STEAM It Up!

Six RIF NOVA-supported schools were able to take part in STEAM this year: Braddock, Marumsco Hills, Kilby, Innovation, Yorkshire, and Vaughan. Younger children learned about static electricity. Third through 5th graders took part in a project to learn about coding. Every participating child was able to choose a book to keep.

Special thanks to all the teachers, reading specialists, and librarians who helped make these projects come alive and to Amazon for funding this impactful RIF NOVA program.

During one session, the children figured out a code that said, "Thank you RIF of NOVA for our books!" That's a pretty cool code if we do say so ourselves! For more STEAM 2026 pics, please click here.

Learning to "code" by assembling a Caesar cipher could not have been more fun. A Caesar cipher is a simple method of hiding messages by shifting each letter in the alphabet by a fixed number of positions. The method is named after Julius Caesar, who used it in his private correspondence. The children cut out three circles and connected them with a brad in the center. Were they ever thrilled when they were able to dial through the alphabet with a key and figure out a variety of coded messages!

Younger children had a chance to learn about static electricity. They cut out and decorated butterfly bodies and affixed them to tissue paper wings. A rubbed balloon held over the wings showed how static electricity could lift the wings as if they were flying. The kids were quite amazed, with many ooohs and ahhhs! Innovation Elementary librarian Megon Yielding is shown above demonstrating the concept to her students.

Books for Keeps Keeps On Keepin' On!

Thanks to a RIF-RIF NOVA grant, several schools have been able to give even more books to students. And the schools have served up some amazing activities to make the book choosing even more fun!

Arlington's Carlin Springs ES took part in a "book picnic," complete with a picnic-related story! Librarian and RIF NOVA liaison Holly Nisco read the rhyming book One Hundred Hungry Ants to K-2nd graders. Third through 5th graders saw a historical video and listened to Hot Dog! Eleanor Roosevelt Throws a Picnic -- a true 1939 event when the first lady served hot dogs to visiting British monarchs, a choice that caused a stir but ultimately delighted the royal guests. Such an educational and clever book-picking picnic -- with no REAL ants!

Alexandria's Cora Kelly ES held an Earth Day book distribution that was over the moon! Noted one banner in the gym: "Books are Cool, So is Saving the Earth." (Agree!) One activity was creating a "chandelier" made of an old bicycle wheel that the students decorated with strings of recycled pop tops, bottle caps, paper clips, and beads. Recycling and repurposing? Yes! And having a blast doing so! Said one third grader, "This is SO cool!" The chandelier is shown below, adorned with strings of creative repurposing!

Plus More Author Visits, Too!

"Every kid has a math superpower!" exclaimed author Valerie Johnson to kindergartners and first graders at Carlin Springs. As she read her book 123 Count with Me about life on her grandfather's farm, she had the kids count with her, emphasizing that in math, counting…counts! Using clipboards, the children drew pictures of some of the things they can count. Planets, one said. Flowers, said another. Things in my room, said yet another. Each child received an autographed copy of the author's book to take home to keep. Special thanks to the Arlington Community Foundation's 2025 Wish List for helping to fund this author visit. 

It's so fun to learn new words in different languages! Just ask the 2nd graders at Fairfax County's Hutchison ES who met author Hanh Bui and listened as she read Ánh's New Word -- the story of an eight-year-old Vietnamese refugee who learns her very first English word. The children practiced some Vietnamese words and shared some words of their own. Thanks to the Authors program, each child received not only an autographed book but a handwritten note of encouragement in each book. When the children learned that the author has a new book coming out next year, they all said they could not wait for her to come back to Hutchison to share it!

RIF NOVA is proud to be a top-rated 501(c)(3)U.S. nonprofit -- EIN 51-0155758. Every book we are able to give is due to YOU! Thank you!!!

Your funds help with all RIF NOVA programs! Donate electronically by clicking here or on the Donate image above.

Send a check:

Reading is Fundamental of Northern Virginia, Inc. 

P.O. Box 7012

Arlington, VA 22207-0012

Thank you for being part of the RIF NOVA community!

Books change lives!

RIF NOVA | www.rifnova.org | 703-528-3763 | info@rifnova.org

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