and Nature Center. Why not head over to explore?
• Maybe the timing is right to take your little guy (or gal) to a guided dinosaur tour at the UM Museum of Natural History. The free tours happen on weekends at 2:00 p.m.
• Don't forget that Physicspalooza hits the Ann Arbor Hands on Museum this weekend!
• Teens will love the Amigurumi Club at the Ypsilanti District Library 11:00 a.m. - noon. 
• Craft month continues with several great free events: Kids can make a terra cotta butterfly from 1:00-3:00 p.m. with the purchase of a clay pot at Michael's.

Sunday, April 1:

• Take the family to check out a free movie! See Yogi Bear during the Free Movie weekend at local Quality Theatres, Saturday and Sunday at 9:00 a.m. or 10:00 a.m.
• Don't forget that Physicspalooza hits the Ann Arbor Hands on Museum this weekend
• Maybe the timing is right to take your little guy (or gal) to a guided dinosaur tour at the UM Museum of Natural History. The free tours happen on weekends at 2:00 p.m.
• Feel free to stop by and create something crafty during the Festifools Crafts program at Ann Arbor District Library (343 S. Fifth Ave. Ann Arbor) at 2:00 p.m.
• Join the FestiFoolishness at the FestiFools parade on Ann Arbor's Main Street at 4:00 p.m. The kids will enjoy the giant puppets, music and activities.

If your kids are off next week for spring break, a list of daily activities is available on the Ann Arbor Spring Break Planner too.

Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum’s Physicspalooza

This weekend, March 31-April 1, the Ann Arbor Hands on Museum (220 East Ann St., Ann Arbor) is hosting Physicspalooza. Youth and teens that avisit will learn about motion, gravity, light and magnetic power as well as using electromagnets to pick up paperclips and make rainbows with prisms. You'll even get to make and play with flubber! All the wonderful things to do, while exploring all of the aspects of physics.
The event Saturday, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., and Sunday, noon - 4:00 p.m. will be free with regular admission to the museum ($10 for ages two and up). For more information about the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum’s Physicspalooza,visit: http://www.aahom.org/events/whats_new/.

Report Card Blues From Your Child's Math Grades?

Has your child’s most recent report card sent shivers down your spine? Need to improve several grades before the end of the school year? Does “new math” send you running for the door? Fear not, help is on the way from Mathnasium of Ann Arbor (2111 Packard Rd, Ann Arbor).

Mathnasium, teaches kids math the way that makes sense to them - Which is not always intuitive for parents! Theirs curriculum has helped thousands of students nationwide including my two children.  My kids have actually gained knowledge beyond their classroom expectations by attending some classes at Mathnasium. This tutoring means that I can sit back and relax and not worry as much, because frankly some of the new math they bring home, makes me feel inadequate.

On a recent stop to Mathnasium, Vera the co-owner, showed me some pretty impressive information. Charts where student after student had significantly improved their math grades after attending classes. Some students saw this improvement in as little as three months!

This sample is of a third grade student that had a 27% overall improvement after
three months of math tutoring at Mathnasium of Ann Arbor.

What really works for my children is the positive reinforcement within the program. My children actually look forward to attending. And of course, the ultimate proof of success is in the ability and confidence your child exudes and the increased math score that you will see. Be sure to stop by Mathnasium of Ann Arbor and ask to see some of the student scores and testimonials, you'll be glad you did. Your commitment to your children, to help them catch up, keep up, and get ahead in math will be well worth the visit!

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New "Critter House" Weekend Hours at the Leslie Science & Nature Center

My son enjoying a recent outing to the Leslie Science and Nature Center

I was very excited to read the other day that the "Critter House" at the Leslie Science and Nature Center (1831 Traver Rd., Ann Arbor) has added weekend hours for families to enjoy! From rabbits to rats, iguanas to turtles the “Critter House,” will now be open Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Families can enjoy the animals, ask questions, and take part in different hands on activities every weekend. And the best part is, that the activity is MOSTLY free! The LSNC is only suggesting a $1.00 donation for your visit.
 
Stay the entire day and walk in the woods, walk  the Black Pond Trail, or view the raptors being fed (Saturday's from 4:00-6:00 p.m.). So come on out and see the critters, throw a Frisbee, or enjoy lunch around our picnic tables.

Learn to Read With Circus Vowels: Product Review & Give-Away

A couple of weeks ago, local author and school teacher Jodi L. McMaster, gave me two copies of her new book Circus Vowels: The Long and the Short of It - One to read and the second to give away to one lucky Ann Arbor Mom reader. Read on for information about the book, my book review, where you can purchase the book Circus Vowels and how you can win your own signed copy!

Win a signed copy of the book Circus Vowels: The Long and the Short of It

My children and I really did enjoy reading the Circus Vowels book! As the title suggests, it's a story about the alphabet vowels visiting the circus, what they encounter when they get there and how their behaviour, good or bad, affects their sibling vowels. Basically though, the story illustrates how each vowel has a characteristic sound in certain grammatical situations.

The book has a simple, engaging story, but what I especially liked was that I can help my children remember how vowels might sound, by remembering the story. It has proven as helpful to my kindergarten student that is just beginning to read, as it has to my second grader who still struggles to remember grammar rules.  I also appreciated that the back of the book includes several pages of simple activities to re-enforce what was just read and learned about.

"A, E, I, O and U are very confusing letters, which we call vowels. Sometimes they yell their own names, sometimes they say their very quiet sounds, and sometimes they don't say anything at all!"

The book is probably best for children in pre-school through second grade as they are learning to read. It also makes a wonderful tool to help young developing readers to remember the grammar rules.

So grandma or grandpa, moms and dads, be sure to get your own copy of Circus Vowels:The Long and the Short of It for your home library, or considering buying and donating a copy to your child's favorite teacher or the school library. It would make an excellent book to have in your library "learning toolbox"! You can buy Circus Vowels: The Long and the Short of It on Amazon for 10.

Would you like to win a free copy of Circus Vowels?

Leave a comment below about your favorite vowel sound. (I like the short "i" in Spring!) One lucky winner will be chosen from a random drawing of all entries submitted before April 12, at midnight! An autographed copy of the book will be mailed to the winner the next day.



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