A library card is a passport. It permits its owner to travel to other places and times through the pages of a book. Membership in the community of the public library places thousands of resources at students’ fingertips. Celebrate National Library Card Month with a trip to the library to explore all the many resources available!
Invite a librarian from your school or a nearby public library to visit your classroom to bring applications and talk to the students about the advantages of having a library card. In completing the applications, students will learn not only how to fill out forms but also how to interpret the language used in giving directions.
Once the applications are completed and students have their library cards, it’s time to explore the library itself. Schedule a library tour to acquaint students with the general features and resources available; then, invite your students to reflect on what they’ve found and how they might use the resources in the future. Return to these notes later in the year, expanding on ongoing experiences in the library.
Want more ideas? Visit these teaching ideas from ReadWriteThink.org:
Plan a visit to a library to discover more about this magical place.
Dear Librarian: Writing a Persuasive Letter
Students write persuasive letters to their librarian requesting that specific texts be added to the school library. As they work, students plan their arguments and outline their reasons and examples.
A World of Readers: Libraries Around the World
Treat your bookworms to an enjoyable lesson researching and sharing information about online library services in places around the world.
Promoting Diversity in the Classroom and School Library through Social Action
Students explore the effects of stereotypes by analyzing children’s books. Then they create bookmarks that encourage readers to question the assumptions of stereotyped books and to seek out matching, balanced texts.
Now get our your card and head to your library!