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Supplies Materials and Ideas for Science Programs

Thank you everyone for your suggestions of science materials to purchase.

Favorite sites:

Steve Spangler Science 

www.stevespanglerscience.com



Educational Innovations

http://www.teachersource.com/



Science Materials to Purchase



I definitely recommend looking into squishy circuits:

<http://courseweb.stthomas.edu/apthomas/SquishyCircuits/index.htm>



The program we did with these was very successful.



Chris  - Spokane Public Library - Spokane, WA



###

Makey Makeys

http://www.makeymakey.com/



Little Bits

http://littlebits.cc/

Really cool circuits with lots of experimental value. 



Jessica - Duxbury Free Library



###

We recently invested in about 30 pairs of safety goggles and I think we'll
get lots of use out of them over the years. For our Mad Science programs
this summer we went the easy way and bought ready-to-go experiments from
Steve Spangler. He's got lots of cool stuff on his website. Lots of it is
one-time use only, but I think it beats trying to pull the ingredients
together yourself for some things. For example, we bought a Mentos/Soda car
which we can use many times, we just have to buy the soda and mentos again.

http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/

Hope this is helpful!

Maria , Tacoma Public Library 



###

I've used the Grossology books by Sylvia Branzei and also the books by Steve
Spangler.? They make science fun for kids!



Mary



###

A good place to start is Steve Spangler Science
(http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/). This organization has great
materials with concrete ideas on how they're used. You can pretty shop for
any age on this website.



Discount School Supply also (http://www.discountschoolsupply.com/) has good
science materials for elementary children.



Christina 





###

www.stevespanglerscience.com

?  Has cool stuff!

Linda - Bloomfield Library



###

Snap circuits? http://snapcircuits.net/

(and basic circuit materials, LEDs, motors, fans, etc., we can use with
other things, such as Squishy Circuits
http://courseweb.stthomas.edu/apthomas/SquishyCircuits/howTo.htm)

Little Bits http://littlebits.com/kits/starter-kit

Models/skeletons/xrays to learn about people and animals

Durable kits that feature simple machines (screw, planes, levers, gears,
pulleys, etc.)

Rock collection

Legos

Magnets

Tubs to contain messy experiments

Binoculars

Microscopes

Magnifying glasses

Black lights? ? ? ? ? 

Programming software kits for kids-I am sorry, I cannot remember the name of
the best software items, but there are lots of little modules that teach the
fundamental concepts of organizing your thoughts into functional software.



Andrea  Round Rock Public Library, Round Rock, TX 78664



###

Steve Spangler



Christine- Atascocita Branch Library



###

Of course, any Janice VanCleave science fair experiment book.? 

A fun thing we have found is a USB handheld microscope (they do come with a
stand) for the children's computers.? They have been very popular with the
kids.? Whatever you put the microscope on shows up on the screen.? Put a
shoe box of seasonal nature items next to it.? Here is one example -
http://www.buy.com/prod/usb-digital-computer-microscope-camera-webcam-black-
200x-1-3-mp-with/222931093.html?listingId=147632858? 



I asked,? "Do you have any trouble with it disappearing?"

Answer - Not yet but our CPUs are mounted under the computer carrels and it
is difficult to reach the connection.



Valle  Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Library System, NY





##

I have created science backpacks which include 1 dvd,? 8 books on a subject
& a piece of science equipment or an item that children can use 

to further explore a science topic.? ? I referred to our local school 

district K-2 curriculum for subjects.?  Right now they are used mostly 

by families,? but I think they could be marketed to scout troops & in 

home day care.?  Most of the books I included are on an easy reading 

level.?  You can go to my library web site to view the contents of the 

backpacks,? www.delafieldlibrary.org



I look forward to hearing what other libraries are doing.



Terry  - Delafield Public Library- 262-646-6230



###



I really like the stuff that Mother Goose puts in their kits.? Here's a link
to what's in their kit:
http://www.mothergooseprograms.org/math_prog_bi_math_and_science_starter_boo
klist.php

You'd still need to purchase items separately, or if you are flush with
funds, you could buy the whole kit.



Suzan , Faulk Central Library - Austin, Texas? 



###



vegetable oil, hex nuts, balloons, baking soda, vinegar, pepper, food
coloring, mineral oil, eggs, ping pong balls, hairdryer, toilet paper, salt,
clear bowls. clear vase, measuring cups, spoons, funnel, zip lock plastic
bags, pencils, paper clips, pennies, quarters, mason jar,3x5 cards, straws,
dawn dish soap, to name a few.another of my favorites - medicine droppers-
like eye droppers but bigger- sometimes they are free at pharmacies. 





Rose Anna Botorowicz 

###





Definitely want safety glasses/goggles and aprons/smocks.



Tracy  - McCreary County Public Library





Here is the list of materials to purchase. 

We have used many of these materials. Others are on our wish list.

Some items include links to activities and sources.



