Featured Events, Resources, & Opportunities

The Institute for the Musical Arts (IMA) celebrates its 35th anniversary with a day-long music festival: Lady and the Amp Fest3. The quinquennial event features faculty, students, and alumnae of IMA’s summer rock programs and will include a memorial tribute to the music of Jana Ivanova Abromowitz. Takes place on Sat, Aug 27, on the lawn in front of IMA’s Big Barn (inside if it rains). Gates open at 11:30am. Music until 7:30pm. Family-friendly. Food, drink & merchandise on-site, including instruments & vintage gear. Coolers allowed. Tickets/info: www.ima.org. Sponsors and underwriters include: WRSI/The River 93.9; The ASCAP Foundation; Public Emily Artist Management; Signature Sounds; Dave Sullivan, DA; Healy Guitars. 165 Cape St, Goshen, MA

List of Weekly Suggested Events

[RETURN TO TOP]

Self-Directed Learning: Nature-Based Math

As you gaze at the base of a pinecone, did you know that you’re regarding an incredible example of mathematical reasoning? Nature’s patterns, as it happens, are deeply rooted in the Fibonacci Sequence and the Golden Ratio. It’s the ultimate in a marriage between the aesthetic beauty of nature and its mathematical base that makes it make sense. To discover what a learning opportunity this is for the family to share, read our post, Nature’s Patterns Reveals Mathematical Reasoning. Also, get curious about patterns that resemble geometric shapes! Through bubbles, basalt columns, and honeycombs, discover the integration of math, physics, and biology in exploring hexagons in nature. And find the hidden mathematics inside the atomic repeating patterns that contribute to the crystalline structures of not only minerals but also sand, DNA, ice, and metals. Learn what causes them to grow into these shapes and the geometric properties of crystals that contribute to this process.

[RETURN TO TOP]

[RETURN TO TOP]

Self-Directed Learning: World Fashion Day

“Get dressed!” These two words have been said more than once in an impatient tone to children when parents are running late or running out of patience. Let’s take this sentiment and look through the lens of getting dressed as an opportunity to learn about history. Starting with women getting dressed in the medieval fashion of 14th century England and spanning centuries through the lives of many, this featured video series visits working women in the summer (18th century), working-class suffragettes of the early 1900s, British WW1 soldiers, and many others. Can you imagine getting dressed in a hurry in the 18th century? After watching this series, you might better appreciate Velcro and snap buttons! While watching, note things you might be wondering about or your child’s questions. Let your curiosity lead your learning. Search the internet for answers, and allow the questions and interests that arise from your quest for knowledge to continue fueling your learning path.

[RETURN TO TOP]

[RETURN TO TOP]

Self-Directed Learning: Beavers

Did you know that around 11,000 years ago, a seven-foot-long, three-hundred-pound giant beaver lived in North America during the Pleistocene period? Castoroides was the most massive beaver ever to exist, though because of the shape of its six-inch long teeth, scientists suspect it may not have built dams like modern beavers. Castoroides may not have had as sophisticated social interactions as its smaller descendants with a much smaller brains. Indeed, today’s beavers are unique regarding their ingenuity and complex behaviors. Get curious about the behavior of beavers and discover their contributions to the ecosystems of North America as a keystone species.

[RETURN TO TOP]

[RETURN TO TOP]

Self-Directed Learning: Peaches

So far this summer, our fruit-based learning has included strawberry, blueberry, and cherries. The first two are a type of berry, and cherries are a type of stone fruit! The summer begins with berries, peaks with stone fruits, and ends with apples. Seeing as it’s mid-summer, let’s learn through the lens of stone fruits in today’s self-directed learning module! Pick up a basket of freshly picked stone fruit at your local farmers’ market and get inspired by its juicy sweetness to learn about botany, agriculture, pastry arts, culinary arts, chemistry, living art, and even fine art through the lens of fruit!

[RETURN TO TOP]

[RETURN TO TOP]

Self-Directed Learning: Math Books

It seems that the connections between children’s literature and topics within many academic disciplines are endless. Captivating stories introduce fascinating historical eras, animal tales for young readers share basic biology concepts, and community stories teach children about interacting with new people and building relationships. However, somewhat elusive within children’s literature are math concepts. Perhaps the most challenging academic subject to integrate smoothly into your family’s everyday life, math has often been taught through memorization and drilling rather than curiosity-driven exploration. Despite its elusiveness, math is very much present within children’s literature, and there are numerous resources to support families in exploring math together… and making it fun! Discover more in our post, Children’s Literature & Resources that Support Math.

[RETURN TO TOP]

[RETURN TO TOP]

Self-Directed Learning: Camping

The long days and warm nights of summer provide the perfect conditions for family camping, a tradition that serves as one of childhood’s most classic summer adventures. Camping trips allow children to learn how to live outside of their homes and provide them with the opportunity to engage in experiential learning about their surroundings during all hours of the day (and perhaps the night, too). From afternoon playtime in the woods to an evening of fireflies and campfires to the misty early morning hours that bring endless bird songs, camping trips offer constant exposure to the world’s sights, sounds, and smells. As a bonus, children who connect with their surroundings are more likely to practice environmentally friendly and conservation-minded behaviors as adults. Read more in our post, “Summer Camping Adventures Promote Nature-Based Play and Learning.”

[RETURN TO TOP]

[RETURN TO TOP]

Self-Directed Learning: Food History/Cakes

What do Chiffon, Tunnel of Fudge, Sock-it-to-me, Watergate, Jell-O Poke, Hummingbird, Funfetti, Chocolate Lava, Viennetta, Red Velvet, Bacon, and Pops have in common? They are all popular cakes! Featured on Mashed: “Chances are, you have your favorite, go-to birthday cake — but how about enjoying the one everyone was eating on the day you were born? Let’s take a walk down memory lane and look at all the biggest, best, and most popular cakes that have trended over the years. So, what was the most popular cake the year you were born?”

[RETURN TO TOP]

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.

Subscribe ♦ Advertising & Partnership Opportunities ♦ Learning Opportunities ♦ en Español

---

Hilltown Families’ list of Suggested Events is supported in part by grants from the Agawam, Amherst, Becket, Bernardston, Buckland, Chester, Chicopee, Colrain, Cummington, Easthampton, Goshen, Granby, Greenfield, Hadley, Hatfield, Heath, Hinsdale/Peru, Huntington, Leyden, Montgomery, Mount Washington, Northern Berkshire, Orange, Otis, Palmer, Pelham, Rowe, Shelburne, Shutesbury, South Hadley, Tolland, Tyringham, Westhampton, Windsor, and Worthington Cultural Councils, local agencies which are supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.