Summer Reading Program Preview

Since I'm not the only planner out there, I wanted to give a preview of some programs I'm going to do for this summer's Summer Reading Program.

My library system participates in the Collaborative Summer Library Program. For those of you who do not know what that is, it is a consortium of libraries across the country that all have the same theme for our Summer Reading Programs. All participating libraries this year are putting on the theme of "Build a Better World." 

May:
1. Coding
Reading: "Ada Lovelace, Poet of Science" by Diane Stanley
Discussing: Binary Code and Computer Programming
Craft: Binary Code Keychains (using kid's initials of their name)

2. Scientific Method
Reading: "Pirate, Viking, & Scientist" by Jared Chapman
Discussion: Scientific Method + Pirate vs. Viking True/False
Craft: Pirate Hat

3. Shapes/Patterns
Reading: "Shapes Reshape" by Silvia Borando
Discussion: Patterns in Nature and Animal Shape Guessing Game
Craft: Make animals from shapes used in "Shapes Reshape"

4. Density and Weight
Reading: "What Can a Crane Pickup?" by Rebecca Dotlich
Discussion: Using "Weigh It!" by Rachel First, talk about density/weight with objects
Craft: Paper Weights (out of rocks)

June:
5. Bridges
Reading: "Bridges: An Introduction to Ten Great Bridges" by Didier Cornille
Discussion: Famous Bridges
Craft/Activity: Create bridges out of home-made build kits (using clothespins, jumbo craft sticks, and binder clips)

6. Mysteries
Reading: "Who Done It?" by Olivier Tallec
Discussion: How do detectives solve crime? Talk about fingerprinting, evidence, alibi's, motives, etc.
Activity: Solve a mystery (I created a mystery with 'evidence' stations the kids have to use to solve the mystery of 'who stole the cookies from the cookie jar?')
Craft: Make your own detective badge

7. Marble Runs!
Reading: "Ready, Set, Build!" by Meg Fleming
Discussion: Engineering, mazes, and marble runs
Craft: Make your own marble run out of LEGOs

8. Circuits
Reading: "Weasels" by Elys Dolan
Discussion: Talk about circuits. Using energy sticks, create circuits with insulators and conductors. 
Craft: Robots out of toilet paper tubes, googly eyes, markers, and other materials

July:
9. Constitution (4th of July week)
Reading: "I Need My Own Country" by Rick Walton
Discussion: What is the constitution. Share "We the People" by Peter Spier. Talk about what their country would look like if they made one tomorrow.
Craft: Design your country's own flag

10. Sand Castles
Reading: "Extremely Cute Animals Operating Heavy Machinery" by David Gordon
Discussion: Building out of sand; sharing
Craft: Sand castles out of kinetic sand

11. Recycling/Composting
Reading: "We Dig Worms" by Kevin McCloskey
Discussion: Composting and how it works
Craft: Compost in a cup - teach the kids how to do it and have them take some home with them 

12. Skyscrapers
Reading: "Into the Sky" by Ryan Hunter
Discussion: What are skyscrapers? Show pictures from "Spectacular Skyscrapers" by Meish Goldish. 
Activity: How high can you build? Give teams of 2-4 kids 15 minutes to build the highest structures out of LEGOs.
Craft: Cityscape collages