Clear Balloons

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyDRI6iQ9Fw
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyDRI6iQ9Fw&feature=related>
&feature=related



Cornstarch

Slime Time - Polymers, Science Rocks, pg 26

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idCFb3DqWkk

Myth Busters, walking on water - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GWhOLorDtw

Cornstarch Monster - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZs3-JxcycA



Energy Ball

http://www.teachersource.com/Energy/EnergyConversion/EnergyBall.aspx

http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/product/1406



Film Canisters

http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/product/film-canisters



Fountain Connection

http://www.teachersource.com/AirPressure/AirPressure/FountainConnection.aspx



Iron Filings

http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/product/plastic-iron-filing-case



Magic Sand

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10EnRI80zvk
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10EnRI80zvk&feature=related>
&feature=related



Magnets - Ceramic Bar

(Go to the Magnet chapter for more ideas)

http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/product/1442



Plasma Ball (CTLS Professional Collection)

This item will be traveling with the Trailblazer Science Trailer.

http://www.teachersource.com/ElectricityAndMagnetism/Electricity/PlasmaGlobe
s.aspx



Tornado Tubes - Vortex Bottle Connectors

http://www.teachersource.com/AirPressure/AirPressure/VortexBottleConnectors.
aspx



UV beads

http://www.teachersource.com/LightAndColor/Ultraviolet/UltravioletDetectingB
eads.aspx



Wind Tubes

http://www.teachersource.com/AirPressure/RocketsAndBalloons/WindTubes.aspx

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UujAMPv3y-A

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-xNXrELCmU



Other Stuff

Educational Innovations

www.teachersource.com

Fingerprint cards - Forensics

Magnifiers

UV beads

Nature Print Paper

Goldenrod paper

Floating ring magnets

Micro pipettes



Acorn Naturalist

Fish Prints 

We have used these with science programs (biology, angler guest speaker,
Teen Programs - Fish printing, or Gyotaku for Manga programs

http://www.acornnaturalists.com/store/Freshwater-Fish-Replicas-C2114.aspx



Animal Tracking Tools

Haven't used these yet but we are looking at purchasing some of these.

Stencils -
http://www.acornnaturalists.com/store/Animal-Tracking-Tools-C8.aspx

Replicas -
http://www.acornnaturalists.com/store/Animal-Track-Replicas-flexible-positiv
es-C48.aspx

Rubbings -
http://www.nature-watch.com/animal-tracks-rubbing-plates-p-347.html?cPath=16
0_195
<http://www.nature-watch.com/animal-tracks-rubbing-plates-p-347.html?cPath=1
60_195&osCsid=ev3isa0vnbpo2tnmnpm7c8c9e5> &osCsid=ev3isa0vnbpo2tnmnpm7c8c9e5





Nature Watch? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 

Solar System Mapping Tool -
http://www.nature-watch.com/solar-system-mapping-tool-p-1473.html?cPath=160_
183



Stomp Rockets? (You can also make your own)

http://www.stomprocket.com/

Frey Scientific Ultra Stomp Rocket -
https://store.schoolspecialty.com/OA_HTML/ibeCCtpItmDspRte.jsp?minisite=1002
9
<https://store.schoolspecialty.com/OA_HTML/ibeCCtpItmDspRte.jsp?minisite=100
29&item=19108&gclid=CJLCqYOL2LgCFYdQ7AodlxsAww>
&item=19108&gclid=CJLCqYOL2LgCFYdQ7AodlxsAww



Air zooka? ? ? ? ? ? 

http://www.teachersource.com/AirPressure/VorticesAndFog/AirZooka.aspx



Volcano? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 

http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/product/1716 ? 

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 



Grocery Store

Measuring cups and spoons

Funnels

Bamboo skewers - polymers, skewers through the balloon

Alka Selzer - film canister rockets, lava lamps

Dish pan



Books

Science Rocks by Robert Winston

Big Book of Science Experiments by Time Home Entertainment




Kim 

Youth Services Specialist

CTLS, Inc.

Fancy Nancy Science Party

Everyone:

Thanks for your ideas! Our Fancy Nancy Explorer Extraordinaire Science
Parties were a big success! Each session was supposed to last for only half
an hour, but wound up being 45 minutes because the kids didn't want to
leave!

Our teen librarian found me some terrific volunteers to help with the
party--something I recommend highly!

We had two areas: science crafts and science games. Teen volunteers ran the
craft area while I ran the game area & we switched the kids half way through
the party.

In the craft area, the kids made windsocks and decorated science journals.

We had crepe paper streamers (the kind used to decorate for parties) left
over from another craft, & I remembered making "windsocks" with them during
a previous job at a science museum. The kids pasted pieces of streamer along
the edge of a large sheet of construction paper and then pasted the
construction paper to form a tube with the streamers hanging down. A pipe
cleaner was bent into a handle and scotch taped to the windsock.

To make the science journals, before the party I stapled together the
following inside a large piece of folded construction paper: a list of
resources (science themed Fancy Nancy books, other books of science
activities available in the collection, non-commercial websites), two
"sparkly" science experiments involving crystals, and some lined paper for
recording scientific notes. The kids then decorated the covers with crayons
and whatever stickers and sparkles I could find in the storage closet.

In the games area, I read a "guessing game book" with the kids (one of Tana
Hoban's "Look" books), they made "fossil rubbings" (using plastic plates
with fossil designs), sorted buttons, and played with tinker toys and
kieledescopes. All of the materials in the games area were things that I had
at home & brought in for the kids to play with.

The kids were focused and involved with all of the above activities.

Our publicity person came in at the beginning of the afternoon session and
photographed the girls (with signed parental permission slips)--you should
have seen them posing for the camera in all of their Fancy Nancy finery! Our
PR person made a beautiful poster out of some of the photos for us to hang
in the children's room & use to promote future events.

A couple people on pubyac suggested letting the kids use star stickers and
black construction paper to create star charts or make up their own
constellations. I decided against doing that at the Fancy Nancy event as I
was already doing that activity with the kids in our "Camp Connection"
program & needed every star sticker we have! I must say, though, that it is
an activity that has been a hit with the campers I've done it with so far.

