Little Red Riding Hood CSI
45 - 90 Mins, Chapter 1 Bookish Beasts, Children, Game/Activity
August 25, 2020 0.00 KB 1915 downloads
Children explore their powers of observation and deductive reasoning to expose the truth about Granny! To her horror, Little Red Riding Hood walks into a crime scene in progress. She dons her investigative skills and scientific
knowledge to uncover the truth. A similar idea could also be adapted for “Goldilocks and the Three Bears.” Suggested runtime: 60 minutes
Terrific Tardigrades
60 Mins+, Adults, Chapter 6 Amazing Creatures, Children, Craft, Game/Activity, Multigenerational, Teens
August 24, 2020 0.00 KB 3747 downloads
What are tardigrades? They are microscopic water bears! This program requires some prep but is a fun multigenerational event. Read a book about tardigrades, such as My Tiny Pet by Jessie Hartland, share photos and facts, or show brief YouTube videos. Then let participants cycle though the stations you have set up
Interactive Movie - Finding Nemo
60 Mins+, Adults, Chapter 6 Amazing Creatures, Children, Game/Activity, Multigenerational, Outdoors, Teens
August 24, 2020 0.00 KB 3539 downloads
Most older children and teens are familiar with Finding Nemo, but playing along with the movie is a new twist! Everyone gets an interactive script and a bag filled with props and snacks. Before you start the movie, practice the bonus actions as a group warm-up. This is a fun multigenerational program. Be sure to ask for help with cleanup after the screening.
Blobfish Slime
45 - 90 Mins, Chapter 6 Amazing Creatures, Children, Craft, Outdoors
August 24, 2020 0.00 KB 2298 downloads
After a blobfish storytime, give children premeasured ingredients to make their own slime! This program’s slime innovation is to add googly eyes, which turn your ho-hum mound of slime into a quivering blobfish.
Break It Remake It
60 Mins+, Chapter 6 Amazing Creatures, Children, Craft, Teens
August 24, 2020 0.00 KB 1833 downloads
Older children take apart their old toys and put them back together again! Asking participants to bring their old toys from home will minimize costs, but be prepared with extras on hand for those who do not bring any. Give out name tags for both participants and the monstrosities they create. For younger children or quicker programs, dissemble toys beforehand.
Air-Dry Animal Magnets
60 Mins+, Chapter 6 Amazing Creatures, Children, Craft, Teens
August 24, 2020 0.00 KB 1942 downloads
Teens make mini animals out of clay, then turn them into magnets, pins, or earrings! This program is easily adapted to any animal theme. The clay does not take long to dry for small pieces, but make it a two-part program if you will be using paintable clay (paint animals and add backings during the second session).
Animal Heroes Movie Fundraiser
60 Mins+, Chapter 6 Amazing Creatures, Children, Adults, Game/Activity, Multigenerational, Low Cost, Outreach, Outdoors, Teens
August 24, 2020 0.00 KB 3148 downloads
Help your local animal shelter or Humane Society and entertain families at the same time! Contact the shelter to see what types of items they need. Then screen a fun movie that features pets or animal heroes; encourage patrons to donate one item from the shelter’s list of needs. Remember the book display related to the movie, animal heroes, and/or shelter pets.
Animal Heroes Scavenger Hunt
15-30 Mins, Chapter 6 Amazing Creatures, Children, Game/Activity, Low Cost, Passive/Display
August 24, 2020 0.00 KB 2134 downloads
Animal heroes everywhere you turn! Every week or two, hide a new animal hero somewhere in the library. When children find that animal, they take one of its trading cards (see Printables for template). They must come to the library throughout the summer to collect the whole set. You can also have them vote for their favorite animal hero, which you can display at the end of the summer. This is a great program to adapt to whichever animal heroes you have in your collection.
