These programs are pretty self-explanatory but shouldn't be forgotten:
Legos at the Library: Ages 9-12. Come to the library and build a lego set! Legos can be a little expensive, so I would say this could be either a monthly program or a quarterly program.
(For Halloween) Decorate a Pumpkin!: Ages 9 and up. Buy smaller pumpkins if you're on a budget.
Photography Contest: Ages 14 and up. Teens will submit a photograph based on the topic chosen (i.e. your favorite place, your favorite color) and people at the library will vote for their favorite. The winning photograph will be permanently hung up at the library.
Personalize Your Journal: Provide marble composition notebooks, paint, glue and magazines. Ages 12 and up.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever release party! This is a time sensitive event. The book comes out Nov. 15, 2011. Here are activities for a Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days launch party but it works for Cabin Fever also.
Movies Based on Books Reading Group Could be for any age group. I would suggest meeting quarterly since you'll never run out of books that were made into movies.
Introduction to American Sign Language, Spanish, French, Italian, Chinese, etc. Could be for any age group.
Downloading e-books to your e-reader tutorials
Make your own T-shirt or Tote Bag: Ages 12 and up. Provide t-shirts/totes but also encourage them to bring their own. Fabric paint will be provided.
(For Christmas) The Art of Gift Wrapping: Adult program.
50 Simple Things Kids Can Do to Save the Earth Earth Day program for children ages 9-12
(For Christmas) Christmas Around the World: Ages 9-12. Food, traditions, crafts. Germany, Italy, China, Japan, Australia, Africa...
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Children Program idea: American Tall Tales
I've always been very interested in American tall tales because unlike fables, fairy tales or folk tales from other countries, American folk tales are larger than life. Things happen in them that are completely daft yet they still have some sense of realism to it. I know tales like Cinderella and Jack and the Beanstalk also do but Paul Bunyan and Davey Crockett feel like people you know. They're the everyman. They represent the stereotypical American male. And that's why I think it would be cool to do a program on them! This could work any time of the year but I think it would be an interesting idea to tie it in with July 4.
First, we read some American folk tales, obviously. For Paul Bunyan, the Steven Kellogg version would be a definite but otherwise, I'm not really sure yet what books would be good. I'll edit the post with some suggestions later.
Some of the folk tales I'd focus on though would be: Paul Bunyan, Johnny Appleseed, Pecos Bill, John Henry, Davey Crockett, Annie Oakley and Uncle Sam.
For a craft, there are a lot of possibilities, especially if you're doing it near July 4. This Uncle Sam pin is pretty easy and you can offer a variety of materials to make pins of other characters being discussed. A simple Uncle Sam windsock craft could be fun too.
Another idea is to buy some small clay plant pots and let them decorate the pot. Give them apple seeds to grow their own apples a la Johnny Appleseed.
First, we read some American folk tales, obviously. For Paul Bunyan, the Steven Kellogg version would be a definite but otherwise, I'm not really sure yet what books would be good. I'll edit the post with some suggestions later.
Some of the folk tales I'd focus on though would be: Paul Bunyan, Johnny Appleseed, Pecos Bill, John Henry, Davey Crockett, Annie Oakley and Uncle Sam.
For a craft, there are a lot of possibilities, especially if you're doing it near July 4. This Uncle Sam pin is pretty easy and you can offer a variety of materials to make pins of other characters being discussed. A simple Uncle Sam windsock craft could be fun too.
Another idea is to buy some small clay plant pots and let them decorate the pot. Give them apple seeds to grow their own apples a la Johnny Appleseed.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Some Basic Arts & Craft ideas!
Make a...
-God's Eye.
-Pinch Pot.
-Native American Story Stick.
-Kite!
-Stained Glass!
THIS is a really cool site.
-God's Eye.
-Pinch Pot.
-Native American Story Stick.
-Kite!
-Stained Glass!
THIS is a really cool site.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Teen Program Idea: Zombie Fiction Book Club
A lot of teen book clubs at libraries fade after two or three meetings, some book clubs get no attendance at all. There is no concrete answer for this but I think it partly has to do with the book choices we make.