Another suggestion from pubyac was to have a visitor come with live animals
through a park system or rescue group. I skipped that for the party as we've
already had the county park system (snakes), a local AAZA certified aquarium
(various reptiles, including a small alligator), and a rescue group
(parrots) visit the library this summer.

The other pubyac suggestion was making paper flowers. I've filed that one
away for future use--I don't see a waning of Nancy's popularity in the near
future!

--Jennifer

Geocaching & Letterboxing

Message: 27
Date: Mon, 2 Apr 2012 11:20:58 -0500
From: Becky M

Thanks everyone for great suggestions. Here's the compilation:

One suggestion (from a  GS Leader and 4H participant) - you can also make a box for your library...hide it in the garden etc?  The "team" can make up clues/poem etc to lead others to it.  You can also go online and find other boxes in your area, and make a "map" of them on a brochure type document so that it can be displayed, create interest and then people can see how many of the ## they have been to and found.  That might be more of a program instead of just making the stamps?
 
Beth
MSIS Student
SUNY - Albany

--------------------------------------

    One of my staff brought the most amazing summer program booklet home from PLA.  The York County Pennsylvania libraries did this unbelievable program for last summer's One World Many Stories  theme that included about 30 letterboxing/geocaching adventures around the county.  They would be a great source of information website www.yorklibraries.org Good Luck Julie R

--------------------------------------

We have an on-going letterboxing program at our library.  We have about 15 letterboxes hidden throughout the children's department.  We keep the clues for each letterbox at the children's reference desk; we also have some blank journals (copier paper stapled together) and a set of alphabet stamps for kids to use.  We have a handful of our clues posted on online letterboxing sites (see http://www.letterboxing.org/BoxView.php?boxnum=54158&boxname=Behind_the_Reading_Towerfor an example).  It's great fun -- I am planning on a regular "program" this summer in which we will make stamps and journals, and go hunting for our already-planted letterboxes.  I'll probably plant some new ones, too.     
 
Once a month, I go around and check the journals -- it's so awesome to find stamps and names of letterboxers from other cities and states.  Good luck!
 
Kris
--------------------------------------
I put together a letterbox at my library. It stayed up for about 6 months until the large number of unattended children that visit our library, discovered it.  They had a great time with it, but I had to keep replacing the clues around the library and had to take it down.  

About two years ago, some of our libraries put up geocaches for a big read program we did.  They were a very popular part of the program.  All but one library took them down after the program, and Geocaching.com did not like the fact we were not leaving them up for longer.  They do not like temporary caches.  The one library( Gates Public Library) that kept the cache up, had great success with it until they had to take it down due to the library moving to a new building.  They just placed another cache, which is a letterbox hybrid cache, in the new building. Here is the link to the cache, as you can see the reviews have been very positive.http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=7f1b36ad-5dcc-4a8d-9da6-4be7bf085fe9


Here is a link to all of our caches, and I believe you can still go into read the reviews if you would like to see how the geocachers reacted to them  http://www.geocaching.com/seek/nearest.aspx?u=libraryweb&submit4=Go

If you want more information on how the cache is set up, just let me know and I would be happy to provide more detail.  

We did not take the children or teens out of the library to find caches or letterboxes in the community. Last summer I made a new scavenger hunt each week for the children to find in the library.  Even though they were not an official letterbox or geocache, the children had a great time with them.  They were so much work, but I plan on doing more this summer.  

In addition to letterboxing and geocaching, there is another scavenger hunt game called waymarking (http://www.waymarking.com/).  I have not played that game yet, so I can't say if it is as much fun as geocaching or letterboxing.  


Maria H
Sully Branch Library
--------------------------------------
You could create geocaches around your library.  Within walking distance.  Then they could actually walk around and find them.  We also did a letterboxing program and I had a large box of used stamps.  I let them pick one out and use that as their signature stamp.  We decorated old notebooks, too, to collect their stamps.  You could also let them help you make caches.  You could supply the box and they could bring the things to put in them.  Then you all could hide them together.  We love these programs at our library, lol, it's turned us into geocaching fans!

 
            Lisa K
      Corbin Public Library
--------------------------------------
I don't know where you live, but here in Dutchess County, NY we have an avid letterboxer who does workshops for hire. In advance of the date, she creates a letterbox to be placed in the library. Then on the day of the workshop she recounts the history of the hobby, leads the participants in making their own stamps, has the kids find a temporary letterbox she has set up in the library just for the day, and gives the clues for the permanent box. If you'd like her contact info, I can get it for you.
Peg S
Blodgett Library
--------------------------------------
We have had a geocaching program for our teens at one of our larger branches three summers ago. Even had the local newspaper cover the event. First part of the program was dedicated to informing the teens what geocaching was and to visit the official website. Then breaking up into groups, each group got to search for a pre-hidden cache on the grounds using our hand held GPS, one of which was an official cache. We encouraged the teens to go home and talk to their parents as this is an excellent family activity. 

My husband has been fortunate enough to locate caches in Ireland, Italy, Poland and the Czech Republic along with ones from different states we have visited while traveling.
--------------------------------------
Have you considered maybe creating a library themed geocache? I wasn't personally involved, but a couple of librarians did this with teens a few years ago. They hid the caches in the park behind the library. 

