What Happened in January?
January was all about literacy. The events concentrated on holistic development and increasing sensitivity to writing and signs in daily life. Specifically, this meant:
Children were shown that reading and writing are significant activities through which communication is possible. Special attention was given to tables, boards, digital displays, symbols, and signs.
On one day, the children independently found their way to the library by using subway maps, signs, stops, and stations on their own. Although it took nearly an hour, it worked wonderfully! In numerous reading sessions, special emphasis was placed on words: clear reading was highlighted, and if necessary, words were repeated and their meanings discussed.
Visiting Libraries
On January 7, KidsKultur visited the Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin, where topics such as library structure, rules, membership, and research opportunities were covered.
On January 14, they explored the Walther König bookstore on Museum Island, where they browsed, discovered new books, presented them, and possibly even held a reading session.
On January 21, they participated in a large reading session at the Children and Youth Library of the Amerika-Gedenkbibliothek, where children from other groups were also present.
Finally, on January 28, they visited the Bode Museum, where they created their own works and possibly displayed them on the walls. It was speculated whether these were posters or pictures.
Literacy: Anything but Boring
In this context, KidsKultur engaged with a wide range of topics, including media literacy, orientation and signage, written communication, activities to promote storytelling and writing culture, networking with local institutions, reading sessions, the use of paper as a medium, creating their own books and sketchbooks, as well as pictures, photography, illustration, animation, and approaches from street art/graffiti.
Communication with people around us is very important for CultureKids and is actively encouraged.
Introducing oneself, asking questions, explaining things, inviting other “foreign” children to join in, and sharing one’s own ideas and thoughts are the “basics”!
Walking, moving, drawing, storytelling, smelling, and eating also contribute to literacy development. Talking, listening, letting others talk, laughing, arguing, taking breaks, and silence are also part of writing, language, and literacy!
