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Interconnections and patterns are all around us, and they are especially visible in nature! In this social emotional learning activity, your child will go on a nature scavenger hunt to look for patterns in nature and appreciate how amazing nature is. This is a great activity to help young students build skills around self-management, managing relationships, and mindful seeing.

Click HERE for a full description of this activity and for a scavenger hunt sheet.

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Patterns in Nature _ Nature Scavenger Hunt.pdf

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What is static electricity? Why does someone's hair stand up when a balloon is rubbed against it? Learn about electricity through this *complete* lesson from Eversource - It's Shocking! Video links and other materials are linked on the document. Just click and begin your learning!

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Sort 10 items from your
pantry/fridge into
categories: healthy vs. treats

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Be a great friend by making

a card for a friend you haven't seen in a while. Include at least three sentences telling all the reasons why they are a great friend!

Click HERE for free printable greeting card templates

Click HERE for great ideas on how to make your own cards

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Be in the Moment: Mindfulness in Everyday Tasks

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Be in the Moment: Mindfulness in Everyday Tasks

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Be in the moment! That's the goal of this task. Follow these simple steps:

1. Choose one task you would like to complete today with kindness, curiosity, and mindfulness (tying your shoes, fixing your bike, brushing your teeth, etc.):

2. Set a timer for 5 minutes.

3. Take a few deep breaths. Feel each breath right at your nose.

4. Start your timer.

5. Begin your task, but work as slowly as you can. Bring attention to the feeling in your hands, your breath, what you see, and hear in the moment.

6. End your task when the timer goes off.

7. What did you notice? What did it feel like to slow down and bring curiosity to what you were doing? Write a reflection in which you answer these questions below (using 4–6 sentences):

You can click HERE for a printable copy of your Be Mindful activity

Repeat with another task as needed!

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Be in the Moment_ Mindfulness in Everyday Activities.pdf

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Here is a great experiment that demonstrates how static electricity works and how opposite charges interact. And talk about being a cool experiment - make something float in the air? Now THAT'S science! Link to activity.

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STEM Education | Keynotes, Teacher Workshops, Summer Institutes

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Addition: use cereal or small

objects to write addition

sentences. You can use the Adding It Up! recording sheet to record your number sentences.

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Write down all the words you can think of that describe summer. Then use the words to write a poem
inspired by summertime!

Click HERE for an acrostic template for Summer

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Summer Acrostic Poem Template | Free Printable Papercraft Templates.pdf

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Read a story with a friend or

family member. Retell the

story including the

beginning, middle, and end.

Tell someone what you like

about the story.  Have your friend read a story to you and retell using B,M,E back to you! You don't have to write it down, but if you want to, there is a sheet for it linked here.

Click HERE for a Beginning, Middle and End template.

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Taking time to notice when we have been at our best helps us to grow in positive ways! This social emotional learning worksheet is designed for children to create their own “best self” journal to log moments where they have been at their best. Students are guided to find inspiring quotes and images, decorate their journal, and use the provided prompts to get them started on their journaling.

1. Grab a journal, old notebook, make a journal, or simply download and print as many copies as you need of the Best Self Journal Page

2 Cut out words and images or create your own and use them to decorate your journal.

3. Use the prompts on the Best Self Journal Page to inspire you to get started in your journaling.

4. Use your journal each day to reflect on all the ways you show up as your best!

*Note to parents/caregivers: Write a sample entry using the prompts below to serve as a model for your child.

Click HERE for a copy of the Best Self Journal Page template

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It’s In The Stars: marshmallow constellations

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It’s In The Stars: marshmallow constellations

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Why do the stars form patterns? Why are there stories about them? What kind of patterns do they make? Where can I read more about them? All of that and more PLUS a super fun activity for making Marshmallow Constellations are all right here:
https://www.kcedventures.com/blog/astronomy-activities-for-kids-books-about-the-stars

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Have a driveway or sidewalk and some chalk? Then you've got a perfect combination for some math!  Follow the link below to: Sidewalk Chalk Math Games. You'll find great ideas that will have you counting, adding, subtracting and even more!  All you need is a driveway or sidewalk and some chalk!
https://frugalfun4boys.com/sidewalk-chalk-math-games/

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Your parents, grandparents, aunts or uncles all have stories to tell!  Here's a great writing activity that also helps you learn more about all the important and exciting things your family member did in their lifetime.

Choose an older family member and interview them.  Ask them to talk about any important events they lived through. Then, make a timeline highlighting all of the important events in their life.

