SCLSNJ’s North Plainfield Memorial Library branch is one of 10 libraries across the state to be awarded the Math and Science Storytime (MAAST) program grant, managed by the New Jersey State Library and National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER).
“North Plainfield is a wonderfully diverse community and SCLSNJ’s North Plainfield Memorial Library branch is a hub for supplemental education, bilingual literacy, and STEM,” said Amy Behr, youth services department supervisor and MASST grant lead. “Through this grant, we will encourage our youngest patrons and their families to develop a lifelong love for math and science related concepts, while simultaneously strengthening their dual language skills.”
The MASST program is a Spanish-English bilingual storytime series comprised of stories, songs, and activities designed to introduce important science and math concepts to a broader audience, especially for children and families who speak Spanish.
This program series is suggested for children ages 3-5. Each program will be hosted at SCLSNJ’s North Plainfield Memorial Library branch located at 6 Rockview Avenue in North Plainfield.
Registration is requested. Learn more at SCLSNJ.org or visit the Library.
Session 1: How Many Hats? (Math: Counting) September 12 session
Session 2: Do You Know How Plants Grow? (Science: Planting and Growing) September 19 session
Session 3: Where Is A Square? (Math: Geometry) September 26 session
Session 4: Do Bears Wear Coats? (Science: Seasonal Change and Animal Adaptations) October 3 session
Session 5: What’s Next: Red Fish, Blue Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish …? (Math: Patterns) October 10 session
Session 6: Do You See What I See? (Science: Senses) October 17 session
Session 7: Are You Taller Than A Tiger? (Math: Measurement) October 24 session
Session 8: Why Do Our Fingers Bend? (Science: Form and Function) October 27 session
About the MASST Program
The MASST program was created for children and their families to explore math concepts, such as patterns and counting, and science ideas, such as planting and senses. Each MASST session is about 1 hour long. At the end of each session, children apply what they learned during the session to create an art project or do a hands-on exploratory project. MASST has been expanded to include supports for preschool teachers and their students to attend sessions at the libraries. In 2012, the MASST program was created as a collaboration between Alissa Lange at the National Institute for Early Education Research and the New Brunswick Free Public Library (NBFPL). MASST has been implemented each summer at NBFPL since then. The content was based on effective, research-based practices from educational projects in preschool classrooms. Each session is linked to the New Jersey Department of Education Preschool Teaching and Learning Standards, and includes relevant literature and activities to promote exploration of important STEM concepts and language. The purpose of this work is to bring high-quality STEM activities to a broader audience outside of schools into the community, especially for children and families who speak Spanish. Learn more at masstprogram.org.
(above) MASST grant lead Amy Behr of SCLSNJ’s North Plainfield Memorial Library branch.