Here is a link to a description of one of our caches:
!
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=c2e108ff-292f-436e-b393-01a8e9352759

And the other:

http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=d8ff6a33-6a81-401d-8e3b-1d69dae6fece

If you don't have an appropriate place to hide a geocache, perhaps you could do the rest of the planning with the group--the clues, the name, what to place in the cache, writing up the description for online? 

Hope this is helpful,

Jennifer
--------------------------------------
I have done a letterboxing program successfully several times. I start by hiding letterboxes throughout the library/department - usually 20 of them. I print out the clues to hand out the day of the program.
 
Kids make stamps with 3/4 inch thick insulation foam (you can buy a sheet for $12) that I have cut into small squares. They can use golf pencils to press in their design. They also get a blank journal (cardstock folded over copy paper and stapled) to decorate. Then they spend as long or as little time as they want searching for boxes.
 
I leave the boxes out so they can come back anytime to search and I have a binder of the clues at the desk. Clues are also posted on Letterboxing.org and atlasquest.com
 
My powerpoint is attached.
 
After the initial prep time to create the boxes (this takes months...) it is a very simple program that can be offered over and over again.
 
Best,

Heather A
Rochester Public Library
--------------------------------------
I did a letterbox/geocache program with families of kids grades K-5.
 
This was the description in the newsletter: "Come hear a story and learn about the fun hobby of letterboxing. Then participate in our own version of reverse letterboxing! Every participating family gets a prize!"
We're right near a old-fashioned little main street town, so I asked 6 or 7 of the businesses to participate, assuring them that we weren't looking for donations or money. All they had to do was stamp a booklet the families would present at the store (the library provided that stamps and inkpads). So this was the reverse letterboxing element.
At the program, I read the story of The Tinderbox, and I talked about treasure hunts. Then I talked about how geocaching and letterboxes were a form of treasure hunting and could be fun. I gave them booklets with clues that would lead them to the stores in town. They had a week to get all the stamps and then return it to the library. When they returned it, they received a cloth library bag, booklets about how to get started with geocaching and letterboxing, bookmarks, some mazes and puzzles, stickers and little toys that we had leftover from the summer reading club.
We only had 7 families sign up, but they seemed to enjoy it.
I know you're working with teens, but maybe something in my program might spark an idea.
Jen
--------------------------------------
We did a geocaching event for our teens a couple of summers ago. I created and hid caches around the Library and wrote clues and the coordinates on paper (since I didn't want to enter them into the Geocaching.com website). If I remember correctly, I used a Sucrets box, and three Freezer jam plastic containers as the caches. I hid them in trees, drain spouts, under rocks etc.
I had someone from Dick's Sporting Goods come out (they brought 2 GPS units with them) and they did a basic teaching on how to use them. 
We split the kids up into three teams (using my GPS and the two from Dick's) and they went to town. They had a good time, even if most of them didn't get the hang of it until near the end. A few did though and there were a couple full families. 
Dick's was really good about helping out.
As an aside, we have a geocaching team here at our library, and we're challenging the rest of the system to see who can find the most caches during the month of April - winners get a pizza party.
Good luck. Feel free to write with any questions.

Cosette R
Park Forest Branch Library
--------------------------------------
Last summer we did a geocaching series involving local businesses and our city parks.  We offered a pathtag (http://www.pathtags.com/community/publicpathtagprofile.php?id=17740 ) to those who signed up for summer reading and finished the series.  We also held an event cache and a geocaching 101 class.  Overall we had a great turnout and even won an award for best series from the North Texas branch of Texas Geocaching Assoc.  We are doing a second series this summer and I hope to throw some puzzle caches in to fit better with the SRC theme.
 
As far as letterboxing, I have very limited experience with it other than the few  letterbox hybrids that are located within the DFW area. I like the idea of making stamps as a program and maybe you can have the teens place their own letterboxes on the library's grounds for each other to find for an additional day(s) of programming.   Or you could have them group together and place letterboxes to be published on letterboxing.org at or near the library.  A quick lesson on orienteering itself could also be a possibility.
 
Thanks for reminding me about letterboxing.  The SRC theme works great with it. I am presenting with two other librarians at TLA about geocaching and we should probably include a bit about letterboxing, seeing as how it is the historical roots of geocaching. You just may have inspired me to place another letterbox hybrid and post it to both websites!
 
Hope I helped at least a little bit!
 
Jennifer O
Hurst Public Library
--------------------------------------
I did it last year and we used erasers to make the stamp.  Then I had placed a letterbox cache in the library and we all went up to find it and add our stamps .  I also gave them hints to several local letterboxes to find. It was a big success, with everyone who came in the room asking to make a stamp.
Joetta LP S Wilson County
--------------------------------------
I have done Letterboxing programs for two different age groups (elementary and teen) at my library in Greenville, SC.  Both age groups seemed to really enjoy the programs.  There is plenty to do and it makes for a fun program. You really don't have to leave your library to make a Letterboxing program work.  I planted a Letterbox in the library.
Actually, a fellow librarian and I planted boxes in all of branch locations in our library system as well, 11 boxes in total.  My program generally lasts about an hour.  I start the program with a description of what a Letterbox is and a brief history of how Letterboxing all got started in Dartmoor, England in the 1850's.  Two great resources are The Letterboxer's Companion by Randy Hall and www.letterboxing.info. Next, I talk about solving clues when finding boxes and tie it in by reading a picture book that involves decoding clues throughout the story.  (Even the teens get into helping solve the clues.) Next we make stamps.  A great, safe and in expensive way to make a stamp is with craft foam and bottle caps/lids. You draw your design on the craft foam, cut it out, and attach it to you bottle cap with double sided tape or a glue dot.
Viola- you have a custom made stamp! (My teens actually got into this part more than I thought they would and made very intricate stamps.) After everyone has a stamp, I pass out the clue to the library's letterbox and we all go on a hunt for the letterbox as a group. They loved going through the motions of deciphering the clues, secretly searching the library for the letterbox and stamping in a real logbook.
Letterboxing makes for a really fun program.  Let me know if you have any questions!

