Elementary Library Lessons: My Favorites
Presented at the KASL Annual State Conference
10/1/2015 Manhattan, KS
by Amy Brownlee, MLS
Presented at the KASL Annual State Conference
10/1/2015 Manhattan, KS
by Amy Brownlee, MLS
I have shared some of my best-loved and most popular library themes, lessons, and storytime books and activities for grades K-6. Topics include: Library curriculum; Orientation and book care; Parts of a book; Call number location; Digital Citizenship; Caldecott; Primary/secondary sources; Kansas studies; Themes; Read-alouds / Storytime. This session includes access to web links, book lists, reproducible student pages, lesson plans, and other helpful tools.
LIBRARY CURRICULUM
K-6 Curriculum Chart
https://www.usd376.com/o/usd-376/page/library-programs#classes
K-6 Curriculum Chart
https://www.usd376.com/o/usd-376/page/library-programs#classes
- Fall: Focus on library use -- book care, locating books in the library, using the OPAC, using ebooks and databases.
- Spring: Research projects, technology, author studies, etc.
ORIENTATION & BOOK CARE
Books:
Books:
- Mr. Wiggle’s Book by Paula Craig and Carol Thompson (book care - K)
- We’re Going on a Book Hunt by Pat Miller (1st)
- The Library Doors by Toni Buzzeo (1st)
- Penelope Popper, Book Doctor by Toni Buzzeo (2nd)
- Teacher's guide / activities
- Author's page - includes links to Pitiful Books PowerPoint and other resources
- The Library Dragon by Carmen Agra Deedy (3rd)
Book Care Lesson: Yes, Always -- No, Never (1st)
| book_care_lesson.docx |
Library map activity (4th
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PARTS OF A BOOK
available through State Library Ebsco database Explora: (you may need to enter the Explora database first, then click the link)
http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=tfh&AN=26357694
- “Hi, ho Librario” song by Judy Freeman from book and CD of same title. Sung to the tune of “The Farmer in the Dell” (author, illustrator, publisher, copyright)
- Simon says activity
(Point to the call number, author’s name, etc. Touch your book to your elbow. Put your book behind your back.) - “That’s my book” activity (from School Library Monthly)
available through State Library Ebsco database Explora: (you may need to enter the Explora database first, then click the link)
http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=tfh&AN=26357694
- Can use with “Parts of a book” PowerPoint
| parts_of_a_book_ppt_racoons.ppt |
CALL NUMBER LOCATION
- Fishing for a Good Book (3rd grade)
- Library Scavenger Hunt (4th grade)
- Book Hunt (5th grade)
| call_number_location_activities.pdf |
NEW! These files can be printed to create your own Fishing for a Good Book game. Feel free to edit.
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DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP
- Common Sense Media has wonderful resources for K-12, including detailed lesson plans, videos, a scope and sequence, etc. The resources are free, but you do need to create a free account. https://www.commonsensemedia.org/educators/scope-and-sequence
- Digital Passport program for grades 3-5. Online modules. Teacher creates accounts for students. (We use the same username and password as for AR.) Can be supplemented with pencil/paper lessons. Each module includes a brief video, lesson/content, and game. I do the complete module with 5th graders. https://www.digitalpassport.org/educator-registration
- Books and videos:
- Bully by Patricia Polacco. Great read-aloud and discussion of cyerbullying (5th).
- The Berenstain Bears’ Computer Trouble by Jan & Mike Berenstain. Internet safety and message of balancing screen time with other activities. (2nd)
- Faux Paw’s Adventures on the Internet by Jacalyn S. Leavitt and Sally Shill Linford (paperback book with movies on CD-Rom). I show the movies and discuss with students. (2nd)
- DVD: Internet Safety - The Safe Side. 3rd and 4th grade. Lots of good messages in this, but warning: it is goofy! But the kids love it. They were riveted.
- Web Evaluation Unit
- Antis, Barbara. “Who’s the Judge? Evaluating Internet Sites.” School Library Media Activities Monthly May 2006: p. 11-14. Great role playing activity / court case -- authority, expert, credibility.
- Rating and evaluating websites
CALDECOTT (BOOK STUDY AND PROMOTION)
- Look at books. Compare and contrast different styles. Compare older Caldecotts with more recent winners. Display books -- kids are excited to check out a book with a medal on the cover!
- Musical book browse game (like musical chairs)
- Audioboom project -- choosing and discussing a favorite illustration from a Caldecott book. NOTE: Audioboom went from being free to requiring a subscription. I suggest using the free iPad app Chatterpix Kids and uploading the projects to a Padlet. Student samples.
