Homeschool Hole In One

Today was Homeschool Day at our library. We created an indoor mini golf course and played on through. We will be doing this for our next Teen After Hours Party.Tons of fun but make sure ( for your health ,well being, and mental health) you read my note at the end of this post.

We started with four boxes filled with various materials. I had Duplo blocks, foam blocks, discarded books, cups, masking tape,and toy parts. There were two flags in each box that had "hole" numbers on them.


Let's Begin:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Perfecting

 

 

 

 

 

Playing through

 

 

 

Such a fun time with friends and families. Very little involved in setup. No cost for materials. Now, this is where I am leaving you with some very sound advice. Maybe you are already wise to this. Perhaps you have more sense than me. Why have I not paid attention to this awfully messy detail in the past? Haven't I ever seen/used this stuff!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

NOTE:

Never, under any circumstances, ever, and I mean ever,ever, ever, ever, ever use STYROFOAM.

 

EVER!

 

Ever.....and I mean it!

 

 

Twas' The Night of The Scarecrows

Last week we had a scarecrow making event for families at 6:30 on Thursday evening. At 6:29 Cynthia and I were looking at each other with puzzled expressions on our faces------------no one had shown up for the event!??? We prepared the pages to ready themselves for massive walking taco consumption. They seemed up for the task.

Then, much to our wondering eyes did appear, 36 people toting scarecrow making gear! Their eyes, how they twinkled, their stomachs were growling, all of the children and adults seemed to be howling, "More scarecrow heads, more tacos, more markers, more stuffing, more cider, more clothes, and more sunshine for lighting."

We heard them exclaim, as they drove out of sight, "This was so much fun!!!! Let's do it again tomorrow night!"

Imagine A Castle/S'More Free Teen Programming

I have been waiting for this day since I planned the program. So many happy hours were spent playing in the sand when I was growing up and I suspect that is true of many kids. It is a delight to watch teens have creative freedom and some time to just relax and have fun. Teens, sand, sun , s'mores, 3D chalk, on a sunny summer afternoon, was the order of the day.

Cynthia and I used the remainder of the glue in the small bottles from last years programs to create everlasting sand castle mixture. Yes, we actually got paid for watching glue drip out of bottles into a big container....ahhh life in the Children's Room. We used the cups leftover from the Iron Chef program and filled them with sand and glue. The teens added some water and stirred with craft sticks, then placed the sand mixture on paper plates (also left over from Iron Chef program), and proceeded to model a castle. We were fortunate enough to have a beautiful day and it was delightful to watch the teens create some sand castles.

After working up an appetite making castles in the sand, everyone tried out the 3D chalk, and then munched some s'mores that were made from...........that's right...........leftovers from the Iron Chef program!

Chocolate, chalk, sand, sunshine, and a summer afternoon. Life just doesn't get much better.

EXPLOSIVE PROGRAMS--Teen Iron Chef and Big Machines

This summer has been an explosion of activity at our library. Lots of children, day cares, reconfiguring the Children's Room, new comfy chair for adults and children to snuggle in, and our new self-check unit (yes ,we are way behind, I know).

We revisited the Teen Iron Chef program as Iron Chef Goes to the Beach. What kinds of things would you like to serve at the beach? Fresh foods, things they may not have tried before, new flavors to add, and some good old standbys. The teens were creative , as usual, adding their own touches and wonderful imaginations to create tasty and interesting new combinations. Beach Boys music set the scene.

Teens just love this program and it is a perfect storm of program elements. Inexpensive, creative, interactive,cooperative,and they can eat!

I try to spend under $70 for this program. Tables covered with white paper allows the teams to spend time brainstorming a name for the team and doodling on the paper. Each team chooses one person from the team to go to the food table to get the things they need to create an appetizer, entree, and dessert. We allow 20 minutes to create the dishes, name them, and then we bring in the judges.The teams are judged on presentation, creativity, and taste. Then we feast.

Clean up is easy with the paper table covers.

BIG MACHINES

I love the big machine or big truck programs. The people who drive and operate the machines have a great time interacting with the public and seem to enjoy the kids enthusiasm. What a wonderful free program that has all the right stuff!