Click HERE for a blank timeline template

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Here is a great idea that gets you reading and at the same time helping an adult in the kitchen! Read and follow a recipe with someone in your family. Talk about the directions and the measurements. You have to read carefully, though, if you want that recipe to come out just right!

Here are some sites where you and your family can follow recipes together:

Weelicious
BBC Good Food
Tasty recipes
The Modern Proper - 30 recipes

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Like the weather, emotions come and go all the time, and this is a natural part of life! Designed for second and third graders, this social emotional learning worksheet guides children to choose a quiet place to sit in nature. They will choose an emotion, as well as a part of nature that reflects that emotion, such as a storm cloud that feels angry or rolling waves that may exhibit a feeling of peace. Then learners will write a poem and draw a picture to reflect on and symbolize their selection. Here are the simple steps:

1. Choose a quiet place to sit in nature (backyard, park, walking path)

2. Write down one emotion you may be feeling: (Examples: happy, sad, loved, lonely, calm, angry, etc.)

3. Think: What is one part of nature that shows you this emotion? (Examples: A storm may show anger. Rolling waves may show calm.)

4. Write a poem about the emotion and part of nature you selected. Make sure to include how they are always changing.

5. Draw a picture of this part of nature as a symbol of the emotion:

You can download and print a copy of these directions HERE

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How do your senses affect other senses? How do animals use sound to see?  Find out the answers to these and much more on this page FULL of activities that show students how sound waves work. Activities range for kids young and old, so all are sure to enjoy!!
Look for the

Bat Science Experiments: Echolocation Activities! at this website: http://preschoolpowolpackets.blogspot.com/2015/10/bat-science-experiments-echolocation.html

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This is a great activity to do with some siblings or family members.  Need to be outside?  Just have to do some math!?  Here's a chance to make it super exciting! Hold a Math Marathon! All you need are some flashcards, some chalk and someone to keep track of time and you'll have your own math Olympics.  Click HERE for a complete set of directions for this activity.

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Kids love talking about themselves—their likes, their dislikes, and details about everything in between. Spark their interest in writing with a mini-book about their favorite subject…themselves! By incorporating a popular theme in first grade, the five senses, you’ll help them to expand their story with descriptive words and phrases—a great way to sneak in some vocabulary practice as well!

Click HERE for a full set of directions for this activity

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Let the Story Create a Picture in Your Mind

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Let the Story Create a Picture in Your Mind

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Creating pictures is a proven way to help readers form a greater understanding of their reading.  For this activity, read for 20 minutes or more. Then, draw a scene or picture from today’s reading and

include a description of the

characters, setting or events

that you drew.

Click HERE for a copy of a template for creating a picture for your reading

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Let the Story Create a Picture in Your Mind.pdf

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Yoga supports a balanced mind and body. It also supports playfulness by having fun with animal poses! In this social emotional learning activity, your child will hear the story "Zoo Zen: A Yoga Story for Kids," learn the benefits of yoga, and create their own zoo yoga sequence to teach someone else. Designed with second and third graders in mind, this activity seeks to cultivate stress management and mindful breathing skills in young learners.

The worksheet below (see link) invites students to learn more about it—and teach someone else!—by creating their own book about animals and yoga poses! Kids will brainstorm their ideas on the first page and then write, illustrate, and cut out the included pages to create their book. Great for second and third grade learners, this yoga-based activity reinforces social emotional skills around stress management and mindful moving and breathing.

Click HERE for YouTube video of reading of Zoo Zen

Click HERE for a copy of the Yoga Animal book worksheet.

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You can use your artistic abilities to express scientific ideas! In this activity, it starts with going outside with some colored pencils, markers or crayons and observing your favorite tree.  Look at its leaves. Observe the branches and how the tree looks. What colors do you see? Are there any flowers or fruit? Now - On a separate sheet of paper (or using the attached download), draw a grid that divides your paper into 4 sections. Inside the grid, draw a tree that reaches all four spaces. In each one of the four spaces, show a different season by drawing what that portion of the tree would look like during that time of year.

Keep it up all year and see how your picture matches what nature has just outside your window?

Click HERE for the template and a complete set of directions

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In this video you get the instruction for a special hopscotch - the calculator hopscotch. Make you own equations while playing on a sunny warm day. If the video doesn't play right away, click the refresh button.

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Math-GAMES: Calculator Hopscotch - YouTube

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If playback doesn’t begin shortly, try restarting your device.

