Love to read? Enjoy interacting with children? Want to help inspire strong literacy skills?

Sign up for this fun VIRTUAL service project!

Did you know that reading books aloud to children increases their vocabularies and their understanding about the world and their place in it, assisting their cognitive development and perception?

Required materials: one children’s picture book, the willingness to read it aloud, a PC, laptop or smartphone with webcam, and internet access.

Youth will need reliable internet access and a webcam in order to participate in the Zoom call. The Zoom link will be provided via email to those who register for the project using the online form.

On Wednesday, April 1st, a couple minutes before 2 pm, simply click on the project link from a phone, laptop or PC. If you have never used Zoom, it will ask you to download the software. It will take a couple of minutes, so plan accordingly as we will start promptly at 2:00pm. Youth will need to enable their webcam and microphone so they can interact during the call. Be sure to test the audio capabilities prior to the project, and consider using headphones to avoid distractions.

During the call, a Team Leader will facilitate an icebreaker, a service-learning activity, and then give instructions for the project. Youth will also get the opportunity to look at examples and be given the parameters for earning service hours for creating and submitting their own videos.

We would like to share completed videos on our YVCHR YouTube channel and social media pages and/or create QR codes to go inside specific books that would then be donated with our Little Libraries to local schools. This is optional. Youth are not required to have their videos “published” in order to earn service hours …but we hope participants will be eager to share their read-alouds with our local community!

Recap of Supplies:

Computer or laptop with webcam or phone with camera

Internet access

Headphones (optional)

Children’s book (We have some if you need one to complete your video. Contact Kimberly at programdirector@yvchr.org to make arrangements. If you would like to donate the book you read aloud, contact Kimberly to drop off book.)