Hands-On Idea Swap Ideas, Part 2
Leah Langby
April 27, 2012
Keeping Up With Kids

More tidbits from the idea swap about hands-on activities.  More to come!

Karen from Woodville reminded us about the Wisconsin DNR’s EEK site (Environmental Education for Kids). There are lots of great activities on this site, and they update them regularly, so it is worth checking out.  There are indoor activities (making an edible aquifer, for instance), and also outdoor adventures.  Karen had fun with taking kids on a stream walk, collecting data (on temperature, rate of movement, counting creatures) and sending it in to the DNR.  (This reminds me of a recent well-reviewed book for kids, Citizen Scientists by Loree Griffin Burns–no MORE libraries own this title yet!)

Marilyn in Boyceville talked about their library’s Wrangler Days.  She brought in horse tack, showed kids how to do roping (they were roping chairs), they made brands, told some tall tales and talked about the history of cowboys.  They even did some reader’s theater, with the help of a junior high student who loves drama.  They had one program for 1-3 grades and another for 4-6 grades.  Sounds like fun!


Marilyn also talked about a winter program that has worked well in Boyceville.  In a town that doesn’t have many hang-out spots for teens, their monthly after-school teen coffee time was very well received!  The library served cappuccinos (very swanky), put out storytime-prep projects for them to work on if they felt like it, and pulled a display of science fiction/fantasy titles for them.  Teens loved the chance to hang out (much better–and warmer–than the Cenex station down the street).  They snatched up the books, provided a little help, and just enjoyed each others’ company.

search all blog posts using keywords or title, date, categories

Archives

Categories

Related Articles

IFLS Youth Services Check-In: Play!

Great questions were asked, great ideas were swapped!  Here are a few highlights (sorry if I’m forgetting something):   Karen Magnusson (formerly of Woodville, now of Baldwin) gave a report about her experience at the Play, Make, Learn Conference in...

Great Halloween Cupcake Bake-Off in Phillips

Thanks to Linda Johnson, the new youth services librarian in Phillips, for sharing this fun collaboration.  Leveraging her existing connection with the school and with the Family and Consumer Education teacher, Linda organized a Great Halloween Cupcake Bake-Off for...

The Power of Partnerships (guest post by Valerie Spooner)

I had a great chat with Valerie Spooner, the youth services librarian in Ladysmith, this afternoon.  I LOVED hearing this story about the ways putting in the time for partnerships and relationships can pay off! In 2020 I was able to fulfill one of my library dreams -...