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BLAST Elementary
Summer Programs

During the four week summer Pittsburgh Public School Extended Year program, BLAST visits participating schools once a week.

The goals of the summer BLAST program is are:

  • Extend the children’s literacy experience beyond the school year.
  • Motivate children to be life long learners and readers.
  • Encourage children to visit their local public library.

The BLAST program presents read alouds that are:

  • High-quality.
  • Multicultural.
  • Both fiction and informational.
  • Related to the library’s Summer Reading Club theme.

Other program components are:

  • Rich vocabulary discussion.
  • Critical thinking questions.
  • A book exchange.
  • Summer Reading Club registration.

In addition to the two fulltime BLAST staff, Americorps members are trained to present the Summer Extended Year Programs.