Axolotl And Other Weirdos
Chapter 6 Amazing Creatures, Children, Low Cost, Game/Activity, Passive/Display
August 24, 2020 0.00 KB 2514 downloads
Passive games about weird animals! Children can either hunt for axolotl or answer T/F facts about weird animals to decode a secret word. For the axolotl-only version, hide four axolotl pictures throughout the library, one fact associated with each picture. After children fill in their answer keys with all four facts, they bring their finished sheets to a librarian for a small prize. For a more challenging, multiple-animal version, children decide whether a series of animal facts are true or false; the right answers decode a special word. Once they complete the word, they get a small prize.
Backyard Animal Farming
60 Mins+, Adults, Chapter 5 Read, Connect, Protect, Children, Low Cost, Multigenerational, Outdoors, Outside Presenter, Teens
August 24, 2020 0.00 KB 3206 downloads
A guest speaker teaches participants how to care for backyard animals such as chickens, rabbits, ducks, goats, or bees. If possible, they bring live creatures for demonstration. Check with local regulations (zoning, animal welfare, public health, and nuisance laws) to confirm what types of backyard animals are allowed within your municipality or county. Remember the book display on small animal farming and/or homesteading!
Endangered Species Stop Motion Animation
60 Mins+, Chapter 5 Read, Connect, Protect, Children, Game/Activity, STEAM, Teens
August 24, 2020 0.00 KB 2196 downloads
In this two-part program, teens create simple stop motion videos about endangered animals. Ask them to advocate for their animals through their videos, such as by showing habitat destruction and how to help; alternatively, adapt this program for any animal theme. In the first part, show stop motion animation clips and discuss basic storyboarding. Teens choose and/or create their animals and backgrounds, and plan their shot lists (see Printables). In the second part of the program, teens learn how to use Stop Motion Studio (a free app) and begin production. Screen everyone’s videos at the end of the program.
Pet Expo
60 Mins+, Adults, Chapter 5 Read, Connect, Protect, Children, Outdoors, Low Cost, Multigenerational, Outside Presenter, Passive/Display, Teens
August 24, 2020 0.00 KB 3221 downloads
Pet expo day at the library! This great family program is for anyone who has ever wanted a pet. Invite local rescue organizations to bring adoptable pets and local experts to give pet care tips. You could also modify this program
to focus on the care of unusual pets (such as reptiles or birds), and ask patrons to bring in their unusual pets for show and tell. For an expo-style event, guest organizations set up information tables for participants to peruse
at their leisure; they could also give short presentations. You can tailor the program to focus on adoption tips, pet health and nutrition, pet first aid, and/or pet training.
Recycling Olympics
60 Mins+, Chapter 5 Read, Connect, Protect, Children, Game/Activity, Outdoors, Outreach
August 24, 2020 0.00 KB 2198 downloads
Run a weekly program in a local park or forest! Families meet to hear stories about animals and ecosystems, to engage in fun recycling games, or to clean up the trail or area. If you can partner with a park, have a park ranger or volunteer give talks about local wildlife and environmental concerns. The program can also be adapted to a cleanup walk near the library if a local park is not an option.
Scrub A Dub Dub
45 - 90 Mins, Chapter 5 Read, Connect, Protect, Children, Game/Activity, Low Cost, Outdoors, STEAM
August 24, 2020 0.00 KB 2166 downloads
Oil spill sensory play! Discuss pollution and demonstrate an “oil spill,” followed by a cleanup effort to clear the polluted water. This is a great way to show how our actions affect the environment, including animal habitats. Another activity demonstrates how polar bears stay warm in water. Children stick their bare fingers in ice water, then dip their fingers again after coating them in Crisco. Discuss how blubber keeps polar bears warm.
Wild Jeopardy
60 Mins+, Chapter 5 Read, Connect, Protect, Children, Game/Activity, Low Cost, Teens
August 24, 2020 0.00 KB 2539 downloads
Run a game of Jeopardy using a free online template! You can adapt the questions for any age group or animal theme. The rules follow the traditional TV game show, and contestants get points for every correctly answered question. Remember prizes for the winning teams.