Bring on the trucks and boats,

add some bubbles,

some chalk on the sidewalk,

books of course,

 a bit of sunshine, and you have a perfect program!

Teens Are Walking On Water or Jimmy Choo's Got Nothin' On You

The tremendous amount of plastic water bottles that are put in the garbage is a disturbing reality.When we hold teen programs we have a glass dispenser that can be filled with water and then we add fruit or cucumbers for flavor. The kids have glass mugs that can easily be washed. No plastic bottles. When planning summer events, we thought it might be a good idea to call attention to the water bottle problem and offer some inventive solutions. How about shoes made from water bottles?

Duct tape, some pictures of designer sandals as a jumping off point, and loads of imagination, produced some incredible results! I bet there will be a lot of grateful parents when it is time for back to school footwear.

Just One More Sticky Situation

Just when my head was spinning with the onset of the summer splash I found out my fall/early winter program schedule is due. Things are really full speed at our library right now. I have had all I can do to keep up with the day care groups, families, and misc. kids at our library, not to mention extra desk time because other staff are on vacation (isn't taking a summer vacation if you work in a library against the law or something?). So, in the midst of all of the summer hubbub, I am wracking my brain to reinvent the wheel yet again........one or two Babygarten times---early,mid morning,what is best? Toddler Time for sure, but should we do a 4&5 story time or all ages---morning, afternoon,both? How many programs are maybe just too much for me to take on, spreading myself too thin, and not presenting a quality program because I am too wiped out? What can I come up with that is cutting edge, amazingly inventive, something totally new? Adult,teen,family, character parties, book release parties, lock ins,storytimes,early out programs.................yowsa!

It occurred to me that the teens had an absolutely wonderful time at the duct tape program we held on Tuesday. Now, all of you who work with teens know this is not an original idea---been there, done that, made the wallet. The fact is, they still love to have the freedom ( and the wide variety of free duct tape) to create, explore, and experiment. They were happy and laughing, playing, working side by side.

I have to remind myself, on a fairly regular basis, that I need to allow myself that same kind of creative freedom. No pressure, just a chance to create,experiment, and explore. Every program I plan does not have to be original, it does not have to be cutting edge, it does not have to wear me to a frazzle, and it can certainly be something I have done before. Kids just want to have fun in a relaxed atmosphere where the librarian who planned the program, is happy and laughing, playing, and working side by side with them.

I think Red Green would agree.

Politely Stepping Back

In this world of iPads, iPods, cell phones, and Wii, Kindles and Playaways, schnitzel and noodles, brown paper packages tied up with string.....well...it was fascinating to simplify things for an hour.

We held an American Girl party to celebrate Addy, who was depicted as living during the Civil War era.

                          The children who attended were absolutely amazed by shadow puppetry.

              Lemonade came with some effort put forth squeezing real lemons, using some juicers that were not powered by electricity.

The concept of cloth napkins was introduced, and we talked about why they are necessary now, for different reasons, than in Addy's time.

Games as simple as keeping a feather afloat were as exciting as Mario Cart.

What a delight it was to turn back time...............just for an hour.

Now, please excuse me,I have to Tweet.

Three Ring Circus

                     We take the circus seriously in New Richmond.

The police escorted the ringmaster and balloons into the Library..............just to be safe.

Enter the Big Top through stripey curtains into the Children's Room

Let the circus begin!

Walk the tightrope, use an umbrella or a balloon flower to help balance.

Eat a refreshing sno cone,

guess how many,

try your hand at THE CLAW machine,

or make a clown hat with a T.A.B. teen.

Get your face painted,

and then try on your very own red rubber clown nose and have your picture taken!

The most wonderful, the most amazing,the most unbelievable, and the most incredible

entertainment, was Ozseeker the clown!

She makes things out of balloons that are not to be believed. 

who knew about balloon motorcycles?

balloon mermaids......

hats made of balloons that are games....

and lovely flower balloon hats.Ahhhhhhhhh

!

My T.A.B. kids were such a help

After everyone enjoyed all of the activities it was time to close the circus. It was another wonderful day at the Library.

Did I mention I have the BEST JOB EVER?