For example, when we're picking a book for a book club, we'll pick something popular and something that's been critically acclaimed like The Hunger Games or The Book Thief, right? And while these books are great, I think most teens will squirm at the thought of reading something that is popular and that everyone raves about. If teens ever read a book like that, they'll have to do it on their own and the popularity of these books have proven that teens WILL do that if they're interested. Now, I'm not saying this about ALL teens because there are some that will come to a book club that is reading The Hunger Games. I'm just saying this could be a problem for some teens.
If you remember a little about being a teenager like I do, you'll know they want to question everything. "NY Times says The Book Thief is genius?! Lame!" So you want to pick something that's interesting to them but also unconventional. There are other options that I will discuss later (horror, fantasy and sci-fi,) but the first thing I think of? Zombies!
Yes, for some reason lately, teens have it bad for Zombies. I honestly don't know why, I mean, zombies are okay, I'll watch zombie movies and enjoy them but I can't understand why people are obsessed with them!
With The Walking Dead tv show coming out last Winter, various video games and movies, it's clear that zombies are rising up everywhere in popular culture. Just don't tell the teens who come to your library that!
Here are some book suggestions to start your zombie fiction book club:
-World War Z and The Zombie Survival Guide by Max Brooks (although I personally wouldn't start with these...they're the most popular zombie books out there and if teens are into zombies, they probably have read it already.)
-Brains: A Zombie Memoir by Robin Becker
-Breathers: A Zombie's Lament by S.G. Browne
-Feed and Deadline by Mira Grant
-The Walking Dead series by Robert Kirkman, Charlie Adlard and Tony Moore (Like Max Brooks, I wouldn't start with this either. These are very popular among zombie fans.)
-The Affinity Bridge by George Mann
-The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
-Zombies: Encounters with the Hungry Dead, Book of the Dead and Book of the Dead 2: Still Dead by John Skipp
For example, when we're picking a book for a book club, we'll pick something popular and something that's been critically acclaimed like The Hunger Games or The Book Thief, right? And while these books are great, I think most teens will squirm at the thought of reading something that is popular and that everyone raves about. If teens ever read a book like that, they'll have to do it on their own and the popularity of these books have proven that teens WILL do that if they're interested. Now, I'm not saying this about ALL teens because there are some that will come to a book club that is reading The Hunger Games. I'm just saying this could be a problem for some teens.
If you remember a little about being a teenager like I do, you'll know they want to question everything. "NY Times says The Book Thief is genius?! Lame!" So you want to pick something that's interesting to them but also unconventional. There are other options that I will discuss later (horror, fantasy and sci-fi,) but the first thing I think of? Zombies!
Yes, for some reason lately, teens have it bad for Zombies. I honestly don't know why, I mean, zombies are okay, I'll watch zombie movies and enjoy them but I can't understand why people are obsessed with them!
With The Walking Dead tv show coming out last Winter, various video games and movies, it's clear that zombies are rising up everywhere in popular culture. Just don't tell the teens who come to your library that!
Here are some book suggestions to start your zombie fiction book club:
-World War Z and The Zombie Survival Guide by Max Brooks (although I personally wouldn't start with these...they're the most popular zombie books out there and if teens are into zombies, they probably have read it already.)
-Brains: A Zombie Memoir by Robin Becker
-Breathers: A Zombie's Lament by S.G. Browne
-Feed and Deadline by Mira Grant
-The Walking Dead series by Robert Kirkman, Charlie Adlard and Tony Moore (Like Max Brooks, I wouldn't start with this either. These are very popular among zombie fans.)
-The Affinity Bridge by George Mann
-The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
-Zombies: Encounters with the Hungry Dead, Book of the Dead and Book of the Dead 2: Still Dead by John Skipp
Friday, August 19, 2011
Teen Program Idea: Mix CD Exchange
This could be a program that only meets once or one that meets monthly, every six months, etc.
IF you are planning to only meet once (or just a couple of times,) I would say it could be fun to plan on reading any of these:
Love is a Mixtape or Talking to girls about Duran Duran : one young man's quest for true love and a cooler haircut by Rob Sheffield
Mix Tape: The Art of Cassette Culture by Thurston Moore
Cassette From My Ex: Stories and Soundtracks of Lost Loves by Jason Bitner
before and be ready to discuss the book during the meeting along with exchanging music.
