Youth Services News Need 5th grade ideas

[Janet Phillips]

Hi Beth,

It sounds like the students don't come with a particular assignment or 
goal from the school's perspective. If that is true, maybe let the 
notion that this has to be the year they spend really understanding how 
to research at the library go if you can. Feed into what they love.

If you have enough computers for them to pair up on you could introduce 
them to coding using the hourofcode site or Scratch. There are a lot of 
tutorials so you don't have to be an expert. Once they see what they can 
do (like build their own games) they may get drawn into that. Digital 
literacy is certainly a valid teaching function :).

Along the same lines if you can afford or borrow some of the robotic 
simple programming toys like these 
https://www.stemtoyexpert.com/best-stem-toys-coding-programming/, that 
would likely engage them in a learning way.

Or if computers and budget are slim you could present a different STEAM 
challenge each week and leave some books out that will tie into it. For 
example, a bridge building challenge and your bridge books. You can find 
numerous challenges online involving simple materials like straws, 
toothpicks, crafts sticks, paper, etc...

Best Wishes,

Janet

On 3/5/2020 6:02 PM, Beth Nieman wrote:
> We have an elementary school in town that does not have room for a 
> library, so students walk to the public library during school time.
>
> I noticed that the fifth graders in particular do not seem to be 
> focusing on checking out books. I suggested to the teacher that I 
> could give a library tour as well as some instruction to see if we 
> could get this classroom interested in borrowing reading materials.
>
> My question for you, my fellow librarians, is what are some things 
> that are appealing to the fifth graders you know? The boys in this 
> group especially are tough. I know gaming is big, and I do have some 
> books on Roblox, Fortnite, and Minecraft, but I have only so many of 
> those to go around, so they're usually checked out. I have put out 
> LEGOs for them as a desperate measure to keep them focused, but that 
> still is not learning to use the library system to look for information.
>
> I welcome any ideas you may have for me to consider!
>
> -- 
> /Beth Nieman, /MLS
>
> Youth Services Librarian
> Carlsbad Public Library
> 101 S. Halagueno Street
> Carlsbad, NM  88220
> 575-885-6776
> /
> /
>
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-- 
Janet Phillips
she/her pronouns
Library Director
Jemez Springs Public Library
PO Box 479 (30 Village Plaza)
Jemez Springs, NM 87025
575-829-9155
email: librarian at jsplibrary.org
website: jsplibrary.org

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