Outdoor Early Literacy Area - Permanent Artwork
An outdoor area for literacy activities that focus on authentic conversations, interactions between children and other literacy skills. Included will be climbing, sharing, sorting, counting, pulling, pushing, etc., on relevant pieces of equipment such as tractor, garden, farmer's market, boat, canoe and tree. Library staff worked with the Minnesota Children's Museum to develop the elements based on their traveling and permanent exhibits. There will be materials to check out for use in the area: fruit and vegetables for sorting and role playing, fishing poles and fish with letters and numbers on them for learning and other items to be used by families in the outdoor area. The literacy area has an agricultural theme, and includes other key local cultural items including a tepee and a canoe.
865 participated
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We have seen children and adults enjoying play, developing literacy skills and increasing physical activity. Children are developing a love of reading through the use of clipboards to make lists, take orders, and make signs. Print awareness and letter knowledge are increasing as they use the tracing and alphabet panels as well as the stones with letters and numbers on them. Vocabulary and language is increasing and they are practicing positive social skills with peers and adults and families are spending more time at the library. An open house was held on June 1 upon the completion of the early literacy area. There have been more than 865 users of the literacy area since it was opened.
The total cost of the project was just over $100,000 and we used $10,000 in ACHF dollars to help fund the project. The city provided assistance with concrete and fencing work. Numerous other grants were secured to fund the entire project. Many individuals also donated various amounts of money toward the project. They will be acknowledged in a permanent display on a nearby structure.
Some partners included Home Depot, Shopko, Walmart, Lions, Rotary, Farmer's Union. Grants from Monsanto and Otto Bremer were applied.