草榴社区

草榴社区 (UAH) welcomed local second-graders for the inaugural 鈥淗op into Learning: A Bunny Discovery Educational Day鈥� on April 25. College of Education students played an active role during the event.

Michael Mercier | UAH

There were bunny ears, storybooks and lots of giggles as 草榴社区 (UAH) welcomed a very special group of guests鈥攍ocal second-graders鈥攆or the first-ever 鈥淗op into Learning: A Bunny Discovery Educational Day鈥� on April 25. UAH is a part of The University of Alabama System.

Hosted at the UAH Salmon Library and led by a team of UAH faculty, staff and students, this educational initiative provided a magical mix of bunny-themed literature and interactive, standards-based learning activities, all aimed at nurturing a love of reading among young students. It was created by Dr. Hamsa Mahafza, Clinical Assistant Professor of Curriculum and Instruction at UAH. Inspired by her love for bunnies and passion for writing children鈥檚 books, Dr. Mahafza developed the concept as part of the College of Education鈥檚 鈥淩eading for Pleasure鈥� initiative鈥攁 program focused on sparking curiosity, encouraging creativity, and cultivating lifelong reading habits.

From left: Dr. Hamsa Mahafza clinical assistant professor of curriculum and instruction; David Moore, director, M. Louis Salmon Library; Dr. Sharifa Love-Rutledge, assistant professor, chemistry; and Dr. Beth Quick, dean of the College of Education.

Courtesy UAH

鈥淩eading is such a powerful thing, and when children learn to read for fun 鈥� not just as part of a school assignment 鈥� it encourages lifelong reading habits鈥� said Dr. Mahafza. 鈥淲e wanted to create a day that helps children fall in love with books, using something as simple and adorable as a bunny to provide a meaningful context and a joyful reading experience.鈥�

The event enhanced community engagement, with one of the most popular stations showcasing live rabbits from , a local rabbit rescue organization. Students met different breeds, learned about rabbit care, and took photos鈥攆ostering empathy and curiosity through hands-on learning. UAH鈥檚 mascot, Charger Blue, also made a special appearance, cheering on participants and adding excitement to the day.

Each interactive station encouraged storytelling, creativity and critical thinking while also serving as a professional development opportunity for UAH College of Education students, who facilitated the activities and gained valuable teaching experience in a real-world setting.

As a keepsake, each child received a bunny-themed coloring book titled 鈥淟et鈥檚 Hop into Learning,鈥� authored by Dr. Mahafza, sponsored by the UAH Library and designed by UAH鈥檚 Office of Marketing and Communications. The book symbolized the event鈥檚 collaborative spirit and gave students a tangible reminder of their day.

鈥淩esearch shows that reading for pleasure significantly contributes to children鈥檚 cognitive, emotional, and social development,鈥� said Dr. Mahafza. 鈥淚t promotes motivation, supports literacy growth and encourages a lifelong appreciation for reading among emergent readers.鈥�

With this in mind, the 鈥淗op into Learning鈥� initiative is set to become a spring tradition at UAH, continuing to blend literacy, creativity, and a little bunny magic for years to come.

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