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Family Education & Resources

Play, Learn, & Grow Together. Storytime & Early Learning Activities

  • Bom dia todas as cores - Música e literatura brasileira para crianças

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Music, Movement, Health and Wellness

All About STEM

A collage of six book covers featuring children and engineering themes, including 'Rosie Revere, Engineer,' 'How Engineers Find Solutions,' 'Engineering the ABCs,' 'How a House is Built,' and 'Engineering in Our Everyday Lives.'

A NOTE ABOUT STEM FROM THE MATHWORKS TEAM

The collaboration between The Early Childhood Alliance of Framingham (ECAF) and partner MathWorks to promote STEM education for our youngest learners resulted in a product that allowed us to train educators and families on laying the foundation of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math at the earliest point in life when learning is easy and natural.  Young children are born scientists and engineers, they are naturally curious and enjoy solving problems. As children discover the world around them, they are learning and experimenting every step of the way. Introducing the ideas of STEM to preschoolers is fun and easy. Exploring the way the wind moves objects (science!); using tools to observe collected sticks, rocks, and leaves (technology!); building a tower with blocks (engineering!); and cutting, sorting, and recognizing shapes (math!).
 
STEM learning can support early math development and critical thinking skills in preschoolers today, which will encourage aspiring future scientists, developers, engineers, and mathematicians like the ones at companies like MathWorks. 

The following booklets provide a variety of activities that introduce STEM concepts in a fun and playful way that will inspire young children to keep exploring and keep learning.  

Introduction & Appendix 
Book 1

A workbook titled 'Family Activities Workbook' with the letters STEM spelled out using beakers filled with colored liquids.

Science & Technology
Book 2 

A workbook titled 'Family Activities Workbook' with the letters STEM spelled out using beakers filled with colored liquids.

 Engineering & Math
Book 3

A workbook titled 'Family Activities Workbook' with the letters STEM spelled out using beakers filled with colored liquids.

 

STEM VIDEOS

SCIENCE: WIND PART 1   PART 2   PART 3

TECHNOLOGY: MAGNETS

ENGINEERING: BUILDING

MATH:  MOUSE MESS

MUSIC

MY FIVE SENSES

 

Social Emotional Learning

 

What is Social Emotional Learning?

Social Emotional Learning (SEL) is the process through which children and adults acquire and effectively apply the knowledge, attitudes, and skills competencies necessary to:

  • Develop self-awareness and positive mindsets
  • Understand, manage, and regulate emotions and behaviors
  • Establish and maintain respectful and caring relationships
  • Promotes a safe and welcoming learning environment
  • Make a responsible decision
  • Communicate and cooperate effectively
  • Manage learning to experience academic success

We at the Early Childhood Alliance, as part of the Framingham Public Schools, promote social emotional learning with families and their young children, right from the start!

Framingham Public Schools Character Traits

September - Responsibility: teach how to take care of their toys and space.

October - Respect: model manners, acts of kindness, validate feelings.

November - Gratitude: talk about things you are grateful for and find different ways to show appreciation of others.

December - Cooperation: take turns, give suggestions not commands, help problem solve when needed.

January - Kindness: use everyday events to point out and talk about empathy and perspective taking.

February - Acceptance: help talk through difficult topics and develop their awareness of diversity, celebrate different cultures.

March - Confidence: encourage to try new things, give help when needed, praise their efforts.

April - Determination: never give up, no matter how difficult something is, resilience and learning positive coping skills is critical.

May - Compassion: model kindness and understanding, talk about how they can help others in need.

June - Pride: praise specific behaviors and actions, tell them when you are proud of them

Virtual Educational Programs

THE ECAF VIRTUAL EARLY LEARNING RESOURCE LIBRARY

"Live" programs and fun activities can also be found on the Early Childhood Alliance of Framingham FACEBOOK page.
You are also invited to join the Live with The Early Childhood Alliance Facebook group. 
Did you know WGBH has a variety of Family Fun Activities and More? Check out the Family Fun At Home Activity Center by clicking here!
Registration Form for New Families 
Early Literacy Survey

MORE PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES…
 

A colorful illustration of three children with the text 'Play, Learn and Grow... Together!'

