Acorns to Oaks is an inter generational program designed to help your child develop essential skills to prepare for Kindergarten. The Acorns to Oaks program is for children aged three-and-a-half to five years old who are not currently in Kindergarten.
The program first focuses on helping the Gardener (parents/caregivers) model different skills to their children (Acorns). Each module will include a QR code or link to an informational video that will feature Oaks (volunteer elders) from our communities, who will explain and demonstrate the skill, activities and learning outcomes for the module. Each module has additional materials such as suggestions for activities and games as well as practice worksheets that can be photocopied and used over and over.
The Acorns to Oaks program has five modules on the following topics: pencil, scissors and glue, colours, shapes, numbers and letters. With module one, parents will receive a backpack with supplies and a workbook that has a chapter on each of these topics, and has additional chapters on some social skills that help prepare children for kindergarten. They include things like feelings, reading basic words and rhyming, basic science introducing body parts, clothing etc., and comparisons such as larger and smaller.
Each Acorn will receive a ‘growth’ chart so they chart their progress and achievements at home.
Before the next module is introduced the Acorns bring their ‘homework’ project back to the library for a show-and-tell and in-person story-time with one of our Oaks.
During these sessions, there will be opportunities to practice skills by learning to listen, be respectful and waiting-your-turn. These will be modelled by both the library staff in attendance as well as by the Oaks. Games such as ‘Simon Says’ and ‘Mother-May-I’ will be led by the Oaks to encourage growth in social and listening skills. The videos for the modules will feature the Oaks and some tips for how to introduce and practice these social skills with your child.
At this event, the next module package will be given to the parent and children can begin the next cycle of learning and growth. As children start their journey as Acorns they will gradually mature to seedlings all the while progressing in their skills and abilities to accomplish mighty things in their learning and education.
These modules and the accompanying materials have been developed by library staff in consultation with Early Childhood Educators.
Module schedules
The first week parents will work with their children at home using the materials provided. There will also be a show-and-tell project for the child to complete. Please check with your local branch for exact dates and times but below is the schedule for each module:
Week One – Program launch event and first module handed out.
Week Two – In-branch story time and show-and-tell and module two handed out.
Week Three – In-branch story time and show-and-tell and module three handed out.
Week Four – In-branch story time and show-and-tell and module four handed out.
Week Five – Wrap up of program and in-branch story hour and show-and-tell
