Learn about fun Kansas City places to visit with kids, along with recommended books and family activities.

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5. •Books: Museum ABC (picture book), Katie’ series by Mayhew (Katie & Sunflowers, Katie
Meets the Impressionists)
•You Can’t Take a Balloon into the Metropolitan Museum by Weitzman; Babar’s
Museum of Art by Brunhoff
•Rick Riordian’s “Red Pyramid” 1st is series about ancient egypt.
•From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by Konigsburg,
Coterie is doing the Wiz: Wizard of Oz/Wiz
TYA – late May “Little Engine that Could”
TYA – “Snoopy”
Shakespearian Festival – MacBeth
TTIP – Sound of Music & Suessical
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6. Books: Magic School bus – 2 type of series; Wrinkle in Time (MS/HS), Every Soul a
Star (4th – MS)
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7. Civil War books: Civil War on Sunday By Osborne, Mary Pope (Magic Tree House series)
•Iron Thunder By Avi (fiction)
•subjects like ‘Spies ‘Women, Civil war dairies, biographies of famous people (Harriett
Tubman, Clara Barton, Lincoln
•Dear America Series & American Girl books – Addy lives/grows up during the Civil War
•Easy Reader - Billy and the Rebel Based on A True Civil War Story By Hopkinson, Deborah
•For Teens: hist. fict. - The Red Badge of Courage By Crane, Stephen , Gary Paulsen’s Soilder’s
Heart
•Movies for teens – Red Badge of Courage & Gone with the Wind.
•Local Civil War attractions: Battle of Westport (July 9, 2011) – markers thru-out downtown
Westport
•Harris-Kearney House – May 21, 2011 ---- John Wornall House
•Lone Jack Battlefield (Aug. 13, 2011) ---- Online: Kids Guide to the Civil War on
Thinkquest
•8 Wonders of Kansas: http://www.kansassampler.org/8wonders/
•Schoolhouses: Lanesfield, Deanna Rose, Oxford Schoolhouse in Ironwoods Pk – pair w/Little
house/pioneer books
•Nat’l Trails – great programs and exhibits for kids; 6/11, 6/15, 7/9, 7/13, 8/3 & 8/13 – ride
covered wagon
•Mahaffie – family progs free on Thursday evenings in June & July, and farming Fridays in
June & July ($6 ad., $4 kids)
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8. Fleming Park – Kemper Outdoor Education Ctr. & Native Hoofed Enclosure (elk &
bison) – bring carrots or apples
Passport - describe - http://www.passportkc.org/ (15 locations) – pick up at any of
them
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9. Rainforest books: The Great Kapok Tree, Magic Tree House ‘afternoon on the amazon’
and nonfiction guide,
DVD – Ferngully, the last rainforest, Nat’l Geo & Discovery Channel both do kids
movies & of course, Diego
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10. Family heritage –
6/14 - Family History Day
Toy & Miniature – workshop schedule on website, tons of things to see
1950’s house – tour with grandparents, see what life use to be like
Soda fountains:
•Gardner Pharmacy on Main St.,
•Corner Pharmacy in Leavenworth,
•Georgetown Pharmacy in Merriam,
•Clinton’s Soda Fountain in Independence, MO.
•Call ahead for hours.
http://www.kansassampler.org/8wonders/customsresults.php?id=205
JCCC: showing old musicals this summer on Weds. Mornings in June @ 10 am – Gigi;
Bye, Bye Birdie, Kiss Me Kate
Also Movies that came from books:
•5 Children & It,
•Swiss Family Robinson,
•Tuck Everlasting (teens),
•Pride & Prejudice (teens),
•Secret Garden,
•Around the World in 80 Days.
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12. Ice Cream tour – pick a new type of ice cream to try each week: soft serve, hand
dipped, gelato, custard, sherbet, sorbet, and make your own at home:
http://www.chevroncars.com/learn/food-recipes/make-ice-cream
June-Nat’l Dairy Month – Shatto, Deanna Rose June 11th, milking each day at
9:30 & 4:30
6/1 – Nat’l Go Barefoot Day
6/4 - Nat’l Trails Day & Trails Museum
July is Blueberry Month – go pick @ Berry Patch, buy at farmer’s market, make
a fun recipe
7/25 Carousel Day – Zoo endangered species, CW Parker museum in
Leavenworth,, one at Royals Stadium,
8/10 - S’mores Day – Aug. is also Inventor’s month so invent a new type of
smore and name it after your family
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13. Pick a book you loved as a kid, one related to a place you are vacationing this
summer, have kids vote on a book or try some of these:
•Penderwicks
•Gone Away Lake
•Half Magic
•5 Children & It
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14. Book Club ideas:
• ice cream or coffee date for discussion;
•a field trip based on the book read;
•connect with a theme like Ramona & her Father and then Ramona & her Mother, by
daughter/mom.
Books made into movies:
•Mr. Popper’s Penguins – June 17th
•Judy Moody – June 10th
•Harry Potter – July 15th
•Winnie the Pooh – July 15th
•Hugo Cabret – November release
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