Early Learning Newsletter
October 2026 - Estacada/Eagle Creek Area
Materials:
- 1 plastic Easter egg per child
- 2 plastic spoons per child
- Small amount of dry rice, beans, or pasta
- Strong tape or colorful masking/washi tape
- Markers, stickers, or other decorations
- Optional: small funnel or spoon for adding the filler
Step-by-Step Instructions:
1. Add the filler
- Open the plastic egg and place a small amount of rice, beans, or dry pasta inside.
- Fill the egg only about ⅓–½ full so the pieces have room to move around and make noise.
2. Test the sound
- Close the egg and give it a shake.
- You can experiment with different amounts of filler to see how the sound changes.
- Snap the egg closed tightly.
- Important: An adult should wrap strong tape completely around the seam of the egg to prevent it from opening. Check that there are no gaps where the filler could escape.
4. Add the handles
- Place the sealed egg between the bowls of two plastic spoons, with the spoon bowls facing the egg.
- The spoon handles should point downward and line up together.
- Wrap strong tape around the egg and spoon bowls several times until the egg is securely attached.
- Wrap tape around the two spoon handles so they stay together and form a single handle.
- For preschoolers, an adult should do this part to make sure the maraca is sturdy.
7. Decorate!
Now children can personalize their maracas using:
- Stickers
- Markers
- Colorful tape
- Paper shapes
- Washi tape
8. Make some music! 🎶
Once the decorations are finished, have children shake their maracas along with music.
Try:
- Fast and slow: "Shake fast! Now shake slowly!"
- Loud and quiet: "Shake loudly! Now very quietly!"
- Freeze: Shake while the music plays and freeze when it stops.
- Copy my rhythm: Teacher shakes a simple pattern and children copy it. This type of rhythm-copying activity is also recommended for homemade maracas.
Step 9: Have a maraca parade
Have children walk around the room while shaking their maracas to music. You can practice stopping, starting, marching, and changing the rhythm.
Empowering Families/Transforming Disability
FACT Oregon empowers families, youth, and communities to navigate disability systems, advocating together for disability justice and policy change so that people with disabilities have what they need to thrive at home, in school, and in their communities. Click Here for Website.
Safe Screens Video
Early Learning Hub of Clackamas County Video Series, click on the picture to watch video!
Para ver el video en español haga clic a continuación:
Services
Clothing/Household Goods
Dolly Parton's Imagination Library
Friends of the Estacada Public Library are the Local Champions of Imagination Library.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library provides specially-selected, age-appropriate, high-quality books for children from birth to age five. Books are delivered to your home each month in a package addressed to the child receiving it. This program is free of charge to participating families, and is funded and maintained locally by Friends of the Estacada Public Library and other community donors. Visit the Imagination Library web site to find out more about this exciting early literacy program.
Registration is open to children from birth to five years old who reside in zip codes 97022 and 97023 ( Eagle Creek and Estacada ).
Fill out the online registration form
Imagination Library links
Goodnight with Dolly Storytime Videos--Dolly reads 10 bedtime stories; Literacy Tips and Resources for Parents and Caregivers; Coloring & Activity Sheets
Todos Juntos - All Together Empowering Youth & Families
Estacada Community Manager/CRE Program Facilitator:
Julie Syring, sryingj@estacada.k12.or.us or julies@todos-juntos.net
RME Program Facilitator:
Kendoll Tuthill, kendollt@todos-juntos.net
Family Resource Navigator
Yaneth Abnal, yanetha@todosjuntos.net
Estacada Prevention Specialist:
Tyra Baird, tyrab@todos-juntos.net
Middle School Program Facilitator:
Lauren Haman, laurenh@todos-juntos.net
Website: www.todos-juntos.net
Facebook: facebook.com/todosjuntosclackamascounty