Do-It-Yourself Program Ideas
“Read to the Rhythm” 2015 Summer Reading Program
Each year’s summer reading theme offers a great topic for a Do-It-Yourself program. In California, the 2015 summer reading program materials provided by the California State Library celebrate “Read to the Rhythm.” A program on that theme could include:
Icebreaker: Dance! Have a dance party to kick-off your event, with simple line or circle dances like “The Chicken Dance” or “The Hokey Pokey.”
Craft Stations:
Make a home-made guitar: www.artistshelpingchildren.org/make-guitars-crafts.html.
Make a home-made drum: www.artistshelpingchildren.org/make-drums-crafts.html.
Decoupage with sheet music: www.popsugar.com/moms/Decoupage-Craft-Kids-21794243.
Game Stations:
Ring the Drum: Place some small children’s preschool instruments on the ground. Have player stand four to six feet from the instruments. Have player toss three embroidery hoops over the instruments. If they can ring one, they win! Make sure the hoops are large enough to go over the instrument. Drums work very well for this game.
Pin the Microphone on the Popstar: Get a large poster of Harry Styles (from One Direction) or any other popular singer that appeals to tweens. Cut out construction paper microphones. Have a blindfolded player tape the microphone on the poster, trying to get it as close to the hand as possible. This is similar to “Pin the Tail on the Donkey.”
Name That Tune: http://kids.niehs.nih.gov/games/songs/guess/.
Community Partners:
Have a musical instrument petting zoo. Partner with a local music program, such as the nearby middle school, so children can see and touch a variety of musical instruments. Include instruments from various cultures and countries.
Invite a local science teacher to do some demonstrations. Do some simple science experiments that explore the science of sound: www.sciencebob.com/experiments/chicken_cup.php
Ask your high school volunteers to run an area where kids can play some “old school” music-themed videogames such as Dance Dance Revolution or Guitar Hero.
Refreshments: Since many of the dance activities are aerobic in nature, be sure to have lots of water and juice drinks. Fresh fruit would also be a welcome treat!
Movie Showing: If you want to show a full-length movie highlighting music, try a Sing-Along movie showing. Use a DVD that has lyric captions, such as “Frozen,” or “Sound of Music.” For more movie programming ideas, check out: www.bayviews.org/do-it-yourself-library-programming-movies/
“Every Hero Has a Story” 2015 Summer Reading Program
Each year’s summer reading theme offers a great topic for a Do-It-Yourself program. In some areas, libraries will be using the 2015 summer reading program materials provided by the Collaborative Summer Library Program (www.cslpreads.org), celebrating “Every Hero Has a Story.” A program on that theme could include:
Icebreaker: Read a few fun “superhero” picture books, such as:
• Leroy, Jean. Superfab Saves the Day.
• McCloud, Bob. SuperHero ABC.
• Morales, Yuyi. Nino Wrestles the World.
• O’Connor, George. KAPOW!
Craft Stations:
Make superhero capes out of rolls of plastic tablecloth: http://themed-parties.wonderhowto.com/how-to/create-super-hero-cape-party-favors-321753/ .
Make simple Batman and Robin action figures out of toilet paper tubes: www.allfreekidscrafts.com/Recycled-Kids-Crafts/Batman-and-Robin-Tube-Toys.
Make simple Avengers bookmarks out of craft sticks: http://craftsbyamanda.com/avengers-bookmarks-craft-for-kids/ .
Game Stations:
Phone Booth Clothing Change Race: Just like Superman, players will need to change into their superhero costume in a “phone booth” you make out of a large cardboard box (be sure you cut a window in the top portion of the box so you can see the player). Have them remove their Clark Kent eyeglasses, necktie, and jacket, and put on their capes, wristbands, and boots. See who can change their clothes in the shortest amount of time!
Kryptonite Hunt: Paint some rocks (about the size of an egg or baseball) with some florescent green paint. Hide them around the garden area or patio of the library like you would Easter Eggs. Any player who finds a Kryptonite rock can exchange it for a prize! You might want to limit this to just one per child. You can also do this in small groups of children who are the same age, to give little kids a fair chance.
Capture the Villain: Tape printouts of superhero villains, like the Joker, Penguin, Green Goblin, or other bad guy, to some empty 2-liter soda bottles that have an inch or two of sand in the bottle. Each player receives three beanbags and takes aim at the bottles; if they can knock down one of the villains, the player wins a prize!
Community Partners:
Invite the local firefighters to come. They can show the children their fire truck and equipment, and talk about their jobs.
See if a local service dog group can bring some of the dogs that assist military veterans or those with disabilities, to explain how these hero dogs are trained.
Refreshments: Superheroes eat their veggies, so offer some carrots, celery, and other raw veggies along with ranch dressing for dipping, and bottled water.
Movie Showing: If you want to show a full-length movie highlighting heroes, try “Big Hero 6.”
For more summer programming ideas, check out the Collaborative Summer Library Program website: www.cslpreads.org/.
Penny Peck,
SJSU iSchool
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