Summer Reading: Build a Better World (5)

I know it's March, but summer will be here before you know. Deadlines are looming for performers and/or community magazines. I've started pulling together ideas on Pinterest. I'm planning to concentrate on building activities and STEAM programs. But Pinterest as so many great ideas that it's hard to choose. So I'm sharing my Pinterest finds. I hope you find them useful.

Passive Programs:

Build Your Own Castle

Build a House or create a town

Giant Sudoku

Landmark Challenge Cards

Kindness project

Coloring Pages

Fall Program for Kids (2)

I know Summer Reading is in full swing, but my head is filled with ideas for fall programs. Fall for my library runs from September thru December. This is the first year for me creating programs for kids, so Pinterest is of course my new best friend. Here are some ideas I'm looking at closely.

PASSIVE PROGRAMS:

Great for going back to school:

I Spy: School Style

Perfect for the week before Halloween:

Design Your Own Monster Face

Writing is great for all ages, perfect for early November and NaNoWriMo

Create a Character 

Perfect for the week of Thanksgiving:

Stuff the Turkey Game

Hide the Gingerbread People (I've been hiding Ninjas this summer and people seem to love it! So I might try it again in the winter.

Gingerbread Template

Summer Reading: Passive Programs

Passive programs are great - you can leave them out all week. Change them every Monday. Count the number you put out and on Friday/Saturday count the number that's still left.

 Presto - there's your program. Not a lot of clean up or fuss. So here are some that are perfect for summer reading.

Word Search

1. Weekly puzzles - a mix of word searches, mazes, and crossword puzzles. There are plenty on pinterest or you can make your own with puzzlemaker

Book Shelf

Horse Jumping

2. Coloring sheets: So many for the younger kids, but it's super relaxing and all the craze right now. Check Pinterest for coloring sheets for adults. They don't have to be theme related, but they could be.

Hunt for Books

3. Library scavenger hunts: This can be as intense or as easy as you want to make it

4. Matching games: Test their sports knowledge. Match the mascot with the sports team

Golf Tees

5. Guessing Games: Win a candy bar (or something equally small)

Football: Passive Programs

Now that football season is in full swing, here are a few passive programs that are easy to run. Leave them in a teen friendly location with a display on football books or a sign that says Return this to {insert your name} for a piece of candy. I quickly found out that teens would do anything for candy. And if one teen had candy, they bragged about it and everyone else jumped on board...

Matching Game:

Match the mascot with the team 

Match the football player name with his number

Match the football player with his team

Match the coach with the team

Puzzle Games:

Create a word search, crossword, or maze relating to football

I often use Puzzlermaker for these (it's free)