Speechie Library Talks: Build your Child’s Language and Literacy Development
Learn about the role of speech pathologists and libraries in the development of early childhood language and literacy. Gain some insights and tips for use at home to engage and prepare your child for life-long learning. The session is hosted by local speech pathologist - Stella Shamsirad in collaboration with Woollahra Libraries, Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) and Speech Pathology Australia (SPA), as part of the Speech Library Talks Nationwide initiative throughout November 2024.
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And don't forget to join our 1000 Books Before School Reading Program
Parents and Carers: Tips for School Success
Learn about ways to support school aged children no matter what the school year looks like! From adjusting to new routines, tackling online learning, boosting reading, writing and comprehension skills, as well as helping your child understand assignments and avoiding learning loss. Allow the team at Lindamood- Bell share the many ways to boost comprehension, studying, and writing and kick start the school year ahead.
Growing Food from Scraps
Learn how to grow fruit and vegetables from your cooking and food prep offcuts. From carrot tops to pumpkin seeds and all sorts of fruit, check your fridge or fresh kitchen waste and then join us on a 'how to grow food from scraps' session using basic materials you most likely have at home.
Garden Story Time and Drawing
Join us for a garden themed story time reading of 'Flora and Rainbow Hopping Bug' read by author Helen Lewis and illustrator Asiyeh Ansari. This session also features a drawing exercise led by illustrator of the book. Get some paper and pencils ready to join in on the fun.
Parents and Carers: Summer Success Learning Activities
Get some inspiration for fun and enriching learning activities to keep your kids or grandkids engaged over the summer break. Lindamood - Bell shares with us a range of family friendly literacy activities to encourage learning experiences and avoid that summer slump.
Special FX Film Making Workshop
Looking to bolster your Hollywood filmmaking toolkit? Or even just elevate your TikTok game? StarTime’s SPFX Filmmaking workshop will equip you with the skills and knowledge to craft your own special FX action sequence. Our professional filmmakers will show you how to use Hollywood green screen techniques and motion graphics to create fireballs, laser shots, explosions and more.
School Holiday Fun: Around the World LEGO® Challenge
Grab your LEGO® and get creative with our Around the World LEGO® challenge. Create a world city in the comfort of your own home.
Mini Makers Club – Thai Cooking Workshop
Grab an apron and join in from your kitchen to learn new cooking skills and make dinner for your family! Otao Kitchen takes you through the steps of making some tantalising Thai recipes.
Book Week Author and Illustrator Talk with Alexa Moses and Anil Tortop
Meet the creators of the delightful CBCA shortlisted picture book Bat vs Poss, a wonderful tale about sharing and making friends. In this workshop you will learn how to write in rhyme with author Alexa Moses and how to draw Squabbles the bat with illustrator Anil Tortop.
NAIDOC Week: Author Talk with Jasmine Seymour
To celebrate NAIDOC Week, primary school teacher, author and illustrator Jasmine Seymour shares with us Darug language and life, along with her award winning books that include Baby Business and Cooee Mittigar.
Mini Makers Club: Coding Workshop
Learn how to code a chatbot in this follow-along coding workshop.
School Holiday Fun: Let’s Do Art with Freda Chiu
Make a mini fold-out storybook with Sydney illustrator and artist Freda Chiu. Use your imagination and creativity to draw whacky animals using a bold mark-making technique.
Make a Bird Bath
It is always lovely to welcome birds to your garden. We share how to make a bird bath from materials found at home and where to place them to encourage birds to visit your outside spaces.
Download the instructions(PDF, 134KB)
Zentangle® Drawing Class
Find your zen in this introductory Zentangle® technique drawing class led by Lianne Woods. Zentangle® is the art of creating structured free hand patterns for the sake of art and mindfulness. Learn a range of tangle types, designs and techniques to get creative and unwind in this 2-hour workshop. Prior drawing skills not necessary.
Zentangle® Flexagon Template(PDF, 161KB)
Holiday Fun: Sustainable Family Craft
We're dreaming of a waste free Christmas! Follow along with the video to make your own memories and special mementos using recycled materials from home.
