Weekly Suggested Events for November 21-27, 2020
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SUGGESTED LEARNING IDEAS,
RESOURCES, & EVENTS
NOVEMBER 21-27, 2020

Featured Events, Resources, & Opportunities

Concluding its free virtual offerings this fall, the UMass Fine Arts Center presents the world premiere of Sandglass Theater’s film version of “Rock the Boat” Sunday, November 22 at 3pm (ET), followed by a live Q&A with the company. Based in Putney, VT, Sandglass was to begin live performances of “Rock the Boat” in March, so this is the first time the show will be seen in any format. “Rock the Boat” is a puppet show for young audiences (recommended ages 4+) that explores themes of refugees, inclusion, and respectful curiosity through the story of a poet alone at sea who suddenly finds his home filling with new characters seeking shelter and safety. Get tickets at fineartscenter.com and access the broadcast through November 28.

The New England Air Museum (NEAM) will host a Toys for Tots Toy Drive on Friday, November 27, 10:30am-2:30pm. Bring a new unwrapped toy for a youth in need, and receive free admission to the NEAM for children up to age 14. The museum will be collecting toys from Nov 27-Dec 12 to bring holiday cheer to those less fortunate by way of a new toy. NEAM is open daily from 10am-3pm & is the largest aviation museum in New England. It comprises three large public hangars, outdoor exhibits, and more than 100 aircraft ranging from early airships & flying machines to supersonic jets & helicopters. For more info & directions, visit www.neam.org or call 860-623-3305. NEAM is located within Windsor Locks, CT, adjacent to Bradley International Airport.

Featured Local Toy Store
A2Z Science & Learning Toy Store has unique gifts for everyone on your holiday shopping list! Find fun jigsaw puzzles for adults, science kits for kids, games for the whole family, baby & toddler toys, and just fun & cool stuff you won’t find anywhere else! Shop in-store or online with their full inventory range. (Over 8,000 products!) They offer curbside pickup, local delivery, and shipping anywhere in the USA! Find them at 57 King Street in Northampton, MA, or online at A2ZScience.com!

Featured Preschool
Giving Tree School. Gill, MA. Celebrate the whole child! The Giving Tree preschool program is thoughtfully designed to support young children’s social-emotional growth, problem-solving, and conflict resolution skills. Students enjoy ample outdoor exploration and playtime each day in our rambling and rugged Outdoor Classroom. Only 15 minutes from downtown Greenfield, set among the woods and pastures of Gill. Giving Tree is committed to fostering active, hands-on early learning experiences that are playful and purposeful, laying the foundation for a lifelong love of learning. Licensed by EEC and accredited by NAEYC & HighScope. Sliding scale tuition, accepting children ages 2.9-5. For more information: givingtreeschool.org, admin@givingtreeschool.org, or call 413-863-9218.

Featured Virtual Music Lessons
This holiday season, surprise the music lover on your list with virtual music lessons. For a limited time, Community Music School of Springfield gift packages feature buy-4-lessons get-1-free pricing! Choose a Trial Lesson Package for someone who wants to get a feel for high-quality music lessons using CMSS’s state-of-the-art virtual platform. Or new this year, if your loved one is ready to commit to ongoing lessons, you can LOCK IN discounted pricing for the rest of the school year (this translates to 4 free lessons, and payment plans are available). Perhaps you have a little one at home this year – Enroll in any Prelude Preschool of the Arts remote programming in Nov or Dec and get a host of add-ons for free! Visit CMSS online to learn more.

See Your Featured Ad Here
Partner with Hilltown Families in your online advertising! Delivering your message each week to over 25,000 subscribers, web visitors, and social media followers, Hilltown Families can bring your message to thousands of readers in Western MA who are committed to their community and willing to support one another in times of need. In-person and virtual event organizers, local and online businesses, virtual and local service providers, non-profit organizations, and individuals are encouraged to reach out to find out about our affordable advertising options and marketing packages. To find out how we can partner together in your online marketing and outreach, contact Sienna at swildfield@hilltownfamilies.org.
Suggested Learning Ideas, Resources, & Events
November 21-27, 2020
- Saturday, November 21
- Sunday, November 22
- Monday, November 23
- Tuesday, November 24
- Wednesday, November 25
- Thursday, November 26
- Friday, November 27

Class Directory
Discover virtual & adapted programming in our 2020/2021 Class Directory for Western MA.

