Edgemont is Having Fun with Science!

Several weeks ago we read this book to our students...

To make it a bit more exciting, we decorated the library with a bag of these...

The students loved them...of course!

We didn't feel right about throwing away good potatoes, so the following week we talked about the Scientific Method and introduced the library's own science experiment...

Then we read this fun book to go along with what they had learned...

Now our potatoes look like this...

And we have students eagerly checking their growth each week...they can't wait to finally have an answer for the "conclusion" portion of the poster!

Edgemont Elementary is Wild About Books!

A crop of wild animals and foliage has invaded the media center at Edgemont Elementary and the students couldn't be happier!  They are eagerly making tracks to this fun location knowing that an exciting adventure awaits each week.  With giraffes, monkeys, birds, snakes, and zebras just waiting to say hello, who wouldn't want to come to the library?!?

Oakdale Elementary

It is Teacher Appreciation Week at Oakdale.  In anticipation of this, Shannon came up with a fun idea!  We read poetry books with haiku to the students.  We taught them how to create a haiku.  Then we sent the teacher away and helped the students created a haiku about their teacher.  They did a great job!  We printed them, made frames and displayed them in the media center.

We used three books for this project:

I Haiku You by Betsy Snyder
Guyku by Bob Raczka (LOVE this one)
The Hound Dog's Haiku by Michael J. Rosen

Sprucewood Elementary Moustache March

March Moustache (My-stash) of Books

Our students love book talks.  This year we decided to incorporate one of our book talks into our monthly theme and invite students to join in.  The theme was moustache (my-stash) of books.  We first started with a bulletin board with a picture of our principal (sporting a black moustache) surround by books that he enjoys.  We then ask students to volunteer to give a book talk about one of their favorite books.  We gave them plenty of time to prepare the book talk and an outline they could use, if needed.     Next, we choose one of our favorite new books to do our book talk on.   We gave a book talk on “The Inventor’s Secret” by Chad Morris.  It is a fabulous book of twins who attend Cragbridge Hall, a school dedicated to honor their grandfather, a famous inventor.  While at the school, the children find out their grandfather and parents are missing and the kids must engage in an adventure of a lifetime and find inner-strength as they try to save their beloved grandfather and parents.  With so many cliffhangers in the book, it is ideal for a book talk.  We presented our book talk to the classes and then allowed students to present their book talk.  We had a display of books in our library that showed all of the books that classmates had done book talks on and recommended.  We also added pictures to our bulletin board of the students (with moustaches) holding the book they had recommended to their fellow students.  Students that participated by giving a book talk were rewarded with a moustache sucker, a straw with a detachable moustache on it and a picture of them holding their book.   This activity was such a success that we have students and teachers asking us to do it again.  Also students love books recommend by other students.  It is a great way to get students reading.

The beginning bulletin board with just our principal.  

 The final bulletin board with all the students.

The display that showed the books that our students had recommended.

Cole’s picture with a moustache sucker reward on top.

April is author spotlight month at Midvalley

This month we decided to introduce our students to some different authors. The students loved reading the authors bio and checking out their books!!

More Poetry Fun at Butler

We thought we'd share these poetry ideas because they are easy and fun to do and the students loved them.

The book spine poetry activity was offered to 5th and 6th graders.  They really got into it and even used the computers to find book titles with the words they wanted.  A secondary gain- in the process of looking for book titles they liked, they found new things to read.

The Circle poem by Prelutsky is a favorite and fun to memorize.  The younger students go 'round and 'round. :)

Ali & Debbie
Butler Elementary

 

Art and Books at Butler

This month, our school studied Michelangelo and architecture for the Meet the Masters art lesson.  All classes completed a project and these were hung on the walls throughout the school by each classroom. To complement this theme, the library set up a special display with our books on Michelangelo, ancient buildings, architecture, and art in general.

Ali & Debbie