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Elementary Library Lesson Ideas

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  • A book page with text is displayed, framed by an orange border.

    Gr 3-5

    Give students copies of the first  page of a chapter book, without the title. They read it and write: what they think the title is, characters, places, events, genre, or anything they can understand from reading the first page. Then they share with the class, & discuss if the page made them interested enough to read the entire book.

  • Illustration of two children, one offering a flower to the other, with the words 'Be a Friend'.

    Gr K-2

    Read Be a Friend by Salina Yoon.

    Song by Emily Arrow with miming activities

  • Book cover titled 'The Book of Mistakes' with illustrations and yellow balloons.

    Please read The Book of Mistakes to students, and then do this activity.

  • Colorful watercolor circles surround the text 'SEL Character Trait of the Month'.

    Read a book about a character trait your school is focusing on. Offer a prize to students who can find an example of that trait in a book they are reading. For example, for integrity, read The Empty Pot.

  • A whiteboard displays Braille dots and a pink chart with letters.

    Braille & Keller

    Books: Six Dots (Sora), Who was Louis Braille (Sora), Who was Helen Keller (Sora), The Black Book of Colors (public library)

    Ask students if they know what all the dots on the board are used for. They usually know it's braille. Show them the Louis Braille book and talk about the accident that caused his blindness. Talk about how braille is written, using 6 circles for each letter and challenge them to figure out what is written on the board. Pass around The Black Book of Colors so they can feel braille and the raised images on that page.

    Next, tell them about Helen Keller and the illness that caused her blind/deafness. Talk about how challenging it would be to communicate without seeing/hearing/speaking and how Annie Sullivan communicated by pressing her fingers into Helen's palm. Finish by reading a Helen Keller book.

  • Book cover for 'The Invisible String' featuring a mother and children.

    Listen to The Invisible String

    Invisible String Activity

  • Illustration of a person doing a handstand on a path lined with palm trees.

    Read There Goes Patti McGee (in Sora)

    Watch Video: 9:07

  • Book cover featuring a close-up of a rabbit with text: 'Why Rabbits Eat Poop'.

    Why Rabbits Eat Poop and Other Gross Facts about Pets by Jody S. Rake

    Read book (in Sora)

    Show video of rabbit eating crunchy celery

  • A stack of emoji faces with various expressions against a bright orange background.

    Book Review

    Book Review Lesson

  • Illustration of a chef holding a basket of potato chips, with text 'George Crum'.

    Read George Crum and the Saratoga Chip by Gaylia Taylor (in Sora)

    Optional: Pass out a few potato chips for students to eat while watching the videos below:

    Video: The Accidental Invention of the Best Snack Food Ever

    Video: Kevin Hart's Guide To Black History: George Speck

    Resources and lesson ideas

  • A children's book cover features woodland animals gathered around a raccoon.

    The Sweater, an unforgettable picture book about the power of kindness and the importance of community is geared for grades K-2 and has 4 starred reviews! If you choose to read it to your students, here are some activities you can incorporate with the story.