The Animal Sketchbook Project
60 Mins+, Adults, Chapter 6 Amazing Creatures, Game/Activity, Passive/Display, Teens
August 24, 2020 0.00 KB 2210 downloads
Calling all artists and doodlers to a summer-long sketchbook swap! Here is how it works: Participants check out a sketchbook for two–three weeks and fill it with animals (however many pages they want and in any style). At the end of the loan period, they return it for another sketchbook (if desired) and continue. The only rule is that the sketches must be of animals (or animal- like—insects, monsters, and magical creatures are great!). The end result is a playful cross-section of art and animal observations from your community. At the end of the summer, you might create a slideshow of some favorite drawings and host a meet-and-greet for participants. If you have space, consider shelving the series. Inspired by the Sketchbook Project of the Brooklyn Art Library.
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.
Animal Heroes Scavenger Hunt
15-30 Mins, Chapter 6 Amazing Creatures, Children, Low Cost, Game/Activity, Passive/Display
August 24, 2020 0.00 KB 2133 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.
No Animals Here - Vegan Cookbook Club
Game/Activity, Chapter 5 Read, Connect, Protect, 60 Mins+, Passive/Display, Teens
August 24, 2020 0.00 KB 2031 downloads
When teens decide to stop eating animal products and go vegan, they usually have to learn to cook for themselves. Start up a vegan cookbook club to help them along! This can be run in several different ways. Teens can gather to discuss and swap their favorite recipes or, if your library has a kitchen, get basic cooking lessons. You could also make this into a passive program: Record yourself making simple recipes and promote the videos/recipes as part of your teen programming. Alternatively, teens might want to create and share videos of themselves making their favorite vegan foods.
Pet Expo
60 Mins+, Adults, Chapter 5 Read, Connect, Protect, Children, Outside Presenter, Low Cost, Multigenerational, Outdoors, Passive/Display, Teens
August 24, 2020 0.00 KB 3219 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.
We Rate Pets
60 Mins+, Adults, Chapter 4 No Place Like Home, Children, Game/Activity, Low Cost, Multigenerational, Passive/Display, Teens
August 24, 2020 0.00 KB 2776 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.
Teen Volunteer Fair
Chapter 3 Animal Caretakers and Friends, 60 Mins+, Children, Low Cost, Outside Presenter, Outreach, Passive/Display, Teens
August 24, 2020 0.00 KB 2925 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, Chapter 3 Animal Caretakers and Friends, Adults, 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.
Adult Storytime The Genius Of Birds
60 Mins+, Adults, Chapter 2 The Wild Side, Game/Activity, Low Cost, Passive/Display
August 24, 2020 0.00 KB 1832 downloads
Storytime is for everyone! Invite adults to the library for a bird-themed readaloud. While you read excerpts from popular bird nonfiction (see Resources for suggestions), participants have the option to color bird coloring sheets. For bonus birding atmosphere, livestream a bird video. Pass out the Bird-Watching 101 handout and create a birding book display to inspire adults to keep learning. Program can be adapted to any age group by varying resource choices.
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!
A Tale With Tails
Chapter 1 Bookish Beasts, 15-30 Mins, Children, Game/Activity, Low Cost, Passive/Display
August 24, 2020 0.00 KB 1914 downloads
Have children supply the missing nouns, verbs, adjectives, etc. from the stories provided: “A Trip to the Zoo,” “A Backyard Adventure,” and “A Kooky Animal Tale.” Then read the tale(s) out loud. This could be a fun icebreaker before another program, or copies could simply be placed with other library flyers. See Resources for a list of fiction with animal protagonists.