Dig Into the Summer Fun!

Now that we enjoyed riding the roller coaster, visiting Sea World and playing Candy Land, we are now ready to dig into some summer fun!

Digging Creatures Diorama

Supplies Needed: One letter-sized piece of card stock (any color), paper green grass, toilet paper or paper towel tubes, pictures of animals either hand drawn or downloaded from the Internet, scissors, glue/tape and crayons/markers.

1.  Either draw or download from online pictures of small animals that usually dig in the ground, such as moles, chipmunks, earthworms, slugs, rabbits, ants, etc.

2.  If you download off the Internet, then using crayons/markers, color in the pictures of the animals or print them out on a colored printer (whichever you prefer).

3.  Take 2-3 cardboard tubes (toilet paper or paper towel tubes) and cut them in half using scissors. Fold each half in half to make the tubes more narrow.  Those will be your underground tunnels that the animals will dig or crawl through.

4.  Take your tube halves, paper animals and paper green grass and glue/tape all of them onto the piece of letter-sized card stock.  Preferably, the grass should be on top and the tube tunnels should be placed below.

5. Place the animals anywhere in the grass or in or around the tubes.

6. Using crayons/markers, you may embellish the diorama by coloring in vegetables or roots as well.  You may also create a shovel that people use for digging by cutting out a square from a piece of card stock and sticking it to a wooden stick.

Below are the underground worlds created by the children at the library!

Now that you saw animals dig in the ground for food, it is now time to enjoy some fun food at McDonald's!  Let's dig into a happy meal!

McDonald's Happy Meal!

Supplies Needed:  A paper plate, card stock, tissue paper, fabric, a glittery pipe cleaner, fake green grass, crayons/markers, glue/tape and scissors.

1.  Wrap up a paper plate in tissue paper of any color of your choice.  Then set the paper plate down on a table. 

2.  Cut out 2 big circles from light brown colored fabric and set aside.  (Those 2 big fabric circles will be your hamburger buns.)

3. Using scissors, cut out round red shapes and a round dark brown shape out of card stock or fabric to resemble a burger and tomato slices. 

4.  Cut out bright yellow strips from fabric to resemble cheese. 

5.  Take one fabric bun and lay it flat on a surface, then tape or glue the burger, tomato, cheese and fake green Easter grass for lettuce on top of the bun.  Then place the other bun over everything and glue/tape everything together to assemble the hamburger. 

6.  Glue/tape the hamburger onto the paper plate. 

7.  Cut out a shape from red card stock that resembles a french fries container.  Fold a half inch of the bottom of the red card stock shape backwards. 

8.  Cut out strips from bright yellow card stock using regular scissors or squiggle cut craft scissors for a different effect. 

9.  Glue/tape the yellow strips behind the back of the red card stock but make sure you can see the tops of the strips.  This will all be your french fries! (If you wish, you may draw smiley faces on the french fries, it's up to you.)

10. Glue/tape the folded bottom part of the french fries design onto the paper plate to make it all stand up. 

11.  Cut out 2 small arch shapes out of bright yellow card stock and attach them together to resemble the "M" for McDonald's and glue/tape them onto the fries. 

12. Wrap a toilet paper tube in construction paper and decorate using crayons/markers and stickers.  Glue the bottom of the tube onto the plate. 

13. Cut out a circle from card stock or construction paper and punch a hole towards the center of the circle.  Glue the circle onto the top of the tube and then stick a pipe cleaner through the hole to resemble a soda with a straw. 

14.  Enjoy the Happy Meal from McDonald's!

Below are the McDonald's Happy Meals created by the children at the library!  Enjoy!

Now that we enjoyed our happy meals, it's time to go 

dumpster diving!

Supplies Needed: A paper bag, scissors, crayons/markers, glue/tape, card stock, construction paper, fabric and pieces of cardboard.

This craft is based on the children's picture book "The Dumpster Diver" by Janet Wong.  

1. Take a paper bag in any color of your choice and cut down a portion of the top of the bag at an angle so that the bag is shorter and the top part is at a slant. 

2. Place pieces of cardboard inside the bottom of the bag and along the bottom sides of the bag to make the bag sturdy. Now you have your paper dumpster!

3.  Color a picture of a scuba diver (the picture can be drawn, photocopied or downloaded from online) and glue/tape the scuba diver onto the inside of the top part of the dumpster to make it seem as if someone is diving into a dumpster.  

4.  Using card stock or construction paper, cut out shapes of objects that you would like in your dumpster (bag) such as a ball, a chair, a surfboard, a lamp, etc.  Color the objects as you wish and attach them inside or outside of the dumpster. 

5.  Cut out shapes from fabric to resemble clothes, mats, scraps, etc. and place them in or attach them onto the dumpster. 

