Programming Ideas for Librarians: Children's Programs

Resources for School Librarians has compiled a comprehensive directory of lesson plans for information skills instruction.

Each summer, public libraries in Alaska host summer reading programs designed to promote, encourage and support literacy; while also keeping students reading. These summer reading programs recognize that students need to practice reading if they are going to mitigate and reverse the summer slide.

The Alaska State Museum website includes online exhibits, video demonstrations and educational resources designed to support exhibits.

The ACL website has a useful list of resources with suggested story-time ideas and activities.

The Bay Area Discovery Museum has developed research based activities, tips and tool kits for library staff that work with children up to 10 years of age.

The Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC) is a unique examination, study and research library of the School of Education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

"The EatPlayGrow™ curriculum incorporates art-making, storytelling, music and movement activities into fun and hands-on educational lessons to teach young children and their adult caregivers about the importance of making positive choices in areas that most affect health: nutrition, physical activity and, based on the latest medical research, sleep."

Jbrary is a library of storytime resources including songs, rhymes, finger-plays and more.

Resources to help librarians successfully integrate makerspaces and making, tinkering and DIY programming in their libraries.

National Fossil Day-Kids Stuff web page is designed especially for kids. This is the place to find games, activities, books, and other fun ways to learn about paleontology

"The Notable Children’s Digital Media list includes real-time, dynamic, and interactive media content for children 14 years of age and younger that enables and encourages active engagement and social interaction while informing, educating, and entertaining in exemplary ways."

Printable storybook patterns

All Things STEAM, a resource for offering library programming in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics.

Storytelling through origami.

"A StoryWalk® is a fun, educational activity that places a children’s story (literally a book taken apart) along a popular walking route in your community."

The Kellogg-Hubbard Library has created a Story Walk ® resource page that includes photos, links to a list of suggested titles, frequently asked questions and history.

"Virtual programs are a valuable way to connect with our communities regardless of crisis. As libraries of all types expand their digital collections and explore virtual programming, we offer this guide as a resource to those seeking to offer or improve story time services from afar. "

Abby Johnson's blog highlights new children's books, programming and displays.

"Fostering Readers provides the information and resources public library and afterschool program staff need to plan, implement and evaluate research-based literacy programs for K-3 grade children who are learning to read."

Alberta Family Wellness developed the video with considerable input from the Harvard Center on the Developing Child and the Frameworks Institute.

This blog has an extensive list of songs, rhymes, and finger-plays. Each thematic activity listed on the blog includes: a plan, suggested books, an extension activity and craft.

"Supercharged Storytimes is a self-paced course consisting of six modules, which include videos, readings, activities, and reflection questions. The course provides training in how to intentionally apply research-based practices to boost early literacy in young children attending library storytime."

Alaska Department of Fish and Game educators, working in cooperation with teachers, biologists and other agencies or nonprofits, have developed kits to provide educators with hands-on materials, information and activities. Kits are housed in a variety of locations throughout Alaska and are available for loan

The Education & Public Programs Department has a large hands-on collection used in our teaching and displays. Many kits and objects are available to borrow for educational purposes. Use hands-on objects to enhance your lessons in your classroom or within the museum.

The Hands-On collection is a special collection apart from the Alaska State Museum's permanent collections. As part of Alaska State Museum's outreach to students in rural areas across the state, the Sheldon Jackson Museum maintains a loan program for schools, libraries, and museums in Alaska.