(for ages 0-12)
When you sign up for Summer Reading, you will receive a free prize book and a pass for free admission to the USS Constitution Museum!
Log 8 hours of reading and receive a coupon for a free ice cream cone from MacDonald’s!
Readers who log 8 hours before July 20 will be entered into a raffle to win a free wristband to the Needham Rotary Club Carnival, good for 5 free rides!
Log 16 hours of reading and you will win another free book and be entered into a raffle for a
Grand Prize!
The elementary school whose students read the most will win the Top Readers Trophy to be displayed at your school for the following school year!
Read for yourself! Read for your school!
Join online or stop by the Children’s desk for a paper reading log.
Unearth a Story: Home Activities
Recycled Art Projects: Using recycled objects to make crafts is a “dino-mite” way to reuse single use materials and explore the world of dinosaurs!
Bury A Story of Your Own: Make your own Time Capsule to unearth at a later date! Future You will thank you!
Learn about Egyptian Hieroglyphs: Use this worksheet to write your name in hieroglyphs!
Become a Junior Archaeologist!: The National Parks Service shows you how in this printable activity booklet.
Practice Finding Fossils! Use this handy guide to look for fossils where you live!
Unearth A Story: Explore
Embark on a local adventure as you unearth your own story!
There are many interesting places to visit in MA that will feed your curiosity.
Some are free- others can be accessed for a discounted rate with a library pass (noted below).
These Rocks Can Talk… GEOLOGY
Halibut Point State Park: Rockport, MA. Visit the site of a historic granite quarry next to the Atlantic Ocean! Take a ranger-led tour to learn more about unique geology of the park.
Natural Bridge State Park: North Adams, MA This unique park is home to the only natural white marble arch in North America! It was made by glacial melt water over 13000 years ago.
Dry Bones… PALEONTOLOGY
Museum of Science/ Life Chronicles Exhibit Boston, MA. Take a VR tour of life on Planet Earth from the simplest creatures through the Cambrian explosion and the Age of Dinosaurs. (Ages 8+, starting June 17). Younger dino-hunters can visit the lower level to examine ancient fossils at the Modeling the Mesozoic exhibit!
Harvard Museum of Natural History Cambridge, MA. Discover fossils from the Mesozoic and Cenozoic Eras in this extensive collection!
Ancient Cultures… ARCHAEOLOGY
Museum of Fine Arts/Boston Boston, MA. Did you know the MFA displays mummies of people AND animals?! Learn about the intersection of Archaeology, Art and Culture in the Ancient World collections.
Stories in Your Own Backyard…
LOCAL HISTORY
Commonwealth Museum: Boston, MA. The Commonwealth Museum brings the story of Massachusetts to life with state of the art interactive exhibits. Its dramatic “treasures gallery” holds the great historic documents that protect our liberties. Spend an hour or an afternoon and share our common heritage. Admission is free!
Plimouth/Pawtuxet Museums : Plymouth, MA. Visit this open-air museum to investigate the stories of the Wampanoag and English people in Massachusetts.
Unearth a Story: Read
Click here to view a list of recommended picture books in the Minuteman Catalog
Recommended: Early Readers
Beginning to read independently? Click here for a selection of fiction and nonfiction easy reader and early chapter books.
Graphics and series that will appeal to history lovers of all kinds!
A book list for strong readers on the theme of “Unearth a Story”.
The Past Has Layers: This National Park website is all about archaeology and archaeologists!