6.  Feel free to make a sign with the word "DUMPSTER" written on it and attach it to the front of the dumpster if you wish.  

Have fun!  Enjoy browsing through the dumpsters designed by the children below! See what treasures you may find!

Now that we dove into dumpsters and found some treasures, we can now dive into the ocean and enjoy swimming with sea creatures and more treasures!

Under the Ocean!

Supplies Needed: A paper plate, card stock or construction paper, scissors, crayons/markers, glue/tape, a picture of a mermaid, gold glittery foam shape stickers, sand, fake grass and blue or aqua tissue paper.  

1. Cover the front of a paper plate with blue or aqua tissue paper and fasten the tissue paper with glue or tape.  This will be your ocean water!

2. Fold the paper plate in half so that half of the plate can stand up in a vertical position. 

3. Using scissors, cut out fish shapes, star fish shapes and an anchor out of card stock or construction paper.  Color and decorate with crayons/markers and glitter foam sticker pieces. 

4.  Download a picture or outline of a mermaid and cut the mermaid out and color it as you wish.  

5.  Cut out a piece of card stock in the shape of a square. Fold the card stock in half and fold down the top end and the bottom end by less than half of and inch.  This will be your treasure box.  (You may fold it in any way of your choosing if you wish.)

6. Squirt glue around on the bottom of the plate and drizzle sand over the glue.  Let it dry for a minute.  

7. Glue or tape the fish, starfish, mermaid and anchor along the top half of the plate.  

8.  After the sand dries, glue down the treasure box and embellish with small gold glittery foam sticker pieces. 

9. Glue down fake grass to resemble kelp or seaweed. 

10. Feel free to glue or attach anything else that you would like in your ocean!  Have fun!

Enjoy some ocean worlds created by the children at the library!

After a swim in the ocean, let's play in the yard and dig in the sandbox!

Paper Sandbox

Supplies Needed:  One sheet of construction paper, glue, tape, card stock, fake grass, a popsicle stick crayons, stickers, scissors and sand.

1. Take a letter sized sheet of construction paper in any color and lay it down flat. Fold each edge over and inward an inch and tape down the folded edges.  This should resemble a flat sandbox.  

2. Sprinkle glue around inside the edges of the sandbox and throughout the center.  

3. Sprinkle sand onto the glue and let it dry.  

4. Glue or tape fake grass around the edges of the sandbox.  

5. Cut out small shapes from pieces of card stock to resemble toys in a sandbox, such as a pail, ball, shovel, etc.  

6. If you wish, cut out a small square from card stock and glue/tape it onto the bottom of a popsicle stick to resemble a shovel.  

7. If you wish, you may color the pieces of card stock to give the paper toys a design and you may use stickers if you wish to embellish them as well.  

8. Shake off excess sand from the sandbox after the glue and sand are dry.  Then glue your toys and shovel into the sandbox.  Enjoy digging into the sandbox!

Enjoy the paper sandboxes created by the children at the library below!

Enjoy the rest of the summer! Have fun shopping for 

school supplies!  

Class Visit Outlines

Class Visit Outline

Kindergarten Class

Introducing the Library to the Students (View Example Below)

Anonymous School - Kindergarten - Wednesday, May 9, 2012

1. Set up tables with book displays and arrange the chairs accordingly. 

2.  I (Librarian) introduce myself to the class and I ask the students about the library and what they like about a library. 

3.  I remind them that there are different things to do in the library, such as reading, doing your homework, coloring, doing crafts and using the computer.  I emphasize how the library is a fun place to learn about anything you want to learn about and it is a place that will help you with schoolwork as well. 

4.   I tell them that I like the library because there are so many books to read and learn from.

5.  I show the students different types of books, such as picture books, lift-the-flap books, pop-up books and books with eye catching illustrations. 

6.  I ask them if they like insects, worms, butterflies, the outdoors, etc.  I show them props of insects and other elements of the Spring season, such as gardens, flowers, etc. 

7.  I then read "Bustle in the Bushes" by Giles Andreae. 

8.  I show them the proper way to hold a book and I show them how it is important to take care of a book that you borrow from the library.  (Students are shown examples of battered books so they understand why it is important to not ruin a book). 

9. The students were shown the different parts of the book, such as the spine, the front and back covers.  I remind them that when a book is on a shelf, only the spine should be visible unless the book is on display. 

10.  I demonstrate to them the proper behavior in the library, such as gently pulling a book off the shelf by the spine, where to place books that will not be taken out, being quiet in the library, no running and waiting in line for reference or checking out an item.  I use a thumbs up or a thumbs down system with them to rate the behavior as good or bad. 

