Bringing Books to Life One ‘Craftivity’ at a Time

Research has long shown that reading literacy enhances academic outcomes across all subjects and is a strong predictor of academic achievement. A new Elementary Division club, Craftivity & Literacy, is sowing seeds for that success by getting Gray Bees in Grades K-2 engaged and excited about literature. The name is intentional, said Dean of the Elementary Division Sr. Ann Marie Gass, S.S.J. Craftivity & Literacy combines hands-on arts & crafts with reading literature to create a fun and engaging learning experience. The club, consisting of two groups of 10 students who meet weekly, is moderated by Cortney Butler, Dean of Students in the Elementary Division.

Each week features a read-aloud of a picture book (Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister, Miss Spider’s Tea Party by David Kirk, Rhyming Dust Bunnies by Jan Thomas) followed by a discussion. Students then get to work on a craftivity related to the character or theme of the story: a rainbow fish suncatcher, three-dimensional spiders or delightful dust bunny puppets rendered from colorful Dollar Tree cleaning mitts. “It’s simple and enticing for the children,” said Sr. Ann, who has also observed that the club helps build vocabulary and conversation skills. “They love being creative and being able to make choices,” she added, noting that participants develop problem-solving and negotiating skills as they work through the craftivity portion of each session. There’s also a leadership role for second-grade students to assist and be role models for younger students. 

Craftivity & Literacy is one of several afterschool clubs happening on Livingston Street. In addition to the popular Junior Chefs Club for Grades K-6, sixth graders are flexing their leadership skills in two new clubs focused on stitching and crochet, and embroidery.