Preschool Directory
Find what you’re looking for in our 2020/2021 Preschool & Daycare Directory for Western MA
List of Weekly Suggested Events
ART STUDIES: 9am. HENRI MATISSE ONLINE: Painting with Scissors
LITERACY/STORYWALK: 9am. November StoryWalk on the Trail
ORNITHOLOGY/WILD EDIBLES: 10am. Terrific Turkeys and Fall Harvest
ARTS & CRAFTS: 10am. Fairy House Take-and-Make Craft Bags
NATURE-BASED LEARNING/PreK: 10am. First Child in the Woods Infant/Toddler Walk
INDIGENOUS HISTORY. 10am-1:30pm. Indigenous History Conference at Bridgewater State University (Virtual)
LOCAL FOOD/FARMERS’ MARKET. 10am-2pm. Berkshire Grown Great Barrington Winter Farmers Market
LANGUAGE ARTS/POETRY: 1pm. Kim Rosen: The Virtual Poetry Dive, with Music, Movement, Writing and Sharing
MUSIC STUDIES/TEENS. 4-5pm. The World of Music with Andy Goulet for Teens
PLACEMAKING/HOLIDAYS. 5pm. NightWood, A Sound & Light Experience at The Mount
CHRISTMAS/SANTA: 5pm. Meet Santa – A Virtual Santa Experience
DANCE STUDIES/CUBAN BALLET: 7pm. “Horizontes” directed by Eileen Hofer
FILM STUDIES/NATIVE FILMMAKERS. Native Cinema Showcase with Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian – Online Event
NATIVE AMERICAN STUDIES/FOOD SOVEREIGNTY: Film screening: “Gather”
STORYTIME: 24 Hour Pajama Read-A-Thon
CREATIVE FREE-PLAY: Gnome Night at the Library!
FILM STUDIES/IMMIGRATION: The Donut King: Images Online
NATURE-BASED OBSERVATIONS/SENSE OF PLACE. Mass Audubon November Outdoor Almanac
BOTANY/MUMS. Virtual Chrysanthemum Show at Lyman Conservatory, Smith College
ART STUDIES/CHILDREN’S ILLUSTRATIONS. 31st Annual Children’s Illustration Celebration
LOCAL FOOD/FARMERS’ MARKET. 10am-2pm. Berkshire Grown Williamstown Holiday Farmers Market
DANCE STUDIES/CUBAN BALLET: 12:45pm. “Horizontes” directed by Eileen Hofer
WORLD LANGUAGES/POLISH. 3pm. Polish Bilingual Storytime (Virtual)
PUPPET THEATER/REFUGEES. 3pm. Sandglass Theater: Rock the Boat Premiere
ZOOLOGY: 3:30pm Beavers
NATIVE AMERICAN STUDIES: 4pm. Our Neighbor, L3 Harris: Threatening Indigenous Self Determination Across the Globe
MUSIC STUDIES/SYMPHONY: 4pm. Hidden Figures: Baroque
PLACEMAKING/HOLIDAYS. 5pm. NightWood, A Sound & Light Experience at The Mount
FILM STUDIES/NATIVE FILMMAKERS. Native Cinema Showcase with Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian – Online Event
NATIVE AMERICAN STUDIES/FOOD SOVEREIGNTY: Film screening: “Gather”
FILM STUDIES/IMMIGRATION: The Donut King: Images Online
NATURE-BASED OBSERVATIONS/SENSE OF PLACE. Mass Audubon November Outdoor Almanac
BOTANY/MUMS. Virtual Chrysanthemum Show at Lyman Conservatory, Smith College.
ART STUDIES/CHILDREN’S ILLUSTRATIONS. 31st Annual Children’s Illustration Celebration
MUSIC STUDIES/PreK: 10:30am. Sing With Your Little Ones with Wendy & Anna Plummer
FIBER ART/KNITTING. 12:30pm. Knitting with Northampton Wools (Facebook Live)
SIGN LANGUAGE. 2-2:45pm. American Sign Language: ASL Basics for Beginners (4wks on Zoom)
ZOOLOGY: 3:30pm. Virtual Zoo on the Go with The Zoo in Forest Park