11.  As I distribute the library cards to the children, I state that the library card is their own card and it is not for anyone else to use. *They will be allowed to take out one book and they have to return that book on the date that it is due.  (I show them a sample receipt with a due date on it so that they understand.)

12.  I encourage them to browse through books displayed on the tables for them as well as the picture books and easy readers sections. 

Class Visit Outline

Preschool Class



Anonymous Preschool – Class Visit – Friday, March 22, 2013

11:00 AM – Library Children’s Reference Room

Introducing the library to the preschoolers, reading them a story, singing finger plays and having them color.  (View Example Below!)

1.     I introduce myself as the librarian to the class.

2.     I tell them that I like working in a library because there is a variety of books to read with bright illustrations and pictures. 

3.     I tell the children they can read about anything they want, especially about colors.  I show them props that involve colors.

4.     I will read to them the books, “The Crayon Box that Talked” by Sharon DeRolf and “My Crayons Talk” by Patricia Hubbard.

5.     I will ask them about colors that they like. 

6.     I sing finger plays about colors and crayons.   

7.     I demonstrate how important it is to take care of the books in the library and not ruin them. 

8.     I give coloring sheets of rainbows. 

Other recommended books on colors:

“Maisy’s Rainbow Dream” by Lucy Cousins

“Color Farm” by Lois Ehlert

“Color Zoo” by Lois Ehlert

“A Color of His Own” by Leo Lionni

“Little Blue and Little Yellow” by Leo Lionni

“I Know a Wee Piggy” by Kim Norman

Deanna Field

Children’s Librarian

Outdoor and Household Crafts

Let's visit the zoo at the park and find out about the different animals.  The animals are from different parts of the world and from different biomes! There are monkeys, sloths, penguins, polar bears, butterflies, giraffes, dolphins, etc.

Earth Shaped Biome Books

 

Supplies Needed:  Construction paper of different colors, printed out pictures of animals or animal shape cut outs (animals from different biomes), cut outs or print outs of different types of trees, crayons/markers, glue/tape, cotton, fake grass, stapler and scissors. 

*(It is encouraged that the parents use the stapler themselves if a stapler is needed.  You may want to just use heavy tape instead). 

Instructions:

1.  Cut out big ovals or circles out of construction paper of different colors. 

2.  Download and cut out a picture of the planet Earth and make the picture the same size as all of the circles/ovals. 

3.  Staple or tape all of the circles/ovals together so that a paper book is assembled and make sure the picture of earth is on the top cover.  (See the first picture of this project posted above).

4.  Color and paste the different animals and trees onto each page of the book according to the biome they are in.  For example, a giraffe, lion and zebra should be on a page representing a savannah.  A tree frog, monkey, toucan, blue butterfly and sloth should be on a page representing a tropical rain forest, a penguin and polar bear should be on a page resembling the tundra, etc.

5. Embellish the pages to resemble the scenery of the tundra.  For example, cotton can be used to create snow and ice on the tundra, the fake grass can be used for the grasslands or a rainforest.  A cactus can be used for a dessert, etc. Feel free to color in anything else for the biomes as you wish. 

6. All of the pages together should make up a "Biome Book".  Children study biomes in school, so this craft will be fun and educational as well. 

After walking around the zoo, it's time to take a ride on the horse carousel.  The Spring and Summer seasons are great times to do that! Let's go for a ride!

 Horse Carousel

Supplies: Card stock, 4 ice cream sticks, glue/tape, crayons/markers, stickers, a ribbon, scissors and one hole puncher.  

Instructions:

1.  Take a piece of cardstock paper and roll the ends over and then tape the ends together to make a cylinder. 

2.  Cut out horse shapes from pieces of card stock paper.  Decorate the horses with stickers and markers.  Glue or tape them on popsicle sticks. 

3.  Glue or tape the horses on the popsicle sticks around the paper cylinder. 

4.  If you want, you can punch 2 holes at the top of the cylinder and pull a ribbon through the holes, tie it and then twirl the carousel around. 

5.  Enjoy decorating the carousel. 

Riding up and down on a seesaw sounds like fun too!  Here we go!  Up and down!  

Paper Seesaw

Supplies:  One half of a toilet paper tube, cardstock, wrapping paper, scissors, glue/tape, crayons/markers and stickers. 

Instructions:

1.  Cut a toilet paper tube in half.  Use one half for the bottom lever of the seesaw.  Wrap the half of toilet paper tube in wrapping paper if you wish to make it more attractive than the plain cardboard shade. 

2. Cut out a piece of cardstock (in any color of your choice) into the shape of a rectangle.  It should be about 6-8 inches long and an inch and a half to 2 inches wide. 

