The summer months are usually the time we can go see all of  those blockbuster movies we look forward to all year. Think Jaws. The Dark Knight. E.T. Jurassic Park. And although our summer movie experience is different this year, there are still many ways to watch and appreciate our favorite films. Changes are coming to this year's film festivals as well. YouTube announced that they would feature a free online global film festival called We Are One which began May 29 and ran through June 7. Twenty of the world's most famous film festivals presented including the Cannes Film Festival, the Sundance Film Festival, the Berlin International Film Festival, the Toronto Film Festival, and the Venice Film Festival. A full schedule of future events will be posted on the festival's YouTube page. Even the Oscars are in for some big changes this year. Although only a temporary change, streaming-only movies will be eligible for awards at the 2021 Academy Awards presentation for the first time. Theater closures have pushed many studios to either release movies online or delay them for months. But in the meantime there are lots of ways to enjoy the movies this summer! And don't forget the popcorn!

• How to Make Movie-Style Popcorn
• How to Make Stovetop Popcorn
• And if You Want to Go to the Drive-In...

Emedia

• Hoopla  Thousands of titles from major Hollywood studios are available for streaming, from anime to westerns - and everything in between! CPL Library card required.
• Kanopy  Stream movies and documentaries from award-winning filmmakers, including the best in independent, classic film, and world cinema. CPL Library card required.
• Kanopy Kids Kanopy Kids features a collection of films and TV series that inspire and inform, helping children develop social emotional skills and reinforcing valuable learning topics, such as history, science, and new languages. CPL Library card required.
• Crackle. An ad-supported streaming service that offers both movies and TV shows.  No account required.
• IMDbTV. Ad-supported streaming movies and TV shows. Must create a free account.
• Popcornflix Kids.  Ad-supported streaming service for family-friendly movies & TV shows.
• Tubi TV. Access to thousands of free movies for all ages - not commercial free, however. No account required.​

Books About the Movies

• Pictures at a revolution: five movies and the birth of the new Hollywood  by Mark Harris (ebook) and (audiobook)
• The inventor and the tycoon: a Gilded Age murder and the birth of moving pictures by Edward Ball (ebook) and (audiobook)
• Pauline Kael: a life in the dark by Brian Kellow (ebook)
• Five came back: a story of Hollywood and the Second World War by Mark Harris (ebook)
• Movies (and other things): a collection of questions asked, answered, illustrated by Shea Serrano
• Life moves pretty fast: the lessons we learned from eighties movies (and why we don't learn them from movies anymore) by Hadley Freeman

Books For Kids

• You can work in movies by Samantha Bell
• Where is Hollywood? by Dina Anastasio
• Hollywood trivia : what you never knew about celebrity life, fame and fortune by Elizabeth Weitzman
• Behind [the] scenes movie careers by Danielle S. Hammelef
• Who invented the movie camera? : Edison vs. Friese-Greene by Karen Latchana Kenney
• Who is Steven Spielberg? by Stephanie Spinner (ebook)
• Who is George Lucas? by Pam Pollack (ebook)
• Pixarpedia by Barbara Bazaldua
• The wimpy kid movie diary by Jeff Kinney (ebook)
• Movie props and special effects by Anastasia Suen

Head back to 62 Days of Summer for more ways to participate in the summer program!

One silver lining to the COVID-19 outbreak is that our lack of activity has benefited wildlife and the environment in unanticipated ways - including birds. Scientists have noted that fewer cars and planes makes a quieter soundscape for birds and humans. There may never have been a better time to enjoy birds and to fulfill your "Go Bird Watching" 62 Days 62 Ways square. The beauty of this activity is that you do not even have to leave the comfort of your home - just look out your window! Here are some suggestions to help you get started:

• Birding for Beginners from the National Park Service or Bird Watching for Beginners on YouTube
• Bird identification book or app - ​Audubon Bird Guide App is free and popular
• Bird feeder - You can make one with Creativebug class Cookie Cutter Bird Feeders. (CPL card required)
• Make your yard bird-friendly.

Activities:

• In addition to the bird feeder, Creativebug also has classes to help you make cute Yarn Birds and Paper Birds. (CPL card required)
• Audubon for Kids has some great bird-themed activities. Check out other kid-friendly arts and crafts!
• Interactive Bird Migration Maps - Spring 2020 Hummingbird Migration Map and Sightings and/or birdmigration.com which keeps track of Hummingbirds, Orioles and Purple Martins. You can even add your bird sightings!
• Raining out or you just don't feel like going outside?
  • The Cornell Lab of Ornithology has fantastic live bird cams or you can watch the Falcon Live Cam from the Detroit Zoo.
  • Birds of North America with Jason Ward - a fun YouTube series all about birds and those that love them.
• Take a picture of birds you see, bird feeders you made, or one of your bird crafts and share them with CPL! #howdoyou62

Resources:

It is necessary to experiment and learn about the things related to the gross area of science because though it seems a bit yucky, it is necessary for us to understand how things work. An example would be studying sweat and perspiration to make sure that our bodies are fueled correctly for the activities we want to participate in. Another relates to understanding how our skin repairs itself with blisters, scabs, and scars to help facilitate healing and prevent infection. Everyone poops, so why not explore and learn more on the physics related to poop? And finally, we have some experiments to uncover the germiest place in your home. Tune into this TED Talk on Gross Science to find out more about the importance of the gross part of science. 