Jennifer P
Greenville County Library System
--------------------------------------

Reader's Theatre

Message: 28
Date: Mon, 2 Apr 2012 12:32:43 -0400 (EDT)
From: Jill S  birchard.lib.oh.us

Here are the responses I received regarding a Reader's Theater Troupe at the library.

Jill S
Birchard Public Library

*************************************************************************************

Hi Jill --
 - No age requirement. We just specify that the children must know how to read.
 - I've had a lot of fun with groups with all ages, from kindergarten to 5th grade, all together. I accept them all as long as they can read. (I have had 4th graders attend who can't read. I let them stay and give them "special" things such as introducing, etc.)
 - Since it's never the same kids that show up, you can do it however often you like. Each session is self-contained. Some come once, some come to every session. It's just up to you.
 - No stage, we just perform at the end of the rehearsal session in front of the parents. It's great.
 - Generally in the afternoon is a good time. One hour and 15 minutes, start to finish, including rehearsal, prep and performance.
 - The program runs like this. First we sit in a circle and do a read-through without assigning any roles. Next we decide the roles. Next the kids highlight the lines on their sheets that they speak. Next we do one rehearsal. Next is the performance! All in 75 minutes.
 - The way I make it work, not knowing how many will show up, is to have a variety of scripts ready, for me to choose from, once I see who is there.
Good luck!
 -- Kathy in NJ

************************************************************************************************

See: http://mclskids.pbworks.com/w/page/23063846/Reader%27s%20Theatre
Wishing you every success.

************************************************************************************************
Jill,

I've done a reader's theatre program a few times at my library and although it's a lot of work, the kids always enjoy it. I structure mine a little differently and have them rehearse & perform that same day. We had trouble with retention and this guarantees a performance at the end of the day.

Here's my schedule:
5:30-7pm - introductions, vocal warm-ups, read-through script, cast roles, rehearse
7-7:30pm - families are invited to come back at 7pm for the performance. usually some poems for 2 voices and then a picture book adaptation for a total of 20-30 minutes.

What ages were in the program? Grades 3-5
What day and time of the week were your programs? I did mine during the summer during the week.
Hope this is helpful!

**********************************************************************************************
Hi there!  I have been running a Reader's Theater program at my library for a couple years and it's one of my favorites.  I find that the kids really have fun and the parents love it too.

My program is one Thursday evening a month for one hour and it's 3rd-6th grade.  We begin with a 10 minute warm-up activity which is usually some sort of theater game or getting to know you ice-breaker type activity to loosen them up.  Then I pass out the scripts. Depending on the size of the group, we either have one story that we work on together or multiple stories that they practice in small groups.  At the end of the program we invite any parents/children in the room to watch our "performance."

What works:
-The warm-up is essential.  I use that time to explain what RT is to kids who don't know and go over the "rules" which include being respectful of each other and helping each other out when they are lost in their script or stumble over a word.  The warm-up activity is usually something silly that gets them to shed their shyness a bit.

-Shorter scripts.  I find that if the script is more than 3 or 4 pages the kids lose interest pretty quickly when they are doing their first read-through and when they have to watch another group perform for a really long time.  I've also experimented with tandem reading where kids work in pairs and even monologues where they practiced reciting them together and then performed individually.

-Scripts that have the option for "group parts."  For instance I did "Millions of Cats" and all the cats said lines together so if I had more kids than were registered I could throw them in the cat group and everyone has a part.

What doesn't work:
-When people show up that didn't sign up!  I don't like to turn kids away so I've come up with ways to combat this, such as scripts with group parts and having multiple scripts on hand just in case.

-Trying to make RT a series of rehearsals and one final performance at the end.  I tried this as part of my summer reading club one year and due to erratic attendance we were still ironing out parts and switching roles on the day of the performance.  It was a bust.  I have since kept with my self-contained meetings where the practice and performance are in one evening.

I could go on for days but I've already written enough so if you have any questions feel free to email me directly.  I'm always tweaking this program and trying things out so I'd love to hear what ends up working for you.

*********************************************************************************************************
Hello, Jill

I've done readers' theatre three times in my library, always with 4th and 5th graders.
I've done it two ways:
 3-week, 1 hour per week with about 25 kids.  1st week, kids form their own groups of 2 or
as many as 5 and select a script to perform.  Each smaller group performs their own script
and the group as a whole performs one all together.    2nd week, rehearse again. 3rd week,
perform smaller group scripts and entire ensemle script for parents/friends audience, serve refreshments afterwards.

2nd way: one 3-hour session, 25 kids, same process except instead of 1st week, 2nd week, etc.
we do in 1st hour, 2nd hour. We take a half-hour break for snacks 2 hours in. Performance for
audience to finish out the 3 hours. Both ways I make playbills for distribution to the audience
listing cast and script titles.