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African culture is rich in folklore. These beautiful stories, passed down over generations, include themes about everyday life, animals, and the natural world. African folk tales were traditionally used to explain things that people didn't understand, such as why the moon rises at night, or why a particular animal looks and behaves the way it does.

This activity introduces children to this meaningful genre, inviting them to tap into their own imaginative storytelling skills by creating and writing a richly embellished folk tale about their favorite member of the animal kingdom. As they craft their story, children will develop their creative writing skills, take a fresh look at the world around them, and create a work of art they can share with others.

Click HERE for a complete set of directions for this activity

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Make your own portable sand trays for your phonics practice! This is a great activity for teaching the alphabet, letters and sounds and practicing those tricky spelling rules.

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DIY Sand Tray for the Orton-Gillingham Lesson

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Make your own portable sand trays for your phonics and Orton-Gillingham lessons! This is a great activity for teaching the alphabet, letters and sounds and practicing those tricky spelling rules. You can use these sand trays in both small and whole group instruction.

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This is a fun activity that children can use to display and connect with their ever changing emotions. This cup also might spark some good conversations about feelings.

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Emotion Changing Paper Cup Octopus Craft for Kids

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Poor Rapunzel is stuck in her tower. Please design something to rescue Rapunzel from her tower.

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Here’s a fun and colorful way to practice math facts and be active! All you need are some Post-It sticky notes in bright colors, a marker and some scissors.

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Kindergarten Math Learning Game - Post It Notes Math Fact Game - Preschool Math Learning videos

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Learning to write doesn’t have to be boring or difficult. You can make writing practice fun and engaging by using these multisensory writing activities!

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Learning to write doesn't have to be boring or difficult. You can make writing practice fun and engaging by using these multisensory writing activities! You can try out these writing activities in your homeschooling lessons or in your classroom literacy centers using supplies you already have.

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This easy to make phonics flip book improves reading skills in an engaging and fun way. Your child will love going through pages of mini notepads to find letters and blends to create familiar words

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Easy to make phonics flip book improves reading skills in an engaging and fun way.

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This is a deep breathing exercise to help you relax and feel calm. Candle and flower breathing is a great strategy to control stress, anxiety and helps to slow down and feel focused.

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Candle and Flower Breathing - Mindful and Calming Breathing Technique

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Today you are going to design a boat that can hold weight. Learn all about boat design and learn to think like a scientist.

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Looking for ways to keep your child #learningathome? #LakeshoreLearning is here to help...with our Kid Corner Learning Activities! In this video, we present a #STEM activity that challenges kids to build a boat that can carry a heavy load-without sinking! "Sink or float," or buoyancy, is a concept kids start exploring at a very young age.

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Looking for a fun outdoor game for kids?! This outdoor math game gets kids moving and practicing all sorts of math skills while they're outside and having fun!

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OUTDOOR MATH GAME for kids: roll to win | fun & educational outdoor activities

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Looking for a fun outdoor game for kids?! This outdoor math game gets kids moving and practicing all sorts of math skills while they're outside and having fun! Watch the video to see how I played roll to win with my kindergarten and pre-K student to practice addition!

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Write your teacher a note telling 5 things that they should know about you.

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Writing Prompt: What Are Five Things You Want Your Teacher to Know About You?

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Is your child ready to graduate from short vowels to long vowels? Here's a great activity that you can use to help your students learn the Magic E concept.

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Orton-Gillingham Activity: DIY Magic E Wands 🌟🎩

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Is your student ready to graduate from short vowels to long vowels? Here's a great Orton-Gillingham activity that you can use to help your students learn the Magic E concept as well as a list of words you can use to practice it.

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Learn how to raise your energy and face your day with this exercise. Have fun with it! Link

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Powered by

Watch this video to earn 1 champ point

1

Watch this video to
earn a point for your champ!

Learn how to raise your energy and face your day with this empowering exercise.

Breathe Kindergarten 1st Grade 2nd Grade 3rd Grade 4th Grade 5th Grade Back 2 School Body Awareness Flow and Steady Flow GoNoodle Junior Back To School

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Learn how to raise your energy and face your day with this empowering exercise.

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This challenge is about engineering a jump to send a toy car through the air. Think like an engineer and complete this activity.

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The 2026 Commissioner's Summer Math Challenge stresses the importance of maintaining math skills during the summer. This has not been updated for 2026, but the 2025 information is available to check out.

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CT.gov - Connecticut's Official State Website

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Overview

The 2020 Commissioner's Summer Math Challenge stresses the importance of maintaining math skills during the summer. Schools compete based on student population and grade level. The program identifies the schools with the highest percentage of participating enrollment and the highest number of badges earned by participating students. Registration instructions, district reporting forms and all other materials are available online.

