Do you want to engage your learners during every minute of their time in the library? Learn how to create simple work stations to teach library skills or curriculum objectives. The centers allow for choice and movement while reducing off-task behaviors. Your students will be involved in active learning, will create displays that can be shown off on your walls and bulletin boards, and will demonstrate to your campus that you are a valuable educator.
24. Animal Library
Centers
• Add writing or drawing prompt
on butcher paper or poster
• Display related books for
check-out
• Magnifying glasses
• Sign: “do not touch cage”
I put the instructions in an acrylic sign holder. All materials are there. They don’t need to come to me to get more stuff.
I always display related books, and replace them as they get checked out. I have plenty of markers because a few will go dry.
Jigsaw puzzles include book-related art. Check at Walmart, Target, and Amazon.There are also different types of puzzles. You can put a book cover or illustration on popsicle sticks.Magic square puzzles, environmental print puzzles.
You can check out audio books from your public library, if you don’t have any. You can download audiobooks from Overdrive and use USB or memory card in your listening center.
Scholastic printables subscription costs $39.99/year, can use Scholastic Dollars from book fair. I prefer Twistables over crayons or colored pencils or markers.
In schools where there are no art classes, students like to have an opportunity to draw.
Here you see 5 5th grade boys completely engaged. Borrow titles from your public library, if needed, to add more variety.
You can buy these with Scholastic dollars. You may need to wipe occasionally with germ-killing wipes.
April Fool’s joke.
When I start the center, I either write a response myself, or I glue student responses onto the blank poster
You can add the water and feed the crickets through the hole in the top of the critter keeper.
This is from Kate Messner’s Twitter feed. When she visited our school, she wondered what would happen if Gordon the tarantula got loose in the library. She wrote a picture book about it, and her agent is sending it to publishers.