Backyard Habitats
60 Mins+, Adults, Chapter 4 No Place Like Home, Children, Multigenerational, Craft, Outdoors, Teens
August 24, 2020 0.00 KB 2822 downloads
A backyard habitat series for birds and pollinators! This program teaches participants the basics of backyard habitats: Project options include a bug hotel, a bird feeder, and a butterfly puddler. Build one habitat, or run a series to build all three. Modify habitat designs based on audience age and the supplies you have on hand; see Resources for more design ideas.
Create A Creature
60 Mins+, Adults, Craft, Chapter 4 No Place Like Home, Children, Game/Activity, Low Cost, Multigenerational, Teens
August 24, 2020 0.00 KB 3145 downloads
There is no place like home! And that home. And that home. In this program, children learn about habitats and how animals adapt to them. Read Listen to our World (2016) and/or show a brief video, such as “Animal Habitats” by Learning Junction. Show habitat cards and discuss which animals live in each habitat and why, then let participants get creative! Their task is to create a brand new animal that would thrive in a particular habitat. You can have them draw habitat cards, let them choose whichever habitat they like, or base the whole program around a specific habitat. Ask everyone to present their new animal—and describe what makes it perfectly suited to its habitat—at the end of the program.
Land Of Ladybugs
60 Mins+, Chapter 4 No Place Like Home, Children, Game/Activity, Outdoors, Outreach
August 24, 2020 0.00 KB 2256 downloads
A fun, hands-on ladybug program! In a local park, read ladybug books and talk about where ladybugs live, what they eat, and their role in the ecosystem. Make simple ladybug masks if you have access to outdoor tables. Then each child releases their ladybugs. The best time for a ladybug release is in the early evening of May or June.
We Rate Pets
60 Mins+, Chapter 4 No Place Like Home, Adults, Children, Low Cost, Game/Activity, Multigenerational, Passive/Display, Teens
August 24, 2020 0.00 KB 2778 downloads
Participants share their funniest pet stories! They bring in pictures of their pets (or draw the pets they wish they had) and write funny captions. You can run this as a show-and-tell, or create a display and leave out templates and instructions for a passive program. Patrons vote on the funniest (or fluffiest/grumpiest/etc.) pets; the winners get pet-themed prize at the end of the summer.
Pet BFF Necklaces
60 Mins+, Chapter 4 No Place Like Home, Children, Craft, Passive/Display, Teens
August 24, 2020 0.00 KB 2277 downloads
BFF necklaces for pets and owners! Children or teens make bottle cap necklaces out of their favorite pet pictures. Alternatively, they can turn the photos in bottle caps into pins or magnets. For a passive display component, create an animal besties bulletin board where patrons post selfies with their pets.
Shelter Pet Portraits
60 Mins+, Adults, Chapter 3 Animal Caretakers and Friends, Children, Craft, Multigenerational, Outreach, Teens
August 24, 2020 0.00 KB 2839 downloads
Participants make portraits of adoptable pets to donate to the local animal shelter! Alternatively, each participant integrates a photo of a shelter pet into a collage. The shelter can display the pictures and give them to the pets’ forever families when they get adopted. This is a great way for children to practice art and contribute to their communities; alternatively, they could create portraits of their own pets. This program is easily adapted to any age
or artistic ability.
Skype A Scientist
Chapter 3 Animal Caretakers and Friends, 60 Mins+, Children, Low Cost, Outside Presenter, STEAM
August 24, 2020 0.00 KB 2423 downloads
Children learn from animal scientists during a Skype interview! From the Skype a Scientist website, choose from almost any kind of scientist, including zoologists, ecologists, marine biologists, evolutionary biologists, veterinarians,
and paleontologists. Before the interview, consider reading a book related to your topic. Then lead a quick discussion to generate questions that the children might want to ask. If you have time, include a craft or experiment after the interview. For example, if you have a scientist discuss working with bats, do a simple bat craft and/or echolocation experiment. Or pass out coloring sheets to complete in the library or take home. You can tailor the content to any age group. The recommended donation for an interview is $1.
