RFIS Library Connection
Summer Explorations 2021
"Summertime is always the best of what might be." - Charles Bowden
Summer Celebrations
Welcome Summer and Hooray for Dad!
We All Scream for Ice Cream!
Let the Summer Reading Begin!
- FRSD Summer Reading - Our district web page is loaded with high-quality reading recommendations arranged by grade level and includes suggested books, websites, podcasts, and other fabulous resources. Be sure to make this your first stop!
- #FRSD ReadsTogether Initiative - Find out about two exciting NEW opportunities for coming together as a district community to celebrate reading and learning!
- Sora Sweet Reads - Browse this selection of E-Book titles that feature always available copies through August 20th! Pick a book of interest and organize a summer book chat with your literature-loving friends!
- Flipster - Browse current and back issues from our school's digital magazine collection! For usage tips, a list of current titles, and login information, see this resource guide.
- Hunterdon County Library - Visit the HCL Kids Page for booklists, details about their summer reading club, and information about upcoming programs and services geared just for kids and tweens!
- The Association for Library Service to Children - These annotated lists for Grades 3-5 and Grades 6-8 feature a mix of fiction and non-fiction titles as well as featured digital experiences to spark your interest!
- Soar Into Summer Reading Collection (Grades 3-8) - This recommended list of titles from Reading Is Fundamental is supported with suggested activities on Literacy Central. Be sure to explore related resources including puzzles, read aloud videos, and author interviews!
- Scholastic Summer Reading - Families can visit this page for an overview of opportunities to participate in Scholastic's Home Base summer reading experience.
- Start With a Book: Read. Explore. Learn! - Browse this topic library from Reading Rockets featuring recommended books by age level and related activities designed to jumpstart a summer reading adventure!
Seasonal Fun Facts
- June is Zoo and Aquarium Month! If you and your family are ready to safely venture out, consider planning a day trip! Visit The Association of Zoos and Aquariums to search listings by zip code and learn about on-going conservation efforts. Did you know there are 10 accredited zoos and aquariums within 50 miles of Flemington? There are so many great options to explore! Meet the residents of the Turtleback Zoo, learn about the new lemur and tortoise habitat at The Lehigh Valley Zoo, and explore the animal video library from Adventure Aquarium. Enjoy your animal escapades!
- July is National Recreation Month! Be sure to check out the many free virtual nature programs available throughout the summer from the Hunterdon County Division of Parks and Recreation. You can learn about local aquatic mammals or raptors, join an undersea voyage to find out more about environmental issues, and even take a guided summer nature walk! How many local parks can you visit this summer? Be sure to check out featured guides and trail maps for each park as you plan your outdoor family adventures!
- Happy Independence Day! How will you be celebrating? It's hard to imagine the 4th of July without thinking of fireworks! Did you know that a fireworks display is just the result of a chemical reaction? Find out more fireworks factoids from Smithsonian Magazine. Learn more about this special day in our nation's history and the Declaration of Independence with articles from World Book Student and National Geographic Kids. Enjoy this fun packet from TCM for more fascinating facts and activities in honor of the day! For a lively overview of why we celebrate on the 4th, check out the video below from PBS Kids!
- August 19th is National Aviation Day! What do you see traveling through the sky on a clear summer day? A bird, a plane, a hot air balloon?? Learn about the history and evolution of aircraft from DK FindOut!. Success didn't happen overnight! After 4 years of scientific trial and error, Wilbur and Orville Wright finally achieved the first viable airplane flight in 1903. Find out more about their first flight and what led up to their achievement from The Wright Brothers National Memorial and National Air and Space Museum. Did you know that the largest summertime balloon festival in North America takes place right in Hunterdon County? Learn about the history of ballooning, dating back to the 1700's in France, from The Festival of Ballooning!
- August 24th is National Waffle Day! This popular breakfast treat inspired the creation of a special tool for preparation, the waffle iron, that was first patented on this day in 1869 by Cornelius Swartwout. Learn more tasty historical tidbits and see how waffle iron designs have evolved over time from The National Museum of American History. Would you try potato waffles with steamed asparagus? How about chocolate waffles with ice cream? Yes, please! Explore some mouth-watering recipe ideas from Martha Stewart!
