Category: Back To School

Pokemon Go! To the Library

8/23/2016

When Pokemon Go hit this summer, I couldn't wait to come up with a way to incorporate a similar virtual reality aspect in my library. I decided to welcome my students back to school with a 'Pokemon Go to the Library' style orientation/ scavenger hunt on their first day in the library.

How it works:
Each library table works as a group with a Samsung Galaxy tablet and the Aurasma app (available on iTunes or Google Play for FREE) to search our library for the 17 'Pokemon' I hid throughout the room. The Aurasma app allowed me to bring different locations in my library to life with an image.. As my students scan the room with the app, "Pokemon" (or pictures of them I've created and linked with the app) will pop up on their screen.

When students discover a 'Pokemon,' they come to the circulation desk and let me know what 'Pokemon' they found: Pidgey #1 for example. I then pull out the 1st Pidgey library/ computer lab expectation and read it with them. They also receive a paper Pidgey to add to their 'Pokedex.' The students then take the library expectation and 'Pokemon' to throw the Pokeball to earn Pidgey 'candy.' They draw a cut paper candy from the bucket and take the expectation, picture and candy to their table and start searching for another.

At the end of each class I review all the expectations, announce which team the different tables were playing for: Team Valor, Team Instinct or Team Mystic, add any 'Pokemon' they caught to the team 'Pokedex' and add up the total candy they found. A 'Pokemon Master' comes to the library each day to help me evolve any 'Pokemon' that have accumulated enough candy.

My students are highly engaged and would love if we did this type of review all year long. I'll have to come up with other ways we can incorporate this throughout the year.

Resources used: in this project:
http://www.dafont.com/pokemon.font
http://pokemon.wikia.com
The Crucuit
Microsof PowerPoint
Brandon Thornton- Pokemon Go extraordinaire

Build a Book Kit: Learning the Parts of a Book

9/13/2015

One of my first kindergarten, library lessons each year is on the parts of a book. We focus on front cover, back cover, spine, title, author, illustrator, title page and call number. While I was happy with my assessment tool, I was not thrilled with my lesson teaching the parts of a book because it wasn't very interactive. Then my family ordered pizza.... Yes, the pizza box changed everything!

I cut the box so that when it stood on the end it had a spine and was just a little smaller than 8 1/2 X 11. I covered the box with purple duck tape so the words on the box were not distracting. Using PowerPoint I created a front cover with an image of three bears, a banner for the title and text boxes for written by and illustrated by. I also created a back cover with a tree and a text box with a summary of Goldilocks & the Three Bears, On the final slide I created a spine, title card, author card, illustrator card and call number sticker. After cutting and laminating each of the pieces I attached them to the book base with Velcro.

After our regular read aloud time at the story corner, I reviewed front cover, back cover, spine and title with the students. We then discussed the roles of the author and illustrator and determined that the author's name is typically listed above or to the left of the illustrator's name. We discussed the call number for Everyone books and matched the letters to the author's last name. Finally, we discussed the summary on the back of the book. I then pulled out our "Build a Book" kit. Spread each of the pieces on the SMART Board ledge and asked a student to select the piece that would most likely be the back cover. We then worked to the spine and the call number. Finally. students chose the front cover and were able to place the title, author (because we did the call number first) and illustrator. This ended up being a great practice tool. I think I will create a few more kits so each time we practice it is with a different book.

Pokemon Go! To the Library

Build a Book Kit: Learning the Parts of a Book

Kristi Sutter

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Pokemon Go! To the Library

Build a Book Kit: Learning the Parts of a Book﻿

Kristi Sutter

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Categories

Build a Book Kit: Learning the Parts of a Book