Information on the 2020 Summer Math Challenge

Top-performing Schools from 2019
Highest Participation - Elementary Level

Bradley School, Derby Public School

Highest Total Minutes Completed - High School Level

Guilford High School, Guilford Public Schools
Overall Highest Participating District

North Haven Public Schools

Connecticut Summer Math Passport
Passport booklet

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The 2020 Commissioner's Summer Math Challenge stresses the importance of maintaining math skills during the summer. Schools compete based on student population and grade level. The program identifies the schools with the highest percentage of participating enrollment and the highest number of badges earned by participating students.

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Write a postcard to a friend or family member telling them about something you did this summer.

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It’s time for students to participate in CONNECTICUT READS, the 2026 Governor’s Summer Reading Challenge!

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CT.gov - Connecticut's Official State Website

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Overview

It's that time of year again to encourage students to participate in CONNECTICUT READS, the 2022 Governor's Summer Reading Challenge! To support summer reading, the Connecticut State Library's statewide eGo eBook platform is now available through many local public libraries, and provides access to digital resources for all ages. For a list of local public libraries currently offering eGo, visit https://egoct.org/.

Information on the 2022 Summer Reading Challenge Suggested Summer Reading

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It's that time of year again to encourage students to participate in CONNECTICUT READS, the 2022 Governor's Summer Reading Challenge! To support summer reading, the Connecticut State Library's statewide eGo eBook platform is now available through many local public libraries, and provides access to digital resources for all ages.

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The Charter Oak Children's Book Award has 4 fiction and 4 nonfiction book choices. Check out the website for past nominees and winners and find them at your local library or independent bookstore!

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Department of Education Summer Learning Hub

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Department of Education Summer Learning Hub

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Choose your own summer learning challenge courtesy of the Connecticut State Department of Education.  Choose from activities such as Tech Ed  Bingo Challenge, Social Studies Ambassador,  Story of Me Learning challenge and more!  Links to the Governor's Reading Challenge and the Commissioner's Math Challenge also located on this page.

Please click HERE to be taken to the Department of Education Summer Learning Hub page. Enjoy your learning!

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CT.gov - Connecticut's Official State Website

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Summer Learning Hub

Welcome to the Summer Learning Hub! A place to choose your own Summer Challenge.

WHY: The summer learning challenges offer K-12 students engaging options and opportunities to assist in sharpening essential college, career, and civic knowledge while better poising them for academic success in the fall.

WHO: The summer learning challenges offer K-12 students engaging options and opportunities to assist in sharpening essential college, career, and civic knowledge while better poising them for academic success in the fall.

WHEN: The Challenges begin June 12, 2020, with Reading and Mathematics. Over the next month, additional challenges will be released pertaining to a variety of topics.

HOW: The challenges will be introduced by a memo to superintendents and kept on the website for stakeholder access. Challenges include a mix of plugged and unplugged activities that students complete to assist in answering an array of essential questions including: What career am I most interested in pursuing? What role do I play in my community?

OUTCOME: Students will be engaged in high-quality, standards-aligned activities to assist in sharpening essential college, career, and civic knowledge while better poising them for academic success in the fall.

Learn more with a PD Playlist:
Career and Technical Education Bingo Challenge - New! Social Studies Ambassador Learning Challenge - New! Story of Me Learning Challenge - New!

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Welcome to the Summer Learning Hub! A place to choose your own Summer Challenge. WHY: The summer learning challenges offer K-12 students engaging options and opportunities to assist in sharpening essential college, career, and civic knowledge while better poising them for academic success in the fall.

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The Nutmeg book award is for students in grades 2 and above. Click here to access the book lists.

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Levi Coe Library’s Youth Summer Reading event page! We have many awesome types of activities this summer. Visit their Facebook or Instagram page or check out our page for more information.

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Durham Public Library’s Youth Summer Reading page! We have many awesome types of activities this summer. Check out our page for more information. Even includes a bingo board for adults so the whole family can participate!

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CT State Library - PebbleGo, PebbleGo Next & Capstone Interactive books

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CT State Library - PebbleGo, PebbleGo Next & Capstone Interactive books

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PebbleGo, PebbleGo Next and a variety of Capstone Interactive books are available June 1-August 31 as part of the CT Governor's Summer Reading! Link - then click on the large blue-ish/purpleish PebbleGo graphic on the left.

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CT State Library - Division of Library Development - Pebble Go