Teen Volunteer Fair
60 Mins+, Chapter 3 Animal Caretakers and Friends, Children, Low Cost, Outreach, Outside Presenter, Passive/Display, Teens
August 24, 2020 0.00 KB 2927 downloads
Match teens with animal-related volunteer opportunities in your area, such as humane societies, animal shelters, or even veterinarian offices! Local organizations could give presentations about the work they do, then set up behind tables around the room with more information about how to start volunteering. This could also be a fully passive program in which you display local volunteer opportunities and information cards/flyers for teens to take.
Who Helped Me
45 - 90 Mins, Adults, Chapter 3 Animal Caretakers and Friends, Children, Low Cost, Multigenerational, Passive/Display, Teens
August 24, 2020 0.00 KB 2440 downloads
Do your patrons love trivia? If so, they will get a kick out of this lift-the-flap display. Glue pictures of different animals on flaps; underneath each flap is a photograph of the scientist who helped them. More importantly, there is a list of books or movies about this scientist and/or animal based on your library’s resources. Can be adapted for any age group.
Marine Biologist Crafts
60 Mins+, Chapter 3 Animal Caretakers and Friends, Children, Craft
August 24, 2020 0.00 KB 2051 downloads
Shark teeth, snorkel gear, and a secret message in a bottle! Start this program with any ocean-themed books
or a video, such as the five-minute “I Want to Be a Marine Biologist” on YouTube. Craft options include a snorkel mask, a shiny CD fish (or shark teeth), a simple origami turtle, a cut-and-glue shark, and a message in-a-bottle coloring sheet.
Hungry Hungry Hippos
60 Mins+, Chapter 2 The Wild Side, Children, Craft, Game/Activity, Outdoors
August 24, 2020 0.00 KB 2266 downloads
The hippos are hungry, hungry! Read a book about hippos, such as Hilda Must be Dancing, Big Little Hippo, or The Hiccupotamus. Saving Fiona is also a great nonfiction choice because you can also show children footage of Fiona from the Cincinnati Zoo website. Augment the program with a hippo sing-along or felt board. After storytime, children make a hippo puppet craft and/or play a fun twist on the classic Hungry, Hungry Hippo board game.
Owl Pellet Dissection
Chapter 2 The Wild Side, 60 Mins+, Children, Game/Activity, STEAM
August 24, 2020 0.00 KB 1624 downloads
Find bones in owl puke! But first read some owl books and give some fun owl facts. Ask children to guess how many bones they think they will find, and give a prize to whoever is the closest to their guess. Teen volunteers or caregivers could assist in the dissection, working slowly to remove and identify bones as they go.
Storytime Safari
60 Mins+, Chapter 2 The Wild Side, Children, Game/Activity, Craft, Low Cost
August 24, 2020 0.00 KB 2213 downloads
After a wild animal storytime, children roam around a room that has been set up as a safari! Craft options include simple binoculars and paper plate masks. For the safari, you will need to print and display photos of the featured animals; puppets or stuffed animals could also be used instead of photos. Depending on time and resources, consider adding habitats for each animal.
Creepy Crawlies
45 - 90 Mins, Adults, Chapter 2 The Wild Side, Children, Low Cost, Outside Presenter, STEAM, Teens
August 24, 2020 0.00 KB 2714 downloads
An insect expert gives a presentation with a Q&A period and an interactive component. Your local Audubon Society branch may have free information packets about insects, and you could hold a show-and-tell event for patrons who have pet insects. Can be adapted for any age group or run as a multigenerational program.
Beastly Letters
60 Mins+, Chapter 1 Bookish Beasts, Children, Craft, Low Cost, Passive/Display
August 24, 2020 0.00 KB 2461 downloads
Turn everyday letters into something beastly! Children turn the first initial of their names into animal drawings. Alternatively, they find an animal that begins with the same letter as their first initial, then draw and write about that animal. They might gather fun facts about that animal, or write a story about its best or worst day. Older children can create 3D letters/animals out of construction paper or cardboard. Teens and adults might be interested in creating their own fonts or learning calligraphy. A simple, inexpensive program that can be modified for any age group. Be sure to create a display for the finished letters!
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