 NEWLY PRE-RECORDED PLAY, LEARN, AND GROW TOGETHER GROUP-LIKE EXPERIENCES

You can also find us on some weekdays on the Framingham Education Channel

The logo for the Framingham Education Channel, featuring the acronym FEC and the words 'Framingham Education Channel' below.

ECAF PRERECORDED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS

Summer Adventures Program:
Summertime Adventures Week 1: A Visit to the Farm
Summertime AdventuresWeek 2: Jamberry with Jane
Summertime Adventures Week 3: Explore the Seashore with Jane and Jeanette
Summer Adventures Week 4: A Visit to the Zoo

All About Spring Program:

Virtual Program: Let's Plant Our Sprouted Seeds
Virtual Program: Spring Rain
Virtual Program: Introduction to Spring
Virtual Program: All About Seeds
Virtual Program: All About Seeds Part 2
Virtual Program: All About Seeds Part 3
Virtual Program: Creating Farm Animals!
Virtual Program: A Story about a "Little Blue Truck"

 

Down to the Basics with School Readiness Programs: 

Virtual Program: Fun with Colors Part 4
Virtual Program: Fun with Colors Part 3
Virtual Program: Fun with Colors Part 2
Virtual Program: Fun with Colors Part 1
Virtual Program: Fun with Numbers Part 2
Virtual Program: Fun with Numbers
Virtual Program: Ten Black Dots - Learning to Count Part 2
Virtual Program: Mouse Count - Learning to Count Part 1
Virtual Program #2C ECAF PLGT: Mouse Shapes Activity
Virtual Program #2B ECAF PLGT:  Mouse Shapes Activity
Virtual Program # 2 ECAF PLGT: Mouse Shapes

Social Emotional Learning Programs:

Virtual Program: All About Feelings - A 30 minute program featuring the book 
How Are You Peeling? Foods With Moods,
Introduction to A Feeling Matching Game (Center for Social Emotional Foundations for Early Learning), and,
EmotiBlocks by MiniLand. Part 2 will explore using these activities in further detail.
Virtual Program: I Like Myself!
Virtual Program: The Power of Music with Popular PLGT Songs 
Virtual Program: Family Tradition Activities & 
Playdough Recipe 
Virtual Program: How to Make An Apple Pie and See The World 
Virtual Program #1 ECAF PLGT: Me on the Map  
Virtual Program: Getting Dressed 
Virtual Program: Beading, Beading, Beading! 

A diverse group of children hold hands around a globe, symbolizing unity and global connection.

BILINGUAL STORYTIME WITH REJANE AND FRIENDS

PJ FAMILY STORY TIME

Virtual Program: PJ Family Story Time #5 Bedtime Routines
Virtual Program: PJ Family Story Time #4 A Story About a Special Bedtime Friend
Virtual Program: PJ Family Story Time #3 A Story about Family Traditions
Virtual Program: PJ Family Story Time #2 with Jane
Virtual Program: PJ Family Story Time with Jane

A book cover featuring a girl and a cat, titled 'Countdown to Kindergarten' by Alison McGee, illustrated by Harry Bliss.
 

 LET'S GO TO KINDERGARTEN WITH JEANETTE

 

Help Yourself Calm Down    Spanish
Calming Techniques -Pitter Patter Puppets - Calming Techniques (The Coalition for Children)
Managing Emotions - Pitter Patter Puppets - Meet Ms. Mary and Savanah her puppet friend (The Coalition for Children)
Mindfulness Bumble Bee Breathe
Virtual Yoga for Tots , Thursday, 10-10:45 with Eve Costarelli


ABC Fitness Activity

OUTDOOR RX Activities


 A colorful illustration of children standing on the letters of the word 'Parents' with the text 'The Information You Need!' below.

OTHER PARTNER EARLY LEARNING PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES:

 

TALKING TO YOUNG CHILDREN ABOUT COVID-19 - CHILD FRIENDLY STORIES:

Social Story What Nathan and His Friends Can Do   English   Spanish   Portuguese
Making You Own Book