I have not reached out to a community theatre. It's my take that RT (readers theatre) doesn't
need props, sets, or memorization of lines.   My sources for scripts: Margie Palatini's website,
Aaron Shepherd's website, my department's own collection (or I interloan from other libraries).
I also write a lot of my own from fiction and picture books (i.e. Frog and Toad, Once upon a Cool Motorcycle Dude,
The Wolf Who Cried Boy, and the poems of Jack Prelutzky and Shel Silverstein, The Three Silly Billies,
Squids will be Squids, and Mary Ann Hoberman's "You Read to Me I'll Read to You" series) .

Pumpkin Songs & Stories

Message: 10
Date: Mon, 3 Oct 2011 17:34:32 -0400
From: "M Marsha P

Hello everyone:

I have had several emails that have said that the attachment for the pumpkin
file did not go through and could I send them a copy.

I am going to try to copy and paste onto this email instead of trying to
send a copy to everyone who emailed me.

For those of you who received the attachment or who are pumpkined out sorry
for the duplication.

The first line is the title

Hope you enjoy them.

Marsha

M. Marsha P
Flint River Regional Library



Pumpkins and Jack-O-Lanterns
Fingerplays, Action rhymes, Songs and Games
(teach the children the difference between pumpkins and Jack-O-Lanterns)


Riddle
They chose me from my brothers
That's the nicest one they said
And they carved me out a face
And put a candle in my head
Then they set me on the doorstep
Oh the night was dark and wild
When they lit the candle then I smiled
Who am I?



Halloween Pumpkins
Pumpkins Large, Pumpkins Small
Pumpkins Short, Pumpkins Tall
Pumpkins orange, Pumpkins green,
All for us on Halloween!!



Mr. Pumpkin
I am Mister Pumpkin big and round
(Use hands to stretch up and then stretch out to show big stomach)
Once upon a time I grew on the ground
(Crouch down)
But now I have a mouth, two eyes and a nose
(Point to each feature)
What are they for - do you suppose?
(Shrug shoulders)
When I have a candle inside shining bright
(Put one fist on top of the other, then move fingers of top hand up to show
flame)
I'll be a Jack - O- Lantern on Halloween Night!
(Jump Up- Arms Out - Happy Grin)



Halloween Surprise
(Tune: Sing a Song of Sixpence)
First you take a pumpkin, big and round and fat.
Then you take the top off, and that makes a hat.
Then you cut a mouth, a nose, and two eyes.
Then you have a Jack-O-Lantern,
A Halloween Surprise!! !



Mr. Pumpkin
(Tune: Where is Thumbkin?)
Can be used as a Call Response
Mr. Pumpkin, Mr. Pumpkin
Round and Fat, Round and fat
Harvest time is coming
Harvest time is coming
Yum, yum, yum
Yum, yum, yum



Mr. Pumpkin
(Tune:  "Frere Jacques" )
Can be used as a Call Response
Mr. Pumpkin,
Mr. Pumpkin.
Big and Fat,
(hold arms in a big circle)
Big and Fat.
I am gonna eat you,
(Mime eating motions)
I am gonna eat you.
Just like that!
(Snap fingers)
Just like that!



Pumpkin Song
(Tune:  "Frere Jacques")
 Can be used as a Call Response
Pumpkins are growing
Pumpkins are growing
In the patch
In the patch
Look at all the pumpkins
Look at all the pumpkins
Orange and Round
Orange and Round



I'm A Little Pumpkin
(tune: I'm a Little Tea Pot")
I'm a little pumpkin orange and round
 (hold arms in a circle)
Here is my stem,
(place fist on head)
There is the ground.
(point down)
When I get all cut up
("cut" palm with opposite hand)
Don't you shout!
(shake head and point finger)
Just open me up
(open top of head)
And scoop me out!
(scoop out tummy)



Pumpkin Song
(tune: Have You Ever Seen A Lassie?)
Have you ever seen a pumpkin, a pumpkin, a pumpkin?
Have you ever seen a pumpkin that grows on a vine?
A round one, a tall one, a fat one, a small one.
Have you ever seen a pumpkin that grows on a vine?
(You can add your own adjectives to describe the pumpkin)


Did You Ever See a Pumpkin?
(Tune: Have You Ever Seen a Lassie?)
You can have a prop (made of felt, construction paper, paper plate, etc.)
that is a pumpkin on one side and a Jack-O-Lantern on the other)
Did you ever see a pumpkin a pumpkin a pumpkin?
Did you ever see pumpkin with no face at all?
With no eyes and no nose and no mouth and no teeth?
Did you ever see a pumpkin with no face at all?
So I made a Jack-O-Lantern, Jack-O-Lantern, Jack-O-Lantern.
So I made a Jack-O-Lantern with a big funny face.
With big eyes and big nose and big mouth and big teeth.
So I made a Jack-O-Lantern with a big funny face.



Pumpkin
Pumpkin Pumpkin
big and round
I'm glad you grow
upon the ground.
I'm glad you don't
grow in a tree
for then you might
fall down on me.



Pumpkin Music
Round is my head
(form circle with two hands)
Bright are my eyes
(circle eyes with hands)
Pie shaped my nose
(form triangle shape with fingers)
And a mouth oversized.
(use fingers to push up mouth)
Up on a fence post
(place hands across body to form fence)
I can be seen
(point to self)
Smiling at children on Halloween
(point to mouth big smile)



Mr. Pumpkin
(Start with right hand made into a fist with the thumb inside.  At hiding in
a box, cover top of fist with left hand.  Then remove hand and pop out
thumb.  You can draw a Jack O Lantern on your thumb.)
Old Mr. Pumpkin
Hiding in a box,
Take off the top,
And out he pops!!



