Programming Ideas: “Read, Renew, Repeat” Summer Reading Program
The California Library Association offers free resources for a summer reading program each year. With a focus on Building Equity-Based Summers: iREAD Summer Resource Guides – California State Library, this year’s theme focuses on conservation: Read, Renew, Repeat.” Use ideas below for a summer reading festival, or use just a few for self-directed hands-on activities (or passive programming).
Games and Activities
Recyclable Sorting Race: Divide children into teams of four, and have them take turns filling up recycling bins in a timed event.
Dirt Relay Race: Divide children into teams of four. Using a spoon, one player carries a spoonful of dirt to a flower pot ten feet from the start, then runs back. The next player takes the spoon and repeats the action, until one team finishes first by filling the flower pot.
Earth Day Bingo: Free Printable Earth Day Bingo | artsy-fartsy mama (artsyfartsymama.com)
Recycling Corn Hole Game: DIY Recycling Corn Hole (youtube.com).
Endangered Species Board Game: Printable Endangered Animals Game (adventure-in-a-box.com).
Water Bottle Bowling: Water Bottle Bowling | Fun Family Crafts. Make a bowling set out of water bottles, and have a bowling contest! See who can knock down the most pins after two attempts.
Crafts
Make Lava Lamps: Water/Hydrology – Fizz Boom Read! (weebly.com).
Simple T-shirt Bag: Simple T-Shirt Produce Bag (dltk-kids.com).
Ocean Suncatchers: Ocean Craft Suncatcher – Fantastic Fun & Learning (fantasticfunandlearning.com).
Seed Paper: Earth Day Project: Making Homemade Seed Paper – Pre-K Pages
Magazine Bowls: Easy DIY Magazine Bowls Tutorial (diyjoy.com) (good for older children and teens).
Pocket Tic Tac Toe Game: Tic Tac Toe On The Go – Reuse Grow Enjoy.
Penny Peck, San Jose State University, iSchool
Leave a Reply