During the 2020 coronavirus school shutdowns, many families chose to offer homeschool for their children out of necessity, or safety. As this trend continues today, there are more remote-learning materials and resources than ever! Recently, the Aurora Public Library District created a monthly program as an opportunity for homeschool families to connect with others and avoid feelings of isolation. Homeschool Huddle is an hour-long program of enriching hands-on activities for children in grades on through eight, including learning, crafts, and games!
Homeschool Huddle launched earlier this month with great success. For each meeting, Library staff members choose a timely theme as a focus. Participants of this first program learned about the Great Chicago Fire, which occurred in October 1871 (October is National Fire Prevention Month). Students learned the history of the Great Fire and how it affected Chicago’s city planning, architecture, and fire prevention. They studied fire science with an emphasis on the importance of fire safety. For a craft, the students made their own Chicago flag with its four iconic red stars. Did you know that when the flag was adopted in 1917, it only had two stars? One symbolized the Great Chicago Fire and the other commemorated the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893.
Library assistant, Stefanie Caterer, was thrilled with the fantastic response to the October program. “The homeschool families that attended were so excited that the Library was offering something fun and educational, specifically for them. The adults were thankful for the opportunity to make connections with others and the students stayed engaged throughout the program. You could tell they enjoyed learning in the larger group setting.
“We had 31 attend and we know those numbers will only increase!” The theme for next month’s meeting will be hot air ballooning to commemorate the first free flight to carry humans in Paris, in 1783. Did you know that Benjamin Franklin was in France at the time and witnessed the first flight take off? Expect a lot of fun with flight, aerodynamics, and balloons at that program!
With each Homeschool Huddle, participants will learn a little piece of history and engage in reinforcement activities, including games and crafts. The Library is happy to help meet the diverse needs of the homeschooling community by creating a space for alternative schooling that is welcoming and inclusive. We invite all homeschool families with elementary age students to join the Homeschool Huddle! The next meeting will be Tuesday, Nov. 8 at the Santori Library, 101 S. River Street, Aurora, and no registration is required to attend. Come fly away with us!
Andrea Tiberi is the communications coordinator for the Aurora Public Library District.