Featured Events, Resources, & Opportunities

Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity Hosts 2021 Gingerbread Build at Home! Register a team by 12noon on Wednesday, December 1, and pick up your gingerbread kit on Saturday, December 4. Contestants will have six days to construct their dream confectionery dwellings and submit three photos to gingerbread@pvhabitat.org by Thursday, December 9 at midnight. Log in Saturday, December 11 at 3pm for a live virtual award ceremony. A minimum donation of $100 is required per team; additional fundraising is encouraged! For more information and to register, go to www.pvhabitat.org/events/gingerbread-build. Questions? Contact Amy Landry at amy@pvhabitat.org. Thank you for supporting the building of real houses for real families in western Massachusetts.

List of Weekly Suggested Events

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Self-Directed Learning: Fashion History/Aprons

When you think of an apron, you might think of a homemaker wearing one while cooking for the holidays or a white chef apron worn by the cook at your favorite restaurant. Historically, people wore aprons for much more than just cooking. There were fancy taffeta aprons worn as a social status by women hosting guests, aprons made of wool for scullery maids that were fire retardant, and occupational aprons made of leather or heavy canvas in which men wore at work. Aprons can be a lens to learn about cultural heritage through the life stories of the homemakers who wore them. They can also support interests in textile arts, sewing, art history, and fashion.

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Self-Directed Learning: Language Arts/Zines

Zines (short for magazine or fanzine) are self-published books that include different media forms: collage, illustrations, comic strips, and words.  A zine can be a book of poetry or a story, it can be a guide book or a collection of fairy tales – the sky’s the limit!  Zines can also be photocopied and bound so that you can produce multiple copies. Making a zine is a rewarding, creative process and can undoubtedly be a part of your gift-giving plans for the holidays while supporting interests in language arts, literary art, paperarts, and self-publishing.

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Self-Directed Learning: 3D Printing

3D printing, a type of industrial robot which can synthesize three-dimensional objects for a variety of purposes, is one of the most exciting technological, scientific, and creative innovations of recent years. Local libraries and other learning centers have begun to support an interest in engineering, technology, and creativity by housing 3D printers and providing demonstrations of the technology.

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Self-Directed Learning: Numerical Systems

By exploring number systems, families can help children to solidify their own understanding of the numerals and place value of our own familiar base ten number system. From binary code and Roman numerals to a lost 13th-century cipher and a zero-less system from 300 BC, number systems from around the world can lead to fascinating explorations of numerical representations and place value. Support interests in science, technology, engineering, and math by learning about numerical systems in our post, Explorations of Number Systems Support Strong Mathematical Skills.

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Self-Directed Learning: Thanksgiving Food Traditions

How did the small wild cranberry, known as sasumuneash by the Wampanoag Native American people, become the plump berry we serve up every Thanksgiving? Get curious about the origin of the foods served during Thanksgiving and the traditions passed down from generation to generation. Learn about the evolution of foods like corn on the cob, cranberry sauce, pecan pie, and of course, turkey by using your Thanksgiving meal as a catalyst for learning about agriculture, pastry arts, and history.

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Self-Directed Learning: Generosity & Gratitude

November is a month of generosity, with gestures of abundance played out through our community landscape. Nature is generous, leaving our open fields and meadows with a plethora of grass and wildflower seeds feeding wildlife in the winter and delivering a promise to summer pollinators. The cultivated land is generous, delivering a cornucopia of locally grown food from the late harvest. People are generous, volunteering and spreading kindness during the holiday season. Family and friends are generous, sharing recipes and stories during holiday dinners. And the community is generous, creating a shared history together during annual community meals. During this month there are at least two common threads that run through these gestures of generosity. The first of which is food! Integrating community engagement opportunities centered around food with curiosity and compassion can help to strengthen our connection to place by being fully present in the moment and open to those with whom we share our lives… and our meals! Read more in our post, November: A Month of Generosity.

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Self-Directed Learning: Handmade Holiday Gifts

Take the challenge this year by shopping local and non-commercial during the holiday season. The abundance of craft fairs and open studios happening in the area featuring handmade products by local artists and artisans make it easy to find that special something when looking for a gift of any kind. Handmade wood or glass ornaments, hand-knitted scarves, upcycled accessories, one-of-a-kind prints and stationary… our region is filled with a robust creative economy filled with amazing artisans! From handmade soap to mason jar lanterns to gardening kits, there are also limitless simple homemade gift ideas you and your kids can make to give this holiday season.

Weekly eNewsletter

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.

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Hilltown Families’ list of Suggested Events is supported in part by grants from the Agawam, Amherst, Bernardston, Buckland, Charlemont/Hawley, Chester, Chesterfield, Chicopee, Colrain, Dalton, Deerfield, Easthampton, Gill, Goshen, Greenfield, Hadley, Hatfield, Heath, Hinsdale/Peru, Holyoke, Huntington, Leyden, Montgomery, Mt. Washington, New Salem, Northern Berkshire, Northfield, Palmer, Pelham, Plainfield, Rowe, Shelburne, Shutesbury, South Hadley, Southampton, Springfield, Tolland, Tyringham, Westhampton, Windsor, and Worthington Cultural Councils, local agencies which are supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.