March 2 is the birth of Springfield's famous literary son.
The following is a list of area events being held in conjunction with March 2nd's National Read Across America Day, that celebrates the birthday of Springfield native Dr. Seuss. This list of related events for the month of March has been compiled by Sally Fuller, project director of Reading Success by 4th Grade of the Springfiel -based Irene E. & George A. Davis Foundation
SPRINGFIELD CITY LIBRARY:
Central Library: Seuss Scavenger Hunt: Through March 2, during all open hours. (All branch libraries also have hunt.)
Forest Park Branch: Seuss Guessing Game: Mar 1 through 15, during all open hours.
SPRINGFIELD MUSEUMS
Dr. Seuss Birthday celebration – March 1, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (most activities are free with museum admission
Dr. Seuss Cake Contest – 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. View whimsical cakes inspired by Dr. Seuss, vote for your favorite and enter the raffle to win a cake. Contest and raffle winners announced at 3 p.m. (must be present to win).
Performances by The Deedle Deedle Dees at noon and 2 p.m. Called “America’s ultimate teaching band,” this Brooklyn-based band has been entertaining family audiences with songs inspired by history and science for a decade. (Searing is limited.)
March 1 celebration includes appearances by the Cat in the Hat, hands-on art activities (11 a.m. to 3 p.m.), Family Science Adventures (11 a.m. to 2 p.m.), Art Discover Center (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.), and planetarium shows (additional fee).
SPRINGFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Daniel B. Brunton Elementary:
Family Literacy Night and Read Across America Day
When: March 3
Snow Date: March 10
Time: 6 to 7 p.m.
6 to 6:15: Welcome, Read Aloud video, raffle tickets
6:15 to 6:45: Storytelling & Craft
6:45 – 7: Book Raffle
Read Across America Week ideas:
(with credit to Washington School for creation of these activities)
March 3 "Fox in Socks"
Wear your silliest, craziest, tallest, shortest, most outrageous socks.
March 4 "The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins"
Have a silly hat, baseball hat, hat from your favorite vacation? Today is the day to show it off!
March 5 "The Foot Book"
Have you ever accidentally worn two different shoes and didn’t even notice? Find two shoes that look nothing alike and look silly in your mix match choice.
March 6 "The Lorax"
The Lorax’s lesson is to protect the planet. Today we encourage you to bring in an empty and rinsed soda can or bottle that will be recycled. The money will be used towards Strive for 5 events. Students will receive one Brunton Buck for each can/bottle they bring in.
March 7 "Oh, The Places You’ll Go"
Today you get to wear the outfit of your future! What do you want to be when you grow up? Dress the part. Can’t Decide? Dress so you look like your favorite Dr. Seuss character.
Margaret C. Ells School:
Ells celebratses the birthday of Springfield’s own Theodor Geisel, otherwise known as Dr. Seuss, in a big way.
On March 3, the will hold its annual Seuss-a-bration Parade as part of its Read Across America celebration. Classes will parade down the hallway of the school dressed in Seuss-inspired hats and costumes accompanied by percussion instruments, and led by a Sneetch! Students will then retire to their classrooms to hear a classic Seuss story. The fun begins at 9:45 a.m.
William N. Deberry School:
Deberry School is planning on celebrating the day with a Dr. Seuss Read Aloud in all classrooms. Each grade will read a different Dr. Seuss book and the book will remain part of the teacher’s library. We will then celebrate Theodor Geisel’s birthday by singing “Happy Birthday” school-wide. All students will receive a decorated cupcake.
Frederick Harris School:
School-wide activity is differentiated by grade level that students should complete at home with a parent to promote parent involvement and acknowledge this significant day. Every child at Harris school will be reading or listening to the poem, "Sick by Shel" Silverstein. Each grade has its own developmentally appropriate response activity to complete. Students will complete the activity and turn it in to the teacher and the grade with the largest participation will get an ice cream treat in their classroom.
Rebecca Johnson School:
All students will participate in a “D.E.A.R. (Drop Everything And Read) Dr. Seuss” activity. At a specific time during the morning of March 3, every teacher will read a Dr. Seuss book to his/her class. Then each class will discuss the main idea and details (RL.2) using a graphic organizer.
Liberty Elementary School:
Liberty School is planning a “Stop & Seuss Day” where the whole school will stop and read various Dr. Seuss books at 11:15 a.m.. Students will be invited to bring a pair of slippers to school and wear them during the day as part of celebrating Dr. Seuss and the enjoyment of reading.
Arthur T. Talmadge School:
On Monday, March 3, classroom teachers will get a book by Dr. Seuss that they do not already have in their classroom. They will read the book to the class and we will be getting hat-shaped cookies for all children and staff in the building.
Washington Elementary School:
Scholastic Book Fair the week of March 3
Family Literacy Night March 4th
The White Street School:
On March 3, all classes will be reading "Oh the Places You'll Go" by Dr. Seuss, and follow-up with a writing assignment about where students see themselves "going" after college.
Zanetti Montessori School :
ON March 3 at 10 a.m., the school will be having a school-wide read aloud program with volunteer readers from the business community as well as parents coming to read a selected Dr. Seuss book to every classroom. Students will receive a Dr. Seuss bookmark and the readers will receive a certificate of appreciation for reading to students. Students may also wear something in the colors of red, white and blue in celebration of Dr. Seuss’s birthday.
OTHER EARLY LITERACY PARTNERS
American International College/Link to Libraries:
Students from the college will read to students at Rebecca Johnson School on March 3. In a partnership with Link to Libraries, these books will be given to the students at the end of the year for summer reading.
New Beginnings Early Childhood Center (Springfield Partners for Community Action)
New Beginnings will celebrate all week with the events listed below:
Dr. Seuss Spirit Week
Monday: Comfy Cozy Day — Wear your pajamas so you can curl up with a good book.
Tuesday: Silly Sock Day — Wear funny socks, different colors, etc.
Wacky Wednesday—Dr. Seuss is nothing if not wild, show us your crazy creations. (think crazy hats/hair)
Thursday: Zebra Day in honor of “On Beyond Zebra” wear black and white or zebra print.
Friday: Red and White Day in honor of Dr. Seuss wear Red and White to match the Seuss hats we will be making.
Seussical Parade scheduled March 7 where the children will show off their Dr. Seuss hats with a parade through the building.
Reach Out and Read:
In honor of Dr. Seuss’ birthday and Read Across America Day on March 2, pediatric practices that participate in the Reach Out and Read program will receive an extra shipment of books – Seuss books! – to supplement their current supply. Doctors and office staff have been asked to send a picture of you (or one of your providers) sharing a Dr. Seuss book with a patient to sfuller@davisfdn.org.
Activities scheduled with participants through the YMCA of Greater Springfield programs:
Visit to Dr. Seuss National Memorial at the Springfield Museum
Green Eggs Sandwich Collage
Making Up Nonsense Words
Reading: 'ABC Dr. Seuss"
(children then will find hidden letters in sand table)
Reading: "Green Eggs and Ham"
(make green goop, have children pretend it is green eggs)
Reading: "The Foot Book"
(children will trace their feet and then try to cut out by themselves)
*Reading: Wacky Wednesday
(children will draw wacky pictures)
Teacher is going to read a Dr. Seuss book each day in March.
On March 31st, children will vote for their favorite book.
Children will make birthday hats and have cupcakes to celebrate Dr. Seuss birthday