Spend the week doing free stuff and end it with a splurge at the circus. There are lots of cool and interesting things to do in and around LA that don't cost a dime. Local libraries are a great place to start. Many of them host special guest entertainers and educators. While we are highlighting a few things here, don’t forget to check out Mommy Poppins event calendar for a more comprehensive listing of things (free or not) to do this week.

We hope you're enjoying our new weekday edition of the Mommy Poppins newsletter, now in its second week of sniffing out fun activities that go beyond the weekend.

This week starts a new month and the beginning of summer. School is wrapping up, but there's still plenty to do with the little ones while their siblings hunt for overdue textbooks and add finishing touches to their final homework assignments. It's a good time to catch up on culture. Many local museums offer free admission days the first week of the month. Be sure to check out The Page Museum, The Craft and Folk Art Museum, The Huntington, and The Natural History Museum. And if art isn't your thing, here are 5 more ways to make this week different:

1. Ford Jam - Monday
The Ford Theater on Cahuenga Blvd. has a free international music and movement jam session every Monday at 7pm this summer. Monday's interactive program features al fresco African dance and drumming. Your rhythmic rugrats will end the day on an upbeat beat.

2. LEGO Store Monthly Mini Model Build- Tuesday
A free opportunity for young master builders to make a mini model and take it home with them while supplies last. Session starts at 5pm. June features a cool jet ski. Ages 6-14.