Download the template(PDF, 108KB)
Bug-themed Craft Activity
Join Asiyeh Ansari, illustrator and co-host of our Flora and Rainbow Hopping Bug Garden Story time for a bug themed craft activity.
Paper Flower Craft
Use a range of templates as well as our demonstration video to create a flower bouquet, paper flower crown or decorations for gifts or around the house. Grab some pipe cleaners and coloured papers or tissue paper to get started to make a collection of flower creations.
Download the Blossom template(PDF, 74KB)
Download the Apple Blossom template(PDF, 45KB)
Download the Daisy template(PDF, 769KB)
Download the Simple Daisy template(PDF, 102KB)
This video has closed captions. To turn them on, select the "CC" icon in your task bar below the video.
Intro to Zines
Learn the craft of zines in this practical introduction that mixes creative writing, art and craft techniques. You can make a zine using collage, stamps, stickers, writing, drawing and simple printmaking techniques.
Download the template(PDF, 224KB)
Festive Decorations Craft
Celebrate the holiday season and make a Christmas ornament to hang at home! Follow along with the video for the step by step instructions.
Halloween Bat Craft
Don’t be left hanging for Halloween, make our fun bat craft with some simple materials at home. There is no need to wing it, follow along with the video for the step by step instructions.
Download the template(PDF, 13KB)
Wind Chime Craft
Create your own colourful wind chime. Follow along these easy steps to make your craft.
Chicken Divas
Get busy with this craft activity for our National Simultaneous Storytime book Chicken Divas.
Science Behind the Scenes - Helping to Keep our Harbour Clean
Learn how scientists measure water pollution and whether pollution is linked to birds, dogs or humans. Follow Marine Biologist Will Jones to explore hidden creeks, drains and waterways from Bondi to Rose Bay. This event was part of National Science Week.
Mini Makers Club: Halloween Science
Do you dare join us this Halloween for a scaring of science? Create along with us your own electrostatic-powered dancing ghosts, a Jack-o’-lantern self-inflating balloon, some erupting pumpkins (or apples), a vomiting ‘head’ and a devilishly dissolving bath bomb.
Adult supervision is advised. Some at home materials are required.
Science Week: Can’t meditate? Find other ways to manage your stress
Join neuroscientist Dr Sarah McKay to discover evidence-based, practical alternatives to switching off your stress response and finding peace of mind.
This event is part of the NSW library series The Science of Us curated by Inspiring Australia NSW as part of National Science Week.
This video has closed captions. To turn them on, select the "CC" icon in your task bar below the video.
Little Bang Discovery On Demand (ages 4-8)
Conduct science experiments at home through four fun-filled sessions of Little Bang Discovery On Demand hosted by Woollahra Libraries. This hands-on program combines everyday objects and experiences with genuine scientific enquiry methods that children and their accompanying adults will thoroughly enjoy.
Before starting, we recommend putting together your own Discovery Box, containing the listed or similar items(PDF, 264KB) , which you will use during each session to maximise enjoyment. There are also some additional items specific to each session - have fun collecting them with your young scientist before the session begins.
Equipment List(PDF, 264KB)
Session 1: Collecting and Classifying
Session 2: Measuring and Recording
Session 3: Experimenting
Session 4: Science Fair
Our popular Story Time is now available to view any time. Enjoy listening to Sarah-Jane read favourite stories and join in the interactive rhymes.
Halloween
Gardens
Fathers
Sea life
Elephants
Mums
Siblings
Mice
Farm animals
Fruit and veggies
Pirates
Bears
Bugs
Dogs
Weather
Join Woollahra Libraries staff to read stories and sing rhymes in both English and other international languages.
German
Greek
Mandarin
Join in Digital Rhyme Time with our Woollahra Libraries staff – you’ll see some friendly and familiar faces. Enjoy singing a collection of fun and interactive rhymes together.
Episode 1
Episode 2
Episode 3
Episode 4 (National Simultaneous Storytime)
Episode 5
Episode 6
Episode 7