Peter Peter
Peter, Peter, pumpkin eater,
Had a wife and couldn't keep her;
He put her in a pumpkin shell,
And there he kept her very well.



Pumpkin Pumpkin
Pumpkin, pumpkin
Sitting on the wall.
Pumpkin, pumpkin
Tip and fall.
Pumpkin, pumpkin
Rolling down the street
Pumpkin, pumpkin
Good to eat.



Pumpkin Poem
One day I found two pumpkin seeds.
I planted one and pulled the weeds.
It sprouted roots and a big, long vine.
A pumpkin grew; I called it mine.
The pumpkin was quite round and fat.
(I really am quite proud of that.)
But there is something I'll admit
That has me worried just a bit.
I ate the other seed, you see.
Now will it grow inside of me?
(I'm so relieved since I have found
That pumpkins only grow in the ground!)



Jack - O - Lantern
Carve a Jack-O-Lantern
On Halloween Night.
(Make carving motions with hands)
He has a big mouth,
(Point to mouth)
But he doesn't bite.
(Shake head "no")
He has two big eyes,
(Point to eyes, or circle eyes with fingers)
But he cannot see.
(Shake head "no")
He's a funny Jack-O-Lantern,
As happy as can be.
(Put hands on stomach, rock back and forth, laughing)



Five Little Pumpkins   or   Five Little Jack-O-Lanterns
(Hold up five fingers, then point to each finger as you count)
Five little pumpkins (or Jack-O-Lanterns )sitting on a gate
The first one said,
"It's getting mighty late"
The second one said,
"I hear some noise"
The third one said,
"It's just girls and boys"
The fourth one said,
"Let's run, let's run"
The fifth one said,
"It's only Halloween fun!"
BUT JUST THEN
Puff went the wind!
(Wave arms above head and blow)
And - Out went the light!
(Blow out candle - clap at light)
So away rolled the pumpkins
On Halloween Night!
(Roll hands behind back



Five Little Pumpkins
Five little pumpkins sitting on a gate
(Five fingers up)
The first one said "Oh my it's getting Late"
(Hands on cheeks)
The second one said "There's a chill in the air"
(arms around self)
The third one said "But we don't care"
(swing pointer finger up and down)
The fourth one said "We're ready for some fun!"
(hand in air)
The fifth one said "Let's run, run, run!"
(running motion)
So woooo went the wind, and out went the lights,
And the five little pumpkins rolled out of sight!



Five Little Pumpkins
(Tune: Ten Little Indians)
On the last line . pause before saying the last word in a two count
(Source: You Tube)

One little pumpkin smiling, smiling.
(Hold up one finger and then make a smiley face!)
One little pumpkin smiling, smiling.
One little pumpkin smiling, smiling.
One little pumpkin is . happy.
(Smile and put your fingers on your cheeks.)

Two little pumpkins pouting, pouting.
(Hold up two fingers and then frown and look down.)
Two little pumpkins pouting, pouting.
Two little pumpkins pouting, pouting.
Two little pumpkins are . grumpy.
(Cross your arms and frown.)

Three little pumpkins yawning, yawning.
(Hold up three fingers and then cover your mouth with your hand as you
yawn.)
Three little pumpkins yawning, yawning.
Three little pumpkins yawning, yawning.
Three little pumpkins are . sleepy.
(Stretch and yawn like you are falling asleep.)

Four little pumpkins crying, crying.
 (Hold up four fingers and then pretend to wipe a tear from your eye.)
Four little pumpkins crying, crying.
Four little pumpkins crying, crying.
Four little pumpkins are . sad.
(Wipe tears from both eyes with both hands.)

Five little pumpkins laughing, laughing.
(Hold up five fingers and then hold your tummy as you pretend to laugh.)
Five little pumpkins laughing, laughing.
Five little pumpkins laughing, laughing.
Five little pumpkins are . playing.
(Run around the room!)





The Little Orange House
(a cutting story using orange construction paper)

Once upon a time a very small witch was walking in the woods.  The cold wind
was blowing the dry leaves all around her. The little witch was frantically
searching for a house for the winter.  She could not find one.  Suddenly a
piece of orange paper, blown by the wind landed at her feet. She picked it
up. The little witch looked closely at the paper and then she said, "I shall
make myself a little house from this piece of orange paper."

She folded the paper in half.  Then she took the scissors she always carried
a pair in her pocket and cut off the two corners to make a roof. (Fold and
cut the construction paper as the story indicates). "This will do just
fine," she said as she looked at her new house. "But I will need a door."
With her scissors she cut a door. Since witches always wear pointed hats,
she cut a door with a point at the top. (Cut a rectangle shape with one end
pointed up more towards the bottom of the folded edge.)

The little witch walked through the door into the little orange house.  It
was very dark inside. She quickly hurried back out.  "I will need to make
windows to let in the light," said the little witch. She cut a round window.
(Cut a round shape in the top middle of the paper opposite end of the paper
the door.) Oh, it was a very fine looking house. Her very own little house
with a roof, a door, and windows was all finished.

