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You are here: Home / School Library / December School Library Activities to WOW and Excite Your Learners

November 24, 2020 by: Laura

December School Library Activities to WOW and Excite Your Learners

Last Updated on December 4, 2020 by Laura

December School Library Activities The Trapped Librarian

In a normal school year, December brings changing schedules and lots of fun activities for our students. School librarians are always working at being flexible and maintaining that happy place in our libraries. But December 2020 is bringing unique challenges to schools as we face a holiday season unlike any other we’ve seen. It seems like the fun has been taken out of so many situations right now. How can we plan fun December school library activities while maintaining a healthy and safe space for our students?

Hour of Code

December School Library Activities Hour of Code
Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

Computer Science in Education Week is the first full week in December. Whether you are distance learning, hybrid learning, or learning in person, now is the perfect time to participate in the Hour of Code. Coding helps our students learn to be creators of information rather than just consumers. We can also help our learners become aware of computer science careers. This is a great year to encourage families to get involved too! I’ve got a blog post explaining how I teach my youngest students about coding, and a free resource to help you get started in your library!

Decorate!

December Book Stack Characters

Take a look at some of those fun holiday or character book stack displays -my students were delighted every time they walked into the library to see them. They are very easy to create – scan your shelves for the color and size of books that you need. Stack them, add some simple paper cutouts and that’s it. Distance Learning? You can add one of these decorations to your teaching video background. You can also post photographs of your creations with a message in your online classroom or on your library social media page!

Spice Up Storytime!

December School Library Activities Picture Books

Whether you’re reading stories aloud online or in person, you can make your December storytime sessions more engaging in several ways.

  • Dress for the occasion: Students will notice a fun hat, headband, or prop that you have on hand – this helps set the stage.
  • Add sound effects with the free Novel Effect app! They have lots of great books for December!
  • Use the free books and videos available on Epic!
  • Send home information on fun author events like this Happy Narwhalidays session with Ben Clanton and Emily Arrow.
  • Keep some extra books and free resources on hand (check out these recommendations!)

Play a game

December School Library Activities Picture Book Trivia

Learning is always more engaging if we make a game out of it! Last year I created a Christmas Picture Book Trivia Game with questions from 4 classic Christmas books. My 2nd – 5th graders had fun playing in teams as we answered questions about characters, setting, main events, central message, and details. This year, even if we’re in person, we have to keep our social distance, so students may need to participate individually. This year I created a digital version of the game that can be played at home, in digital centers, or as a whole group on the Smartboard. You can make your own game using your favorite Christmas picture books, or save time by using mine.

Do Some Research!

December School Library Activities Reindeer Research
Photo by Norman Tsui on Unsplash

Research skills do not have to be taught in a long, involved, multi-step project in order to be effective. Last year I read part of the book Reindeer by Dee Phillips to my K-2 classes (available on Epic!). Then we looked at databases for more information (We used Abdo Zoom, Worldbook Kids, and Exploring Nature) I had them fold a piece of paper into fourths and write or draw one interesting fact in each quadrant. Our papers contained sketches, diagrams, labels, phrases, and sentences. This kind of lesson is simple and can be done virtually or in person. You could also have your students research a holiday like Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa in the same way!

December Library Activities Keep the Connections Alive!

However you decide to keep the fun going in your December school library activities, the most important thing is to keep your students connected to you, your library program, and one another. If you keep those connections a priority, you and your students will continue to make your library the center of your school!

Want more ideas?

December School Library Activities Bundle

Take a look at this fun bundle of December school library activities!

December Activities for Your School Library

Be the light!

How to Engage Your Youngest Learners in the School Library
Make Learning Fun With a Library Game

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thetrappedlibrarian

📚 Elementary School Librarian
🌟 NBCT 2011
👩🏻‍🏫 Teacher Author
Blog: trappedlibrarian.org