NATURE-BASED LEARNING: 3:30-5pm. Afterschool Outside: Grades 3 – 5
MUSIC STUDIES/GUITAR. 4-5pm. Drop-In Guitar Workshop for Beginners-Teens
MUSIC STUDIES/DRUMMING. 5:30pm. West African & Caribbean Drum and Song Class
MUSIC STUDIES/SYMPHONY. 7:30pm. From the Heart of the SSO: A Musicians’ Panel
FILM STUDIES/NATIVE FILMMAKERS. Native Cinema Showcase with Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian – Online Event
NATIVE AMERICAN STUDIES/FOOD SOVEREIGNTY: Film screening: “Gather”
FILM STUDIES/IMMIGRATION: The Donut King: Images Online
NATURE-BASED OBSERVATIONS/SENSE OF PLACE. Mass Audubon November Outdoor Almanac
ART STUDIES/CHILDREN’S ILLUSTRATIONS. 31st Annual Children’s Illustration Celebration
Self-Directed Learning:
SHEEP TO SHAWL
KNITTING.
12:30pm. Knitting with Northampton Wools (Facebook Live)
ORNITHOLOGY/ECUADOR: 9am. Neotropic Birding Adventures: Northern Ecuador – Online
LITERACY/STORYWALK: 10am. Thanksgiving Storywalk
SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT: 10-11am. Brain Builders at the Mason Library
LANGUAGE & CULTURE/SPANISH. 11-11:55pm. VIRTUAL: Spanish Language & Culture for Kids at the Mason Library
LANGUAGE & CULTURE/SPANISH. 12:15-1:10pm. VIRTUAL: Intermediate Spanish Language & Culture for Kids at the Mason Library
LITERACY/STORYTIME: 4-4:30pm. Storytime for School-Aged Kids: “Whose Shoes?” at the Hubbard Library
ART STUDIES/PASTELS: 6pm. Pastel Class Miracle Flowers
FILM STUDIES/NATIVE FILMMAKERS. Native Cinema Showcase with Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian – Online Event
NATIVE AMERICAN STUDIES/FOOD SOVEREIGNTY: Film screening: “Gather”
FILM STUDIES/IMMIGRATION: The Donut King: Images Online
NATURE-BASED OBSERVATIONS/SENSE OF PLACE. Mass Audubon November Outdoor Almanac
ART STUDIES/CHILDREN’S ILLUSTRATIONS. 31st Annual Children’s Illustration Celebration
Self-Directed Learning:
BILINGUALISM
LANGUAGE & CULTURE
11-11:55pm. VIRTUAL: Spanish Language & Culture for Kids at the Mason Library
LITERACY/STORYTIME. 10-10:30am. Story Time Online with Meghan
FIBER ARTS/KNITTING: 12-1pm. Knot Just Knitters: Live at Lunchtime!
LITERACY/STORY HOUR: 4-4:45pm. Cushman Library Zoom Story Hour
LITERACY/STORY HOUR: 4pm. I is for Insect Story Hour via Zoom
HOLIDAYS/PLACEMAKING: 4:45-8:45pm. Bright Nights at Forest Park 2020
FILM STUDIES/NATIVE AMERICAN: Native Cinema Showcase
FILM STUDIES/NATIVE FILMMAKERS. Native Cinema Showcase with Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian – Online Event
NATIVE AMERICAN STUDIES/FOOD SOVEREIGNTY: Film screening: “Gather”
FILM STUDIES/IMMIGRATION: The Donut King: Images Online
NATURE-BASED OBSERVATIONS/SENSE OF PLACE. Mass Audubon November Outdoor Almanac
ART STUDIES/CHILDREN’S ILLUSTRATIONS. 31st Annual Children’s Illustration Celebration
Self-Directed Learning:
HOLIDAY CUSTOMS
HOLIDAYS/PLACEMAKING
4:45-8:45pm.Bright Nights at Forest Park 2020
NATURE-BASED/HIKING. Dawn-Dusk. Trails at Mass Audubon
