CMIS Evaluation Primary Focus

Some of you may have been part of the hundreds who checked out the State Library of Western Australia’s new facility for children, The Place, when it opened yesterday.  I opted for a quieter introduction this morning.

Colour and space are the features that hit you as you walk in through the child-proof gates on the Mezzanine floor.  This space is divided into three areas: two which are big enough for school visits and one which is more intimate and warm in decor.  The latter with its sofas, big cushions, soft toys and handpuppets and delightful “princess” reading chairs would be suitable for shared reading between children, or adults and children.  There is a small collection of books plus a Big Book easel with Big Books.

The middle area currently has a display of the favourite children’s books of some of our well-known Australian identities.  More than 70 of these personalities have completed certificates naming their favourite book and saying why it is their favourite.  So if you want to know what children’s books PM Kevin Rudd, Gov.Gen. Quentin Bryce, Dennis Cometti, Seven’s Kochie and Mel, Rove, Rebecca Gibney, Sony Hartnett, Bindin Irwin, Shaun Tan, Ian Thorpe and John Marsden like, then you will have to pay a visit to The Place.  (Country-dwellers, if you are truly dying of curiosity, contact the State Library or ask us!)

This section also displays Graham Hay’s sculptures, Totem, which is made from “preloved children’s books” and I, eye, which is constructed with over 400 colouring pencils each of which has the name of one of the participants of the 2008-2009 summer holiday program.  Tables and chairs, puzzles, three computers for the reading of e-books, Cat Balloon in his room of balloons, and a ladybird tent for a more private reading space complete this section.

The final section is showcasing original art work of illustrators, Craig Smith, Andrew McLean, Ann James, Terry Denton, Kim Gamble, Julie Vivas, Peter Gouldthorpe, Steven Woolman, Narelle Oliver, Caroline Magol, Wayne Harris, Patricia Mullins and Elizabeth Stanley.

Now it’s up to the public to use this facility and to schools to continue to take advantage of the education programs available.  Our congratulations to SLWA for this cosy city hub for children and their families.

	Sadako, only two years old when the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima to end World War II, was diagnosed with Leukaemia at age eleven in 1955. She was given a folded paper crane by her best friend. According to Japanese legend, a wish is granted to anyone who folds a thousand paper cranes.
Wishing for good health, Sadako began to fold paper cranes. She died at the age of twelve having completed 644 paper cranes; another 356 paper cranes folded by her friends were buried with her. In 1958 a monument of Sadako holding a paper crane was built in Hiroshima Peace Park. To express their hope for world peace, people fold paper cranes each year to place at the base of the monument.

Share Sadako’s story with students by reading them the book Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes. In class, students can exchange knowledge on Japan and World War II. They can discuss war, conflict, loss, peace, similarities and differences between their culture and that of others.

How to Fold a Crane is listed on the Gander Academy Origami website under the heading Paperfolding Instructions Sites. Explore this website for photographs and illustrations of models, instructions, information and resources on origami.

CMIS Evaluation review of Gander Academy Origami web site

The courier arrived and took it away… I’m worried – whenever there’s an empty space here it gets filled with books!



The printing is complete, the packages have been posted, the books are in the boxes, the boxes are strapped and the courier is on the way. Primary Focus Displays will ‘hit the road’ in the next few days.

If you are hosting a display, or attending one in your area please take a digital camera with you and send us some pictures. We would love to let others see some of the places the Primary Focus display visits.
Place your mouse cursor over the image to view the captions.

Please keep your eyes open for your copy of Primary Focus. It should arrive during the first week of term.

Ever wondered how it gets to you? Have a look…

| View | Upload your own