It looks like an ordinary box of ordinary yarn.
But it turns out it isn’t.Story by Mac Barnett
Illustrated by Jon Klassen
 MORE STORIES |  CRAFT & ACTIVITY IDEAS |
 SONGS & MUSIC |  TLE’s FAMILY LITERACY VIDEO SERIES |
Bear meets sandwich, adventure ensues. . . . An irresistible treat of a story!
Story by Julia Sarcone-Roach
 MORE STORIES |  CRAFT & ACTIVITY IDEAS |
 SONGS & MUSIC | TLE’s FAMILY LITERACY VIDEO SERIES |
Dragons love tacos. They love chicken tacos, beef tacos, great big tacos, and teeny tiny tacos. So if you want to lure a bunch of dragons to your party, you should definitely serve tacos. Buckets and buckets of tacos. Unfortunately, where there are tacos, there is also salsa. And if a dragon accidentally eats spicy salsa . . . oh, boy. You’re in red-hot trouble.
Story by Adam Rubin
Illustrated by Daniel Salmieri
 MORE STORIES |  CRAFT & ACTIVITY IDEAS |
 SONGS & MUSIC | TLE’s FAMILY LITERACY VIDEO SERIES |
From the very beginning, there was something different about this child… An ultrasonic voice. Fantastically elastic limbs. Super-magnetic powers. But it wasn’t until the child took her first steps that she became: THE BLUR!
Story by Minh Lê
Illustrated by Dan Santat
 MORE STORIES |  CRAFT & ACTIVITY IDEAS |
 SONGS & MUSIC | TLE’s FAMILY LITERACY VIDEO SERIES |
A gorgeously warm, funny book about everything a friendship can be – for anyone who’s ever had a friend.
Wherever you’re going, I’m going too.
Whatever you’re doing, I’m sticking with you.It’s wonderful to have good friends to see you through the good times and the bad. But sometimes, friends can also be a bit . . .
well . . . overbearing.Story by Smriti Prasadam-Halls
Illustrated by Steve Small
Bell Let’s Talk Day is Wednesday, January 25, 2023 | version française
Bell Let’s Talk is a multi-year charitable program dedicated to the promotion and support of mental health across Canada. Since 2010, Bell has committed more than $100 million to support a wide range of mental health organizations, large and small, from coast to coast focusing on anti-stigma, care and access, workplace mental health and research.
Now more than ever, every action counts. On Bell Let’s Talk Day, Bell will donate more towards mental health initiatives in Canada by contributing 5¢ for every applicable text, call, tweet or TikTok video using #BellLetsTalk, social media video view and use of our Facebook frame or Snapchat filter.
Are you an educator who wants to start the conversation about mental health in your classroom? With support from experts, Bell Let’s Talk has created tools to help you get started.
Want to join in to help create positive change, but don’t know how? It’s all about having the right tools to join the conversation and help create positive change. The Bell Let’s Talk Toolkit consists of simple everyday tools that can be used to take action to support mental health, including a conversation guide, workplace activities and social media images.
To help you spread the word about mental health, we’ve created a toolkit that includes a conversation guide and helpful templates for use in schools, communities, and workplaces.
Not sure where to go to find help or who to turn to? Consulting with your healthcare provider or another trusted professional is always a great start. You can also refer to our list of organizations with helpful resources.
Stay up-to-date: Year after year, Bell Let’s Talk gets the nation buzzing and taking action to help create positive change for mental health. Stay up-to-date on everything Bell Let’s Talk with the latest articles, media releases and videos.
A LEARNING EXCHANGE / CDC VIMONT event
Welcome to The Learning Exchange (TLE) Winter and Holiday Activities page. Here you will find fun and exciting ideas and activities for all ages and members of the family to do! Visit this page for new activities & resources and look for new additions over the holidays.
These snowman activities and recipes are engaging, fun, and full of literacy skills, math skills, and STEM skills! Children learn to count, follow directions, read, problem solve and experiment or to just have fun being creative!
Books introduce children to the exciting world of stories and help them learn to express their own thoughts and emotions. Find favourites on these free online story sites.
| Free Children’s Stories | Storyberries | Storybooks and games |
| Stories to Grow By | Storyline Online | Free Kid Books |
| TLE Reading Events in 2023: | ||
| Barbara Reid I Love You More event |
Music stimulates all the senses, helping children learn to recognize patterns and sequence. Early music exposure helps children learn by promoting language, creativity, coordination, social interaction, self-esteem and memory.
| Winter Hokey Pokey | Winter Songs for Kids | The Kiboomers | Winter Snowman Dance | Wintertime is Here Song | The Kiboomers |
Spending time with family helps create a better life for your kids. Have fun together with these activities.
Few months present as many multicultural celebrations as December. From Christmas to Kwanzaa, the last month of the year is a “world of holidays.” Click on the links below for lots of fun family-friendly activities related to some of December’s holidays around the world.
| Holidays and Observances Around the World | Canada Calendar | Boxing Day in Canada |
| CHRISTMAS | HANUKKAH | KWANZAA |
| NEW YEAR’S | Jan. 2 in Quebec |
Please contact TLEliteracy@yahoo.ca for any comments, suggestions or if there is a December or holiday celebration you would like to see included in this section!
Use TLE’s Family Literacy Series videos to help instil a love of reading in your child or family member.
| How to Raise-a-Reader | How Reading Helps Kids Grow | Ways to Help Kids Love Reading |
| Learning Through Creative Play | Family Literacy Inside and Outside the Home |
If you celebrate Hanukkah or just want to learn about the traditions, use these resource links to have fun!
Hanukkah is the Jewish eight-day, wintertime “festival of lights,” celebrated with a nightly menorah lighting, special prayers and fried foods.
These Hanukkah activities are wonderful for kids and families of all ages to learn about the holiday and celebrate in a respectful, fun way.
Lots of great Hanukkah stories to read and listen to as a family.
| Clifford Celebrates Hanukkah Read Aloud | Hanukkah in Alaska | Shmelf The Hanukkah Elf by Greg Wolfe Read Aloud |
| Hanukkah Bear by Eric A. Kimmel Read Aloud | ||
If you celebrate Christmas or just want to learn about Christmas traditions, use these resource links to have fun!
Christmas is a special time of the year that helps bring family, friends, and loved ones together.
Create unforgettable moments with your friends and family this holiday season while enjoying these Christmas songs.
Start a family tradition of reading a favourite story together.
If you celebrate Kwanzaa or just want to learn about the traditions, use these resource links to have fun!
Kwanzaa is a weeklong celebration that honors African heritage in African-American culture. Kwanzaa is a holiday that was first started by Dr. Maulana Karenga in 1966, who was looking for a way to bring together African Americans as a community. He took traditions from the African harvest or ‘first fruit’ celebrations and highlighted seven symbols that represent values and concepts reflective of African culture. Kwanzaa is observed from December 26th to January 1st, and culminates in gift giving and a big feast.
Kwanzaa is a celebration of family, community and culture.
The seven symbols of those values are Fruits, Nuts, & Vegetables for the crops (Mazao), the Place Mat (Mkeka), an Ear of Corn (Vibunzi). The Seven Candles (Mishumaa Saba), The Unity Cup (Kikombe Cha Umoja), Gifts (Zawadi), and The Candleholder (Kinara).
Enjoy these online stories about Kwanzaa with the family.
| Little Rabbit’s Kwanzaa | Kwanzaa: What It Is and How we Celebrate It! | Together for Kwanzaa |
| My First Kwanzaa by Karen Katz | Kevin’s Kwanzaa | Kwanzaa Stories |