But just as the little witch started to go inside for the winter, she saw a
tiny ghost floating down the windswept path. As the tiny ghost came to a
stop near the little house, the little witch saw that she was crying. "Why
are you crying?" asked the little witch. The tiny ghost stopped crying and
answered, "It is cold and windy. It is getting dark. And I have no place to
spend the winter." "You may spend the winter with me in my new house," said
the kind little witch. "Oh, thank you, " the happy tiny ghost said as she
peeked in through the window. "This is a very nice house."
"First," said the witch, "I will need to make you a little door of your very
own." She took her scissors again and began to cut. She cut a very tiny
door. (Cut a triangle on the folded edge of the paper between the big door
and the window. Make the longer part of the triangle point up) The two happy
new friends went inside. The tiny ghost went in the very little door, and
the little witch went through her own special door. All winter long they
lived happily together inside the little orange house. If you want to see
inside their little orange house, just open your piece o paper and Surprise!
It is a Jack-o-Lantern


Variation - The witch finds a black cat instead of a ghost.  She cuts a door
for him that has a point because his tail points up.



Mouse House
(A variation of the Little Orange House that I made up for young children
who might be afraid of witches and my church groups)  A cutting story using
orange construction paper.  Since it is suppose to look like a pumpkin I
fold the paper and precut the paper into a pumpkin shape including a stem,
and I color the stem green.  Then I just hold up the folded paper like it is
a pumpkin lying on its side.

Once there was a little mouse that lived in a field on a pumpkin farm. It
was beginning to get colder out as autumn was coming so he decided to start
look for a home. He spotted a pumpkin laying on its side in the field and
thought that it would make a good, warm place to live.  (Hold up precut
pumpkin)
The little mouse nibbled a hole in the pumpkin to get inside where it was
warm. (Cut a small hole out of the paper right in the middle of the fold -
this is the nose)
 Once he got inside the little mouse saw that the door he use to get in
would be too small for some of his friends to visit so he nibbled a larger
door for them. (Cut another hole on the side of the 1st hole that is away
from the stem. Make it about halfway between the first hole and what will be
the bottom of the pumpkin. Cut this hole taller to make it look like a
bigger door. This is the mouth.)
Then the little mouse noticed that it was very dark in his new house so he
decided to make a window. He nibbled and nibbled and soon he had a nice
window to let in light. (This cut is not made on the fold. Make a round hole
on the side closest to the stem and a few inches up from the fold. These are
the eyes. Make it about equal distance from the first small cut and the
stem.)
The Mouse was very proud of his house when it was done and invited all of
his friends over to wish them a Happy Halloween. (Open your pumpkin and the
children will see that you have made a Jack-o-Lantern)




Perky Pumpkin
(a cutting story using orange construction paper)

Once upon a time there was a little man who liked pumpkins so much he even
looked like one. He had bright orange skin, all shiny and smooth. Everybody
called him Perky Pumpkin.
Perky liked everything about pumpkins. He enjoyed eating them, whether
cooked as a vegetable or baked as a pie. And he especially enjoyed the
pumpkin seeds.
Perky's best friend was Kate the cat. She was black and silky and had a soft
contented purr.
Perky began to think how nice it would be to have a warm, snug house of his
own, instead of sleeping out in the fields among the pumpkin vines. He
mentioned it to Kate and they decided to find a house together.  One crisp
fall morning they set out.  In front of a school, they found a large piece
of orange paper. "My favorite color," said Perky. "It's just what we need."
With Kate's help, Perky tugged and pushed and pulled until he put the paper
together like this (fold in half) With a pair of scissors, Perky carefully
and slowly rounded off the corners, so the paper looked like this: (round
corners on top to make the pumpkin shape).  "Meow," said Kate. "Let's set it
up and take a look at our work." And for a time, they just smiled in
admiration.
But then Perky remembered he would need a door. He cut out a tall one, like
this: "I think I'll add a window too," he said. And he did like this: (cut
mouth and eye)
Perky was pleased with himself.
But not Kate.  She was curious to know where she came in. "Meow ..Meow," she
grumbled.  Perky laughed. He quickly added another door - - a teeny, tiny
one that was just the right size for a rather thin cat. (cut nose) "This
will always be open so you can come in and out as you like," he said. Kate
purred her thanks.
On Halloween night, Perky and Kate invited all their friends to a party. And
when they opened the house to their friends, everyone was surprised and
delighted - -  For this is what they saw: (open up paper to show pumpkin
face) Just what Halloween needs -- a nice round Jack-o-lantern!





Toasted Pumpkin Seed Recipe
First clean the seeds really well, then put them in a saucepan with very
heavily salted water. Boil the seeds in the saltwater until they turn a
grayish color. Then drain them, and lay them out on a cookie sheet, and dot
them with butter or margarine. Toast them in a hot oven stirring them
occasionally to get them evenly browned.



Paper Bag Pumpkins Craft
Materials:
Lunch size paper bags
Orange paint
Green paint
Newspaper
String or Yarn (green)
Directions - Have the children crumple up newspaper and stuff lunch bags
until they are full. Twist the unstuffed part of the bag and tie at the
bottom to make a stem. Let the children paint their pumpkins. When they are
dry, the children can draw faces on them. If you make several you can string
them together with the green yarn so that they look like pumpkins on a vine.




Five Little Pumpkins
(goes with Five Little Pumpkins)
Materials:
Orange construction paper with or without five pumpkins drawn on it
Scissors
Tape or glue
5 craft sticks
Markers
Directions - Have the children cut out five pumpkins and give them happy,
grumpy, sleepy, sad and scared faces. Tape or glue a craft stick to each
pumpkin to use with the rhyme









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