-To prepare, make a sign up sheet and have people fill out their name and three of their favorite musicians. Give a certain period for people to sign up. (But obviously if you can swing this without a cut-off date, feel free.) The three musicians listed is a way for the librarian to choose partners based on relative music taste and for the person who is making the mix tape.
-After sign up is finished, give everyone a partner. The name and three favorite musicians that's given to them will be the person they're supposed to make the mix CD for.
-Meet at a certain time, provide drinks and snacks and exchange CD's. If you do decide to read a book too, you'll have time to discuss the book.
IF you are planning to only meet once (or just a couple of times,) I would say it could be fun to plan on reading any of these:
Love is a Mixtape or Talking to girls about Duran Duran : one young man's quest for true love and a cooler haircut by Rob Sheffield
Mix Tape: The Art of Cassette Culture by Thurston Moore
Cassette From My Ex: Stories and Soundtracks of Lost Loves by Jason Bitner
before and be ready to discuss the book during the meeting along with exchanging music.
-To prepare, make a sign up sheet and have people fill out their name and three of their favorite musicians. Give a certain period for people to sign up. (But obviously if you can swing this without a cut-off date, feel free.) The three musicians listed is a way for the librarian to choose partners based on relative music taste and for the person who is making the mix tape.
-After sign up is finished, give everyone a partner. The name and three favorite musicians that's given to them will be the person they're supposed to make the mix CD for.
-Meet at a certain time, provide drinks and snacks and exchange CD's. If you do decide to read a book too, you'll have time to discuss the book.
Teen Program Idea: Graphic Novel Book Club
GRAPHIC NOVEL BOOK CLUB!
-Meet once a month.
-Pick a graphic novel to read and discuss (examples: The Walking Dead, Castle Waiting, Watchmen, Scott Pilgrim, Kill Shakespeare, Transmetropolitan)
-Watch a movie/anime/tv show adaptation of the graphic novel or something that relates to the graphic novel you've just read.
-If the club gets a good following, have one member each month pick the book they're going to read.
-Meet once a month.
-Pick a graphic novel to read and discuss (examples: The Walking Dead, Castle Waiting, Watchmen, Scott Pilgrim, Kill Shakespeare, Transmetropolitan)
-Watch a movie/anime/tv show adaptation of the graphic novel or something that relates to the graphic novel you've just read.
-If the club gets a good following, have one member each month pick the book they're going to read.
Friday, August 12, 2011
Octopus Storytime!
Books Used:
I'm the Biggest Thing in the Ocean by Kevin Sherry
Tickly Octopus by Ruth Galloway
An Octopus Followed Me Home by Dan Yaccarino
Herman The Helper by Robert Kraus
Craft: Octo-plate!
Materials needed:
-Paper plates (any size)
-Party Streamers cut 2 inches short (at least a variety of two colors)
-Googly eyes!
-Crayons
-Glue
Rhyme:
Arm #1 goes swish, swish, swish (swing arms back and forth)
Arm #2 helps me catch fish (wiggle hand back and forth)
Arm #3 pats my head (pat hand on head)
Arm #4 makes sure I’m fed (put hand to mouth)
Arm #5 swims me to shore (move arms in swimming motion)
Arm #6 touches the ocean floor (touch hand to floor)
Arm #7 can grab and tug (open and close hands)
But all eight arms give me a hug! (cross arms and hug yourself)
I'm the Biggest Thing in the Ocean by Kevin Sherry
Tickly Octopus by Ruth Galloway
An Octopus Followed Me Home by Dan Yaccarino
Herman The Helper by Robert Kraus
Craft: Octo-plate!
Materials needed:
-Paper plates (any size)
-Party Streamers cut 2 inches short (at least a variety of two colors)
-Googly eyes!
-Crayons
-Glue
Rhyme:
Arm #1 goes swish, swish, swish (swing arms back and forth)
Arm #2 helps me catch fish (wiggle hand back and forth)
Arm #3 pats my head (pat hand on head)
Arm #4 makes sure I’m fed (put hand to mouth)
Arm #5 swims me to shore (move arms in swimming motion)
Arm #6 touches the ocean floor (touch hand to floor)
Arm #7 can grab and tug (open and close hands)
But all eight arms give me a hug! (cross arms and hug yourself)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)