Laura Trapp
Hubby just hung this wine cork board for me (he ma Hubby just hung this wine cork board for me (he made it!). 🍷 I was eager to hang up these love notes from our granddaughters! 💗Swipe to see the plain board. 
#lovenotes #granddaughterlove #handymanhusband
🌳🐶 Sofia Valdez, Future Prez by Andrea Beaty 🌳🐶 Sofia Valdez, Future Prez by Andrea Beaty, illustrated by David Roberts 🐶🌳⁣
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⁣
🐶🌳 Sofia has always loved to help family, friends, and neighbors. One day, she and her Abuelo come upon a large pile of garbage in their neighborhood. Realizing that “Mount Trashmore” is unsightly and dangerous, Sofia decides to do something about it. She gathers her neighbors for a meeting to plan a park for the area instead. ⁣
🐶🌳 Although she feels fearful about her ability to succeed, Sofia bravely goes to City Hall (and through several levels of bureaucracy). Because of her perseverance and the help of her community, the park finally becomes a reality.⁣
🐶🌳 Although this story does not take place at school, readers will be delighted to see Sofia’s teacher and classmates helping with the part at the end! Young activists will be inspired by the messages of “You can make a difference” and “Keep trying!”⁣
🐶🌳 Read more about The Questioneers picture books at the smart-bio link.⁣
#kidactivist #kidactivists #iteachelementary⁣
#iteachtoo #elementarylibrary #elementarylibrarian #schoollibrary #schoollibrarian #librarymediaspecialist #kidlit #kidsbooks #picturebooks #picturebook
Honey:The Dig Who Saved Abe Lincoln by Shari Swans Honey:The Dig Who Saved Abe Lincoln by Shari Swanson, illustrated by Chuck Groenink
🐾 
If your students liked Abe Lincoln Crosses a Creek by Deborah Hopkinson, they’ll love this story too! 
🐾 This time we learn about how adventurous Abe got himself into another harrowing predicament when he gets stuck in a cave. Luckily Honey, the broken legged dog he helped earlier, knew how to lead people back to the cave to help. All’s well that ends well again! 
🐾 Its fun for kids to learn about the childhood experiences of famous people. And thanks to the writings of President Lincoln’s childhood pal Austin Gollaher, some of those stories are being retold!
🐾 I read this to my classes because it’s nominated for the Montana Treasure State Book Award. We did a little research on our 16th president after that.
#elementarylibrary #kidsbooks #picturebooks #schoollibrarian #librarymediaspecialist #iteachelementary
I really enjoyed reading these new easy readers an I really enjoyed reading these new easy readers and early chapter books as a Cybils Round 2 judge! 📚This stack includes some of the finalists in those categories. 📚 Look for my short reviews soon! #cybils #easyreader #earlychapterbooks #kidlit #kidsbooks
Ada Twist, Scientist by Andrea Beaty, illustrated Ada Twist, Scientist by Andrea Beaty, illustrated by David Roberts 🥽⁣
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Although Ada did not speak a word until she was 3 years old, her curiosity led her to explore the world around her. When she finally did speak, her first word was “Why?” Guided by the need to know where, how, why, what, and when, Ada conducts experiments and observations at home and at school. ⁣
🥽 She is encouraged by the adults until she takes an experiment too far and the chaos is finally too much for her parents. As Ada contemplates things in her room, she begins to draw out her hypotheses and questions on the wall. This leads her parents to realize there is no squashing her curiosity! ⁣
🥽❓ Students will be encouraged by the messages of “We learn by asking questions” and “Messes are part of success.” ⁣
🥽❓ Read more about The Questioneers picture books at the smart-bio link!⁣
⁣
#kidlit #raisingreaders #readaloud #childrensbook #kidsbooks #childrensbooks #elementarylibrary #elementarylibrarian #schoollibrary #schoollibrarian #librarymediaspecialist #growthmindset #kidsbook
Lunchtime Views... ☀️ I always stop here to e Lunchtime Views... ☀️ 
I always stop here to eat my lunch when I travel to my country schools. Today I had a few cows and a rock chuck for company! 🐄 
#smallschoollibrary #montanalife #montanamoment #elementarylibrarian #schoollibrarian #librarymediaspecialist
🖍 Fun lesson idea: 🖍 Read Crayon Man by Nata 🖍 Fun lesson idea:
🖍 Read Crayon Man by Natasha Biebow, illustrated by Steven Salerno.
🖍 Show Mister Rogers video “How People Make Crayons” (Yes!! It’s still engaging after all these years!).
🖍 Give everyone a brand new box of crayons, with time to create a colorful picture!
🖍
#crayolacrayons #elementarylibrary #picturebook #iteachelementary  #elementaryschoollibrary #elementarymediaspecialist  #schoollibrary #schoollibrarian
🌉 Iggy Peck, Architect by Andrea Beaty, illustr 🌉 Iggy Peck, Architect by Andrea Beaty, illustrated by David Roberts. 🌉 ⁣
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⁣
From the age of two, Iggy has had a knack for building amazing structures with unusual materials. His parents appreciate and encourage this passion. But Iggy runs into trouble with his teacher, who has a phobia of tall buildings. She tries to stifle the young boy’s passion and redirect him during class. But on an outdoor fieldtrip, when a bridge collapses, Iggy saves the day with his architectural knowledge. And of course, this helps Miss Greer see the value in Iggy’s obsession and leads the way for a weekly architecture lesson led by the hero. The central message: “Follow your passion – don’t give up!"⁣
⭐🌉⁣
Use this book to inspire your students to persevere and follow their passions and follow up with a makerspace activity! 🌉⭐⁣
Read more about The Questioneers picture books at the smart-bio link!⁣
#elementarylibrary #elementarylibrarian #schoollibrary #schoollibrarian #librarymediaspecialist #kidlit #kidsbooks #picturebooks #childrensbook #picturebook #raisingreaders
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