Here Be Monsters - Family Map-Making Night
01 Children, 02 Teens and Tweens, 03 Adults, 04 Multigenerational, 45-90 mins, Craft, Game/Activity, Low Cost, Chapter 6 Uncharted, Outreach
August 10, 2021 0.00 KB 5924 downloads

Introduce cartography by hosting an all-ages map-making event! Show maps of real and fictional worlds, then let participants create their own. You could have them map their bedrooms, houses, neighborhoods, or towns, or remake a map from a book or movie. Show old maps that depict sea monsters and uncharted areas, and encourage map-makers to add their own fantastical elements to give them a historical nautical feel. See Resources for map elements, backdrops, and coloring sheets. Don’t forget to discuss what a map key is and why it’s important! A fun all-ages event.

Suggested runtime: 60–90 minutes.

Luau - Make a Hawaiian Lei
01 Children, 45 mins, Craft, Low Cost, Chapter 6 Uncharted, Outreach
August 9, 2021 0.00 KB 3176 downloads

Children make Hawaiian leis, then take an imaginary boat ride to the island to be garlanded upon their arrival. See if you can partner with a local dance agency to give a brief hula lesson, or ask a local musician to play simple songs on the ukulele.

Suggested runtime: 45 min.

Great Tentacles! Octopus STEAM
01 Children, 02 Teens and Tweens, Chapter 5 An Ocean of Wonders, 45-90 mins, Game/Activity, Outreach, Steam
August 9, 2021 0.00 KB 3927 downloads

More than 150 species of octopuses exist in seas throughout the world. Famous for their bulbous bodies, bulging eyes, and eight arms with suckers, these “monsters of the sea” are invertebrates, solitary creatures, and highly intelligent with the ability to camouflage, move in and out of small nooks and crannies, and even the ability to expel ink. These group activities are designed to celebrate the unique cephalopod. You might also contact local marine biologists, aquariums, or other experts on octopuses and see if any can come present at your library.

Suggested runtime: 60 minutes.

Community Waterway Cleanup
04 Multigenerational, 02 Teens and Tweens, 60 mins+, Chapter 4 Our Blue Planet, Outdoors, Game/Activity, Outreach
August 9, 2021 0.00 KB 1319 downloads

Partner with a local park or conservation group to learn more about waterways in your community! Planet Earth is full of water, from freshwater streams to mighty rivers to vast oceans. Sadly, humans have had a negative impact on many waters. Pollution, littering, and overcrowding can hurt the fragile ecosystems of aquatic areas. But libraries can be leaders of conservation. After a guest speaker (optional), teens or families collect trash from a local waterway or park.

Suggested runtime: 90 min.

Watersheds and Aquifers
01 Children, 45 mins, Chapter 4 Our Blue Planet, Craft, Game/Activity, Outreach
August 9, 2021 0.00 KB 2395 downloads

Introduce children to watersheds or aquifers—or both!—with these activity ideas.

For the watershed, children build a model landscape using recycled materials, then add water to watch how the shape of the land helps collect water. Older children can use modeling clay, salt dough, or landscaping materials to form the watershed. For the aquifer, children layer landscaping materials (or edible food items) in a translucent container to watch how water (or soda) seeps through the layers. For an outreach component, invite local soil and water conservationists to talk about the watershed in your area. See Resources for a groundwater worksheet and video clip suggestions that can be used to introduce either topic.

Suggested runtime for each activity: 30–45 min.

Table Top Role Playing Games - One-Shot Adventures
02 Teens and Tweens, 60 mins+, Chapter 3 Seven Seas Infinite Stories, Low Cost, Game/Activity, Outreach
August 9, 2021 0.00 KB 2607 downloads

Have you considered a tabletop role playing game (TTRPG) for your library but think Dungeons and Dragons is too complex for your audience? This program provides a list of games in which creating characters and oneshot adventure gameplay is much easier. This program is also easily run virtually using Discord.

Suggested runtime: 60–120 min.

Pirates of the Past
03 Adults, Chapter 1 Discover Treasures, 04 Multigenerational, Low Cost, Outdoors, Outreach, Passive/Display
August 6, 2021 0.00 KB 2321 downloads

Learn the truth about pirates of the past, and separate the myths and legends from the facts. If you are unable to locate a historian for your program, see Resources for some pirate documentaries. Modify the presentation
or films for younger or multigenerational audiences. Could also be combined with Ahoy, Matey! Talk Like a Pirate Day on page 39 for a multigenerational event.

Aquanauts - Living on the Ocean Floor
03 Adults, 04 Multigenerational, 45-90 mins, Chapter 6 Uncharted, Outreach, Steam
August 4, 2021 0.00 KB 1551 downloads

Show the American Experience documentary Sealab (2019) (available on Hoopla, 54 min), which explains the early history of research into living on the ocean floor. Discuss some of the topics shown in the film. Optionally, show online content about the modern deep sea lab Aquarius and/or the proposed Seaorbiter. Discuss the differences between Sealab and Aquarius.

Suggested runtime: 60–90 min.