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From
Stormie:
Call your library well in advance (or better
yet, go there) to see if they have a special program/tour for preschoolers.
The times I've gone, programs consisted of a guide who took the children on a
tour of the building and/or explained how "going to the library" works, a story
was read, and/or a film was shown. Some libraries have special play areas.
I remember years ago that the main library in Columbus, Ohio, for example, had
an indoor treehouse where children could take their books.
By
the way,
Where's the bathroom?
Where's
the water fountain?
Where do we hang our coats?
Before you go, you can introduce/discuss:
*Who
works at a library (community helper)? (Librarian)
*What
does "checking out a book" mean? (Hopefully, you can get parents to go along
on the trip and help their child get a library card and check out books.
However, some libraries will provide card applications that you can send home
in advance for parents to fill out)
*What
does "due date" mean?
*What
is an "author/illustrator?" We can talk about "how" books are made (someone
has to write the words and draw the pictures).
*Show
the children your "library card" and explain what it allows you to do at the library.
Ask them if they have one.
*Show
the children examples of books you have "checked out" for the classroom.
Discuss library rules and behavior:
+Take
care of the books and materials
+We
use soft indoor voices because there will be other people there who are trying
to read quietly to themselves, and outdoor voices might disturb them.
+No
running
When you return to the classroom that
afternoon or next day:
Discuss the trip at
Group Time: What do you remember seeing while there? What did you like best?
Did you find a favorite book?
Few more notes:
*There's
something about the chill of winter and sitting all cuddled up in a cozy corner
with a book that makes one feel fuzzy and warm all over. You can cozy up
with a group or have children pick a partner to go "book hunting" with while at
the library
*Going
to the library gives us the chance to allow children to see our own excitement
and enthusiasm for books and the world of words and reading.
*I
personally liked telling children how books can take you places you've never been
before. I like to show them, for example, book pictures of mountains I'd
like to see. I explain how "mountains" are one of my favorite things to
see, and one of my favorite places to go, but since I will probably never see
or go to all of them in the world, books can take me there.
*I
like to talk about and show examples of how books can "teach" us things we didn't
know before (like how our bodies work).
*I
like to talk about how books can take us to fun imaginary places.
*Help
children find familiar books at the library.
*Let
children find a book at the library that they would like to have read to them.
Ask them why they chose that book.
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