Want to experiment on your own? Below are some activities and materials for all ages and abilities to explore this topic in different ways. 

Blowing bubbles is the quintessential summer activity. It's been done by kids of all ages for centuries, and bubbles were even inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame in 2014. We've gathered up some fantastic resources for all your bubbly fun this summer. Want to mix up your own solution, read about the science behind soap bubbles, or learn how to make giant bubbles? Check out the round-up of books, bubble recipes, and art project ideas below.

Head back to the 62 Days of Summer home page for more ways to participate in the summer program!

Are you are planning a staycation this summer and need some ideas about places to visit and things to do?  Metro Detroit has a lot to offer!  Be sure to check websites for hours and possible closures.  

Friendship bracelets are a fun tradition of creating handmade jewelry to give to your best friend! The patterns can range from very simple to complex art. Below are some ideas for all ages and abilities. 

Activities:

• Learn how to make a friendship bracelet using one of the resources below. Take a photo of your creation and share it with us by using the #howdoyou62 hashtag.
• Upgrade a pattern by adding beads, charms, or other decorations. Try a complex pattern that requires 4 or more colors. Or design your own pattern and share it with us. 
• Create a friendship bracelet using supplies found around the house. Try using something different like floss, ribbons, or yarn. Decorate your bracelet with pop can tabs,  feathers, beads, corks, or lids. 
• Mail your friendship bracelet with a handwritten letter to someone outside your house. It could be a family member, friend, or neighbor. 

Resources:

•  Hoopla has a variety of ebooks including many crafting how-to books.  Check out this booklist for more ideas. 
• Creativebug has many video craft tutorials including this Five-Strand Braid bracelet. Requires CPL card number to log in. 
• Craft Jam: a crafting company that has a great step by step instructions with photographs. This tutorial teaches you how to make the alternating half hitch, 5-strand braid, and diagonal friendship bracelets.
• Youtube: has a variety of great craft tutorial videos. I recommend this one by DIYholic that teaches the spiral, chevron, loom, and fishtail friendship bracelets. 
• Braceletbook: is a great resource if you want to try complex patterns. Check out this Ombre Stripe pattern. 

Photo by Nasim Keshmiri on Unsplash​

Head back to the 62 Days of Summer home page for more ways to participate in the summer program!

Bring the camping experience to you with a backyard camp out! Below are ideas for all ages and abilities.

With this STEAM Square, we invite you to use different aspects of performance to complete the challenges below. There is science behind several aspects of performance, and we have included challenges related to acting, writing, singing, composing, and dancing for you to enjoy this summer. Curious about how a focus on the performing arts is integral to science and math? Read this article from Forbes magazine or check out our links below to see correlations you be unaware of.

Looking for more stuff to do? Check out our other STEAM Stop activities here or head back to the 62 Days of Summer home page for more ways to participate in the summer program!

Complete one READ square by setting a challenge. 

A traditional summer reading challenge takes the form of reading a set number of books, or a set number of pages, or even a set number of minutes. Recently, reading challenges have expanded in scope and offer many ways to broaden your reading horizons. You can choose any reading challenge that fits your needs, and here are a few suggestions.

Just the Data

• Use our 62 Days of Summer tracking sheets to keep track of basic numbers. Write down titles as you read them, or color in time units. Choose the best method for you. 
• Try Scholastic Summer Read-a-Palooza Tracker to track your reading streaks and unlock book donations.
• If you’re focusing on numbers this summer, you might find that committing to a Goodreads challenge helps you keep track of your efforts and you can maintain it over time.

Gentle Guidance

One of the most basic reading challenges is Gene Luen Yang’s Read Without Walls Challenge. Only three books long, you read one book about a character who’s unlike you, one book about a topic you know nothing about, and one book in a format you don’t usually read.

Looking for Extras

• Barnes and Noble has a Summer Reading journal for grades 1-6. Print and fill out the journal, and then it becomes a coupon for a free book.
• Nicola's Books in Ann Arbor has a Summer Reading Club for grades K-8 in which participants can read to earn a series of $6 coupons.
• Join SYNC, a free audiobook summer program for teens and gain access to select free audiobooks through July.

Laser Focus

Are you keen on a theme? Love westerns, or want to only read mysteries this summer? Penguin Random House has compiled a series of 20-book challenges all centered on different themes. There are even themes designed for readers who want to expand their horizons, including one made up of debut novels and one with many different genres.