Library Lesson: The Library's Shelf Elf

Library Orientation: The Library's Shelf Elf

By third grade, my students pretty much know how to care for their books and how to act in the library. However, I still review these skills so that each class knows ways they can earn the coveted Golden Shelf Elf Award. I will discuss more about my special trophy in a little bit. Here is the lesson I start out with before I discuss how to earn the trophy...

Recommended grade:  3rd grade

Materials:

·   pictures of your family and things you like

·   video clip "The Elves and the Shoemaker" from VHS "Muppet Classic Theater" (we own the video, and I show the clip from You Tube since it is faster to access- I wish this video was sold in DVD format!)

·   book The Shelf Elf by Jackie Mims Hopkins

·   "magic scrolls" with Shelf Elf rules on them

·   Golden Shelf Elf award

·   

Lesson:

This school year I am going to use more technology tools! If I take this initiative, hopefully the teachers at my campus who are intimidated by new technologies will try after seeing their students' excitement...

1. As the students come into the library and sit down, I am going to have them use a SMART Response remote to answer yes or no to following question: "Have you heard of the story The Elves and the Shoemaker?” We will then discuss the results.
2. Briefly introduce myself and show the few things I mention about me on our SMART Board.
3. Show the movie clip “The Elves and the Shoemaker” for students to understand the story (My favorite version is from The Muppets found on You Tube: “The Muppets- The Elves and the Shoemaker”).
4. Tell students I am going to share a story of what happened next to the elves in the story. But first, I need 7 volunteers to read a magic scroll when the time is right. Pass out parts to volunteers. Read The Shelf Elf by Jackie Mims Hopkins. Call on volunteers to read their magic scroll throughout the story when prompted.
5. Explain how students can win the Golden Shelf Elf Award to display in their classroom. Discuss how they can start right now as they go in search for a book.

   

   My coveted Golden Shelf Elf Award

Fun freebie:
Here are the bookmarks that I created to hand out to the students at the end of this lesson. If you would like a copy, click on the picture below. Enjoy!

Elf graphic from Scrappin Doodles

Library Lesson: Wild about Books!

Library Orientation: Wild about Books!

I've tweaked this lesson from last year to include lots of movement and teamwork. Since our elementary school only goes up to fourth grade, I wanted my "big kids on campus" to show me what they remember or know about book care rules while having fun in the library at the same time.

Recommended grade:  4th grade

Materials:

·   SMART Response system with remotes

·   Stuffed animals (1 per table)

·   animal books (set out at table in front of room)

·   “Wild about the Library!” handouts (1 per table) and pencils

·   Safari hat, vest, & binoculars (to wear)

·   Scavenger hunt items and photos of each one: toilet paper, stuffed animal dog, baby  pacifier, clean and empty bag of Cheetos, box of crayons, and book return adhesive  pocket with card

·   Book Wild About Books by Judy Sierra

Lesson:

Here is how I teach this lesson and what works best for me. Also, I hope to post pictures once I have taught it this upcoming week...

1. As the students come in, they will use our SMART Response remotes and answer the following question displayed on our SMART Board: “Are you WILD about books (Do you like to read?)?” We will then discuss the results.
2.  Next, sharing the following joke (on the SMART Board):
   Why does an elephant use his trunk as a bookmark?
   That way he always nose where he stopped reading.
   (Found via Pinterest on this library's website)
3. Briefly introduce myself (wear safari hat, vest, and binoculars) and play up that I am not only their librarian, but I am also their safari guide. Show the few things I mention about me on SMART Board.
4. Warn students about the wild animals at their tables (stuffed animals)! Working together with their table mates, students will determine which book from the ones displayed at the front of the room their wild animal would most likely enjoy if it could read. They will go select one of those books and bring it back to their table. Then, they will fill out the top portion of their table’s handout “Wild about the Library!” in which they write their table’s animal, what book they think the animal would like, and why they believe their animal would like that book.       
   Stuffed animals and their book matches I had on hand and will use
   giraffe (Basketball for Fun by Brian Eule)
   zebra (A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon)
   raccoon (Where Does the Garbage Go? by Paul Showers)
   panda (China by Sandy Asher)
   brown bear (The Honey Hunters by Francesca Martin)
   eagle (The Best Nest by P. D. Eastman) 
5. For our next activity, students will look at the photo placed at their table of an item. They will then have a “Safari Search” for this item that is hidden somewhere in the library. When they find their item, they will bring it back to their table, and fill out the next portion of their table’s “Wild about the Library!” handout. They will answer questions about what their item was and what library rule they think may go along with that item. Share results and discuss real answers:Toilet paper: To use if they cannot find a bookmark
   Stuffed animal dog: Keep books away from pets
   Empty & clean bag of Cheetos: Keep hands clean when looking at our     books
   Pacifier: Keep an eye on babies around our books
   Box of crayons: Never draw in our books
   Old fashioned card catalog book return pocket: Return books on time
6. I will then show a preview of the book Wild about Books by Judy Sierra. Tell students that they will find out next week which books the author/illustrator paired with the animals and that we will compare them to the students’ guesses on their handouts.
7. Have students then demonstrate the proper use of these rules as they go and select a book to check out. Reward students for not being “wild” in the library.
   
   
   

Fun freebies:
Here are the bookmarks that I created to hand out to the students at the end of this lesson. If you would like a copy, click on the picture below. Enjoy!

Wild lettering and animal graphics from Scrappin Doodles
About Reading lettering from Lettering Delights

Another freebie I have to offer is my Wild about the Library handout. The link is posted above, but you can also get it by clicking the image below.

Wild lettering and animal graphics from Scrappin Doodles
About Reading lettering from Lettering Delights
Other font used from DaFont