Half Term Activities in Stoke-on-Trent

Libraries

Are you looking for something for your family to do during half term? We’ve got lots of activities and events planned so your

library may have the answer! Take a look at what we have to offer…

Family Film Club Monday 21 February - City Central – From 10.30am We’ll be showing Matilda this half term. You can bring your own snacks and best of all…it’s FREE! ‘Once upon a time, there lived a quite extraordinary little girl named Matilda, but unfortunately her parents were so obsessed with their own lives they never noticed Matilda. They send her to Crunchem Hall, a horrible boarding school run by a bossy headmistress Miss Trunchbull. There, Matilda discovers remarkable skills, which allow her to turn the tables on the wicked grown-ups in her world.’ Down Longton’s Memory Lane Tuesday 22 February – Longton Library – 10am-2pm Join us for lots of free fun activities including:

• Find out about local history sources with local historian Phil Rowley at 10.30-11am

• Storytelling by Toby Jugg with his bottle kiln tent at 10.30 - 11am and throughout the day until 2pm

• Crafts including design your own plate 11 - 11.30am

• Guided walk around Longton with information on its buildings and social history led by Phil Rowley 12.30-1.30pm (this will be replaced by an illustrated talk if the weather is bad)

• Local history author Alan Mansell will be on hand during the event to talk about the history of Longton and his books

Timings are provisional. Please ring (01782) 238424 for more information, to confirm times and to book your place on any of the activities.

Roar into your library! Wednesday 23 February – Stoke Library – 10.30am – 6.30pm Set off in Top Gear at Stoke library this half term. Join us for a roaring and speedy storytime, steer your way through a series of cool time challenges and drive a remote control car, amongst other amazing things. We’ll have a giant, 6 lane Scalextric track in the library for the day – will your lap time be the fastest? Contact Stoke Library for more information. Hands on History This half term we’re going Prehistoric in Meir and Bentilee Libraries! In association with the BBC’s ‘Hands on History’ project we’re inviting you to come into your library and learn a bit about our prehistoric ancestors and the world that they lived in…and of course have a lot of fun! We’ll be investigating cave art and creating our own mini version of Stonehenge. Hands on History: Cave Art Monday 21 February – Meir Library – 2-3pm Tuesday 22 February – Bentilee Library – 11am – 12noon Listen to a prehistoric themed story and learn some fascinating facts about the Stone Age and have some fun making your own cave art. Hands on History: Stonehenge Thursday 24 February – Bentilee Library – 11am-12noon We’ll be learning some fantastic facts about Stonehenge…who built it, and why? Come and help us make a mini-version of Stonehenge to display in the library. Happy Birthday to…Us! Wednesday 23 February – Meir Library – 2-3pm It’s nearly time to celebrate Meir Library’s 50th birthday. Come along to our storytime and craft session and help us to get into the party spirit. We’ll be reading some fabulous stories and making birthday cards.

Family Games Wednesday 23 February – Tunstall Library – 2.30-3.30pm We’ll be sharing some classic family games at Tunstall Library during half term. Do you love Buckaroo? Are you the Kerplunk champion? Or perhaps you want to try something new. We’ll have a selection of games that you can play on your own or with friends. Saturday Activities We’ll still be running our regular Saturday activities in half term. Take a look and see what’s on offer… Bentilee Library Saturday 19 February – Bentilee Library F.C. – 11am-12noon We’ll be sharing football themed storytime and lots of fun football crafts. Come along and join in! Saturday 26 February - Alice in Wonderlibrary – 11am-12noon Follow us down the rabbit hole and into the library for our Alice in Wonderland storytime and craft activity. City Central Library Saturday 19 February - Fruity Fun – 11am-12noon Join us for our fruit-inspired storytime, fruit tasting, and make your own fruity characters to take home. (Suitable for ages 6 and under) Saturday 26 February - Lego Animation Workshop -10am-1pm Budding producers and directors can join us for animation fun as we make a short animation using Windows Movie Maker. (In association with DATfest and Stoke Your Fires!) Suitable for ages 7-14, under 8s must be accompanied. Longton Library Saturday 19 February – Down in the Jungle – 11am-12noon Come along to our special jungle storytime and make your own jungle photo frame to take home.

Tunstall Library Saturday 19 February – Knights and Princesses – 11am-12noon Make your own princess crown and design a Norman shield. Saturday 26 February - Roald Dahl – 11am-12noon Listen to some favourite Roald Dahl classics and make your own Roly-Poly bird. Storytimes Bring your children along to one of our storytimes and enter the wonderful world of stories and rhymes at your local library. A carer should stay with children under eight. City Central: Saturday 19 February – 11-11.30am Meir: Monday 21 February – 10.15 – 10.45am Longton: Monday 21 February – 11-11.30am Tunstall: Monday 21 February – 11-11.30am Fenton: Wednesday 23 February – 10.30-11am Stoke: Wednesday 23 February – 10.30-11am Trentham: Wednesday 23 February – 10.30-11am Bentilee: Friday 25 February – 11-11.30am City Central: Saturday 26 February – 11-11.30am Rhyme Times Why not join in with one of our interactive sessions for babies and toddlers, and their parents and carers this half term. We’ll be sharing rhymes and songs together. A carer should stay with children under eight. Longton: Tuesday 22 February 10-10.30am Tunstall: Wednesday 23 February 11-11.30am City Central: Friday 25 February 11-11.30am

…And something for the grown-ups… DATFEST: Social Media Café Friday 25 February – City Central Library – 10am-1pm Saturday 26 February – City Central Library – 10am-1pm Would you like find friends on Facebook? Have you got a digital camera but not sure how to share photos from it on

the web? What is Twitter anyway? Drop in to our pod next to main reception anytime, bring along your camera,

memory stick or just your questions and our friendly geeks will get you online safely and happily.

There's coffee and cakes too!

DATFEST is co-ordinated by Bitjam and B Arts and supported by Stoke-on-Trent City Council. For more

information go to www.datfest.org.uk

Stoke.gov.uk/libraries Tel: 01782 238455