HIKING/FOOD SECURITY. Amherst Survival Center’s monthly long Hike for Hunger Challenge
FILM STUDIES/NATIVE FILMMAKERS. Native Cinema Showcase with Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian – Online Event
NATIVE AMERICAN STUDIES/FOOD SOVEREIGNTY: Film screening: “Gather”
THEATER STUDIES/PLAY: WAM Theatre presents THE THANKSGIVING PLAY
THEATER STUDIES/PLAY: November Reading Series: Smart People
FILM STUDIES/IMMIGRATION: The Donut King: Images Online
ART STUDIES/RESOURCE. Norman Rockwell Museum Curriculum Lab
WORLD STUDIES/EAST ASIA: Lesson Plans on East Asia
NEW ENGLAND HISTORY/RESOURCE. 3D Tours: Virtual Village from Old Sturbridge Village
STORYTELLING/RESOURCE. National Storytelling Network
MUSIC STUDIES/JAZZ. Jazz Library at the Jones Library.
ART & CULTURE/ONLINE LEARNING. Virtual Art & Culture Learning Opportunities with The Trustees.
NATIVE AMERICAN/HISTORY: Teaching Native American Histories
NATURE-BASED OBSERVATIONS/SENSE OF PLACE. Mass Audubon November Outdoor Almanac
ART STUDIES/CHILDREN’S ILLUSTRATIONS. 31st Annual Children’s Illustration Celebration
Self-Directed Learning:
CHILDREN’S LITERATURE
CHILDREN’S ILLUSTRATIONS.
31st Annual Children’s Illustration Celebration
ARTS & CRAFTS: 9:30am. Take and Make: Pine Cone Owl Kit
HISTORY/WOODWORKING: 9:30am-4:30pm. Branches of Woodworking: Labor, Learning & Livelihood, 1760-1860
ARTISAN TRADES/POTTERY: 10am. Historic Trade Demonstration: Redware Pottery
ARTISAN SKILLS/BROOMS: 10am-4pm. Interpreted Broom Making
LITERACY/MINDFULNESS: 10am. Reading in Motion Gratitude Walk
HOLIDAYS/PLACEMAKING: 4:30-8:30pm. Winterlights at Naumkeag
PLACEMAKING/HOLIDAYS. 5pm. NightWood, A Sound & Light Experience at The Mount
HOLIDAYS/PLACEMAKING: 5-9pm. Winterfest & the Tunnel of Lights
FILM STUDIES/NATIVE FILMMAKERS. Native Cinema Showcase with Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian – Online Event
HIKING: Mass Audubon Hike-a-thon
HIKING/FOOD SECURITY. Amherst Survival Center’s monthly long Hike for Hunger Challenge
FILM STUDIES/IMMIGRATION: The Donut King: Images Online
NATURE-BASED OBSERVATIONS/SENSE OF PLACE. Mass Audubon November Outdoor Almanac
ART STUDIES/CHILDREN’S ILLUSTRATIONS. 31st Annual Children’s Illustration Celebration
Online and in-person events and resources shared above are done so as a courtesy and not as an endorsement. While we do our best to share accurate and up-to-date information, please take the time to confirm information, age appropriateness, registration requirements, safety protocols, and associated costs.
Hilltown Families’ list of Suggested Events is supported in part by grants from the Amherst, Bernardston, Buckland, Chester, Gill, Goshen, Hadley, Heath, Hinsdale-Peru, Holyoke, Montgomery, Mt. Washington, New Salem, Northern Berkshire, Pelham, Plainfield, Rowe, Shelburne, Shutesbury, South Hadley, Springfield, Washington, Westhampton, and Windsor Cultural Councils, local agencies which are supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.