Book Character Pumpkin Entries (School #1)

Well,  we had a lot of interest in this contest from our primary grades.  Armed with glue and paint and construction paper...and whatever else they brought from home, students attacked the mini pumpkins with gusto!  So much gusto that several had to go to the big Pumpkin-Patch-in-the-Sky due to fruit flies and rapid decay.  The idea was to paint the pumpkins as a book character and pose them with the matching book.  This didn't quite work out as intended.  The term 'character' brought forth  animated movie personalities and artistic interpretations of book themes.  I have 2 different schools working on this project.

Here are the results from school number one (minus those that didn't survive the wait for my next visit)  The No! David! was made by our Teacher Librarian as an example.

 

Pumpkin Book Characters

• I love this project!  Host a contest between the classes or even for the whole school.  Partner with the art teacher or classroom teacher.
• The theme for the pumpkin contest is “My Favorite Book Character.”  Paint and decorate a pumpkin to look like a book character.  We are using acrylic paints, permanent markers and miscellaneous supplies such as  yarn, construction paper, pipe cleaners, cloth, wigs, old clothes and whatever else you can come up with.
• We are not allowing carving so that they will last longer on display before turning bad.  Another hint is to not use watercolor paint as it tends to run and not cover very well. 
• We were able to pick up small pumpkins for $0.99 at the local grocery store.  You could also use other squash and gourds for different shapes.  

I will post pictures once our entries have been received.  Below are some of the example I found on Pinterest.com

End of Year Book Returns

One of the busiest times for school libraries occurs as the school year comes to an end.  It is a time to resolve overdue book issues and return books to the shelves before the great summer exodus.  It is important to start early and be visible and tenacious.

Most of us make use of  reminder slips, announcements and notices on the school websites and newsletters.  But what else can we do to make returning books to the library an adventure for students, rather than a chore?

1)  Instead of relying solely on boring lists of missing books, create a game where students can help locate them.

Found on schoollibrarydisplays.blogspot.com

Some of my schools hold a Great Barcode Hunt on the last days of classes.  Students search the classrooms, lockers and all over the school for books with barcodes to return to the library.

2) Host a contest with a prize (pizza, ice cream or popcorn party, a special viewing of a movie in the library, extra computer free time, extra gym/outdoor period, etc) for the class that gets all their books back to the library first. I like to include teachers in the contest since teacher resources are one of my highest losses. Maybe issue certificates to post on the doors of classes:

via pinterest.com

3) Have classes create their own WANTED posters and post them throughout the school.  There are so many ways to do this.  They can create fictional characters who have left their books, draw missing book posters, create book outlaws.

from randomhousekids.com

4) Make library reminder announcements interesting.  
A 5-part Dr. Seuss-style poem has been adapted in most of my schools.  The kids actually stop and listen to it and are eager for the next installment. It's a chance to use your creative writing and speaking skills.  Here is a tiny excerpt from the poems:  

Comb through your lockers

Bottom and top

And under the lunch

That all but the flies forgot

Look in the closets

And under the stairs

Behind all your toys

And old teddy bears

Books are so quiet

They don’t make a sound

When they get lost

 They’re not easily found

We’re missing a few Lioni’s

And some Dr. Seusses

And books about hockey

And some Mother Gooses

We’ve sent out notices

 And asked you through rhyme

 But still lots are missing

And we’re soon out of time

Each book you return is

Welcomed with a cheer

‘Cause some other student

can read it next year

Book Return Poem credited to Mr. T. Flynn

5) Create countdown signs or class counts.  Post them by the library and keep classes updated with daily announcements over the P.A.

via absentlibrarian

via pinterest.com

Doodle for Google Canadian Competition

reposted from: VirtualMe at  Say What?!?

Doodle 4 Google is a national competition inviting students grades kindergarten to 12 in Canada to redesign the logo for our Google.ca homepage!

The winning doodle will be featured on the Google Canada homepage for 24 hours. The winning student will also receive a $10,000 scholarship, a Google Chromebook, and a $10,000 grant to their current school along with a trip to Toronto to view a special exhibition of the top doodles at the Royal Ontario Museum in 2014.