- Students choose a Caldecott book they like and choose a favorite illustration. Next, students write out a script telling the title and author of the book and why they like the illustration. The students practice reading these aloud until they are fluent. Students use iPads and Audioboom (or the free Chatterpix Kids app) to take a photo of their favorite illustration and record their voices reading their script.
| audioboo_script_caldecott.doc |
PRIMARY / SECONDARY SOURCES
- Define and discuss primary and secondary sources. Student worksheet (below).
- Invite students to bring a primary source from home to share.
| primary_and_secondary_sources.doc |
KANSAS STUDIES
- Kansas Day activities from the Kansas State Historical Society.
- Kansas Day ideas on Pinterest
- Kansas activities / guest speakers & read-aloud books (see document below)
- Kansas Agriculture lesson (see document below)
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THEMES
Some themes I've used are year-long, and others last a few weeks. I rotate my themes and only do one per school year. These are some of the themes I've used over the past several years. So far I haven't repeated a theme, but I've saved my materials so I can use them again in the future.
Recycling / Environmentalism
Some themes I've used are year-long, and others last a few weeks. I rotate my themes and only do one per school year. These are some of the themes I've used over the past several years. So far I haven't repeated a theme, but I've saved my materials so I can use them again in the future.
Recycling / Environmentalism
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| footprint.pdf |
| paper.pdf |
Genre
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Language / Figures of Speech
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| punished_anchor_charts.pdf |
Multiculturalism / Around the World
Detailed lesson plans, activities, and book lists: https://abpres.weebly.com/multicultural-lessons.html
School-Wide Themes archive
https://abpres.weebly.com/school-wide-themes.html
Detailed lesson plans, activities, and book lists: https://abpres.weebly.com/multicultural-lessons.html
School-Wide Themes archive
https://abpres.weebly.com/school-wide-themes.html
- Hero’s trail: biographies of famous people, character education
- Mississippi River
- Lewis & Clark
READ-ALOUDS / STORYTIME
Kindness
Black History Month / Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Veteran’s Day
Kindness
- Ordinary Mary's Extraordinary Deed by Emily Pearson (pay it forward idea; random acts of kindness)
- Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson
- Summary: When Ms. Albert teaches a lesson on kindness, Chloe realizes that she and her friends have been wrong in making fun of new student Maya's shabby clothes and refusing to play with her. / The book talks about your words sending out ripples like when a rock is put in water. I brought a large clear bowl and some rocks. I filled the bowl with water. Then each child dropped a rock in the bowl and told something they could do to be kind to others.
Black History Month / Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
- Goin' Someplace Special by Patricia McKissack
- Henry's Freedom Box by Ellen Levine
- Show Way by Jacqueline Woodson
- The Other Side by Jacqueline Woodson
- Our Children Can Soar by Michelle Cook
- Martin's Big Words by Doreen Rappaport
- Pink and Say by Patricia Polacco
- Under the Same Sun by Sharon Robinson
Veteran’s Day
- The Wall by Eve Bunting (book and Reading Rainbow video)
- America’s White Table by Margot Theis Raven
- Our principal read this aloud and I brought items from home so he could have students help him “set the table” as he read. Each item on the table represents something about the missing loved one.
| veterans.pdf |
| americas_white_table_symbols.docx |
Christmas
Humor / Just for Fun!
- Auntie Claus by Elise Primavera
- Welcome Comfort by Patricia Polacco
- The Amazing Christmas Extravaganza by David Shannon
- Where Did They Hide My Presents? by Alan Katz -- Poetry with hilarious new lyrics to Christmas songs. Have a sing-along.
- The Dinosaurs' Night before Christmas by Anne Muecke (Like Night at the Museum movie -- dinosaurs come to life. Comes with CD of music. Pair with the traditional 'Twas the Night Before Christmas.)
- Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree by Robert Barry
Humor / Just for Fun!
- Mo Willems books: Elephant & Piggie, Pigeon books, etc.
- Pete the Cat books -- online songs and videos, printable coloring sheets, etc. http://www.harpercollins.com/childrens/feature/petethecat
- The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt
http://www.penguin.com/static/images/yr/pdf/CrayonsGuide.pdf - The Day the Crayons Came Back by Drew Daywalt
- Toys Go Out by Emily Jenkins
- Gooney Bird Greene by Lois Lowry
- The S.O.S. Files by Betsy Byars - Group of short stories. Great for time fillers.
- Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar
- Spot the Plot by J. Patrick Lewis - Riddles give clues to popular childrens' books.