A Taste of Summer
The summertime barbecue is a staple of the warm weather months! What will you be enjoying from the grill this summer? For menu ideas beyond hotdogs and hamburgers, check out these kid-friendly recipes from Epicurious! What better way to beat the summer heat than by enjoying a cold glass of lemonade? Whether you prefer the "clear" or "cloudy" variety, this refreshing beverage is a summertime classic. Learn more lemonade trivia from Kiddle! Looking for a fun and easy lemonade recipe? Watch the video below from Hello Crafty Kids!
This is the perfect time of year to enjoy your favorite foods outside - it's picnic season! Check your weekly weather, pick a just right day, and organize a family picnic! Where will it be and what should you bring? Whether it's in your own backyard, a local park, or at the beach, make sure your outing is a success by following these picnic planning tips from Kidzworld. What will fill your basket? Before planning your menu, check out these creative and kid-friendly picnic food ideas from Taste of Home!
Mysteries of the Deep
A day at the beach enjoying the sun, sea, and sand is a classic summer experience! But what would it be like to explore the mysteries that lie beneath the waves of the world's oceans? Get ready to dive in - no scuba gear required!
With so much yet to be explored, we've only been able to investigate around 5% of earth's oceans, the undersea world is truly an amazing habitat. Do you know which ocean is the largest on earth? Any idea how much of our planet's surface is covered by oceans? Find out the answers and learn other fascinating saltwater facts from Nat Geo Kids. Be sure to check out the featured mini-histories comic Into the Deep! for a fun look at the deepest part of the ocean. Continue your deep sea exploration by watching the video below from Sci Show Kids!
Are you heading down the shore this summer? You might expect to come across sea shells and sand dollars, but what about buried treasure that has washed ashore? It has long been alleged that the infamous pirate Captain Kidd may have buried his treasure in New Jersey waters. Find out some of the most popular rumored places where x might mark the spot and read some colorful local stories from NJ.gov's Hangout New Jersey !
Starry Summer Nights
Expand your cosmic horizons! Learn about NASA's Hubble Space Telescope by exploring online activities, including a "Hubble's-eye-view" skymap, a 360-degree virtual tour of the control center, a "satellite's-eye-view" of Hubble's orbit, and a birthday image finder!
The beauty and mystery of the night sky has inspired many creative works, from paintings to poems. Learn about The Starry Night, Vincent Van Gogh's famous painting tribute to the night sky, from The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Be sure to scroll down to the 3-D model where you can zoom in for a close-up view of texture and brushstroke patterns! Have you ever wondered if aliens exist when you gaze at the stars? Let your imagination soar! Enjoy this funny poem by Ken Nesbitt as he wonders what it might be like to meet one!
Stellar Reads on Sora
Listening to the Stars
Exploring Constellations
Planetas Rocosos
Exploremos Las Estrellas
Mr. Granite Is from Another Planet
It Came From the Sky
Where Is Area 51?
Extension Corner
Resource Spotlight
World Book E-Learning Suite
- Kids - A visually appealing collection of articles, multimedia content, and biographies designed to encourage curiosity and also supports STEM/STEAM initiatives. It features a wide range of educational games, activities, and projects: solve logic puzzles, crack the code, take sorting or trivia challenges, decipher crossword puzzles, and much more!
- Discover - Features a collection of unique videos, including expert answers to frequently asked questions, and a visual dictionary that makes content accessible for all readers. The World Book Explains video library is searchable by keyword or category.
- Student - Geared for independent researchers with thousands of articles and multimedia content on a wide range of topics. Features daily current events, behind the headlines articles, interactive maps, world resources, and much more!
- Timelines - Use this tool to browse more than 600 pre-generated, interactive timelines covering various periods in history or customize one of your own. Check back often for updated featured timelines to explore!
- E-Books - Supports classroom instruction and reading initiatives with more than 2.500 titles available to access unlimited copies in an on-demand format. Content includes both fiction and nonfiction and features World Book exclusives and classic literature.
- Enciclopedia Estudiantil Hallazgos - This dedicated Spanish-language database contains videos, compare and contrast features, selected articles, and a visual dictionary to support ELL and Spanish-language learners. Be sure to explore the featured links to major Spanish language newspapers!
Login below and explore!
Are you up for a fact-finding challenge? Practice online searching skills in a fun way by completing one or more of the webquests below! Can you find answers to all the questions in World Book Student? Plan your strategy and see what articles you can find! Complete the questions and then be sure to check the answer key. Good Luck!
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