3. Feel free to adorn the seesaw board with wrapping paper, stickers and any other decorative materials of your choosing.   

4. Cut out 2 paper dolls out of pieces of card stock. You may draw the paper dolls or trace them from a picture. 

5. Color and decorate the paper dolls to make them appear like children.  Use crayons/markers to draw a face on each of them, clothes, hair and accessories.

6. Glue/tape the rectangle on top of the piece of toilet paper tube.  Make sure that the tube is under the very center of the rectangle and that one is horizontal and one is vertical to simulate a real seesaw. 

7. Glue/tape each paper doll onto each end of the seesaw to make it look like children playing on the seesaw. 

8.  Try to make the seesaw go up and down.  Have fun!

Oh, how nice and colorful!  There is a mermaid parade on the boardwalk!  Their tops and tails shine like a rainbow of colors!

Mermaid Parade Paper Doll Chain

  

 

Supplies: White construction paper, crayons/markers, scissors and a hole puncher.

Instructions:

1.  Cut out a picture of a mermaid or draw an outline of a mermaid and cut out the outline. 

2.  Cut a letter sized piece of white construction paper in half horizontally. 

3.  Take one of the halves of the white paper and fold it zigzag in an accordian style. 

4.  Trace the outline of the mermaid shape onto the top of one end of the accordian folded paper. 

5.  With the accordian paper folds all pressed together, cut out the shape of the mermaid and make certain that the mermaids arm on one side is not cut at all. 

6.  After you are done cutting, unfold the paper and there should be a chain of paper mermaid dolls attached by an arm.

7.  Color and decorate the paper mermaid dolls as you wish. 

8.  You may use a hole puncher to punch holes on the insides of the arms to make the arm features more distinguished.  Or, you may just draw outlines to emphasize the arms and upper body features. 

The children colored and decorated paper doll mermaid chains to resemble the "Mermaid Parade" that takes place in June on Coney Island, Brooklyn, NY, USA.

 

I hear them announcing on the microphone the finalists and winner of the mermaid parade contest!  That's a colorful, sparkly microphone that the DJ is using for the announcements!

Paper Microphone

Supplies:  One toilet paper tube, construction paper, tin foil, glitter foam sheet stickers, scissors and glue/tape.  



Directions:

1.  Wrap a toilet paper tube in a construction sheet of paper in any color of choice.  This will be the handle of the microphone.

2.  Scrunch a sheet (or a few sheets) of tin foil in a ball and then attach the tin foil ball on top of one end of the tube using glue or tape. (The more tin foil sheets you use, the bigger the microphone ball will be.)

3.  Decorate the handle with stickers, foam shapes or anything else you like.  Have fun!  Let's rock!


After a long day at the parade, it's time to stroll in the sand and bounce a beach ball around!

Stuffed Paper Bag Beach Ball

 

Supplies: One paper lunch bag, tissue paper, small pieces of scrap paper, scissors and tape.

Directions:

1.  Stuff the paper lunch bag with pieces or shreds of scrap paper. 

2.  Mold the bag with your hands to create a round shape or as close to a round shape as possible.  Use tape to hold the bag in shape if you have to. 

4  Wrap the stuffed paper bag ball with tissue paper or wrapping paper in any design or pattern you wish. You may cut out shapes from tissue paper of different colors to create the design of your choice. Secure the tissue paper coverings with tape. 

5.  Feel free to decorate the ball with stickers or little tissue paper balls.  Enjoy tossing the new paper beach ball.  Have fun!

After a long day of playing outside, it is time to go home and do some laundry!  Clothes can get dirty after spending all day outdoors in warm weather!  

Stand-Up Paper Laundry Room

Supplies: One letter-sized piece of card stock, smaller pieces of card stock, fabric, string, clothespins, stickers, crayons/markers, scissors, hole puncher and glue/tape.

Instructions:

1.  Fold a letter-sized sheet of card stock in half.  Stand it up so that one side is standing horizontally and the vertical part is flat on the table.

2.  Cut shapes of clothing out of felt or cloth. 

3.  Cut out shapes of a washing machine, detergent, basket, hamper and other laundry room materials from card stock.  (You can use your own shapes or download images from the Internet. )

4.  Using a hole puncher, punch one hole on one end of the top horizonal part of the laundry room and another hole at the other end.  Lace a piece of string through the holes so that the string looks like a hanging dryer line.  Tie the string up so that it stays .

5.  Decorate your clothes and laundry room using stickers, markers, crayons, the cut out shapes, etc.

6.  You can hang the fabric clothes shapes on the string using either paper clips or wooden clips. 

7.  Have fun in your own paper laundry room. 

8.  Wash and dry your clothes so that you have clean clothes for the next day!