During the week of March 2, 2016, Cambridge Public Schools (CPS) celebrated Dr. Seuss's birthday and Read Across America Day. To get kids excited about reading, Read Across America was initiated 19 years ago. Today, our students and staff dress like their favorite Dr. Seuss characters and participate in educational and fun-filled reading activities. Check out a few examples of how CPS celebrated this year.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. School
Read Across America kicked off with an all-school assembly on March 3 at the King in our brand new auditorium. Students were treated to several videos about the importance of reading and were completely excited by our month-long reading challenge. During the month of March, our goal is to read our way to the moon, with each mile representing 1 page - a total of 238,900 pages. If we all reach our goal of 238,900 pages, Principal Yung will paint his face a shade of Grinchy-green. Plus, the classroom that reads the most number of pages will get a movie and pizza party.
Haggerty School
Read Across America’s arrival in early March is a harbinger of Spring at the Haggerty School. Students and staff can be overheard discussing which book character they will become and door decorations honoring favorite books, begin popping up around the building. Dr. Seuss books are read and reread. Guest readers are lined up for the big day. The Cat in the Hat receives his yearly invitation. A fun filled day of celebrating reading awaits us.
Graham & Parks
Graham & Parks celebrated Read Across America on Friday, March 4th with a schoolwide pajama party and cozy reading time in the library. Reading Buddy classrooms came and read together, and some classes came a second time for independent reading. Everyone snuggled in nests of handmade quilts all around the library.
King Open
King Open kindergarteners were treated to a surprise when Principal "Cat in the Hat" Williams visited their class and read to them in full costume! First graders enjoyed visiting the library for videos and books by the good Dr. Seuss.
Kennedy-Longfellow
Kennedy-Longfellow celebrated Read Across America day for an entire week, starting with a visit from the Cat in the Hat in every classroom and read Dr. Seuss books. In the library kids learned about the life of Theodore Seuss Geisel, and the Geisel book award that is given every year to a children's book.
Kindergartners made Oobleck with Harvard Science Experimenters (Undergraduates from Harvard University), they made Cat in the Hat hats, Fifth Grade buddies made Truffula Trees with their kindergarten buddies and shared Dr. Seuss stories.
Morse School
The Morse School celebrated Read Across America day on Wednesday, March 2nd in a variety of ways. Some classes signed up to have the school librarian (Miss. Pennell) visit their classroom and read some beloved Dr. Seuss stories including The Cat in the Hat, And To Think That I Saw It On Mulberry Street, Horton Hatches An Egg, and Bartholomew and the Oobleck. Kindergarten students participated in Dr. Seuss themed centers that included a Cat in the Hat listening station and Cat in the Hat word family work. Third grade students read Bartholomew and the Oobleck while playing with actual oobleck! It was a wonderful day spent celebrating the joy of reading!