American Girls Superheroes - True Superheroes

American Girls Club - True Superheroes Party (Sussex County Library Virtual Program)
"Don’t miss this very special meeting of the American Girl Club featuring Carol Simon Levin! Ms. Levin shares stories of remarkable women throughout history (our true Superheroes!). There will be activities too! Miss Jenise hosts. Kindergarten and above. American Girl dolls are welcome, but you don’t need a doll to join in." March 27 @ 11:00 am - 12:00 pm FREE

Superheroes-->Flight-->Real female flyers

Opened by having each attendee introduce her American Girl doll(s), then had a discussion of characteristics of "superheroes." After "able to fly" came up, said that while real people can't fly by themselves, they can become pilots and I was going to share a story about a real person named Bessie Coleman who, despite people saying she couldn't learn to fly an airplane because she was Black and a woman, went on to become a famous aviatrix.

Read: Nobody Owns the Sky by Reese Lindbergh (daughter of Charles Lindbergh)

Booktalked other picture book biographies of aviatrices (above) Jenise Sileo, Sussex County Library Youth Services Librarian sent out this terrific video booktalk after the program)

Showed the Bessie Coleman segment from the Reading Rainbow episode "Ruth Law Thrills a Nation" (starts at 7:45)

Introduced the concept of "lift" then we experimented Asked what they thought would happen if they blew above and below a strip of paper, then using strips of paper, blew and watch how they lift UP either way! (air moving faster above the paper causes low air pressure which counteracts the force of gravity which is how airplanes can fly" 
(“c” from http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/education/activities/2412_barrier.html)

Make and fly our own paper airplanes – “classic” plus unusual “Flying Saucer” “Spirit of Alabama” (instructions: http://carolsimonlevin.blogspot.com/2013/11/incredible-adventures-flight-school.html)

Here are links for lots of more great paper airplanes: https://www.foldnfly.com/#/1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-2  More ideas at: http://carolsimonlevin.blogspot.com/search/label/Aviators 

Then asked who knew who Kamala Harris was and read her book Superheroes are Everywhere. 

Booktalked: Barack Obama's marvelous Of Thee I Sing: A Letter to My Daughters (more like this in my program called "Big Dreamers" ) and the new book Dreams for Our Daughters.  

You can find lots of great booklists at: What Do We Do All Day

Profiles of groundbreaking women at A Mighty Girl

Daily math problems from Bedtime Math

More Fun & Educational Ideas for Kids during the Coronavirus Quarantine 

You can hear me read-aloud "Soar Elinor" another book about a daring young female flyer here

We share the story of the plucky young female pilot who flew under four NYC bridges then talk about "lift" and make a paper airplane to fly. Find instructions for a variety of paper airplanes at my website: http://www.carolsimonlevin.blogspot.c...

​ or check out this video: https://tinyurl.com/5EasyPaperAirplanes

​. Want to read "Soar Elinor"? You'll find it here: https://archive.org/details/soarelino...

​. More activities at: https://www.tamilewisbrown.com/soarel...

​. You might also enjoy Flight! by Robert Burleigh (a book about Charles Lindbergh's solo across the Atlantic Ocean) here: https://archive.org/details/flightjou...

​. Interested in learning about other female flyers, check out the links at: https://nobodyownsthesky.wordpress.co...

​ flying! You can find more of my storytime videos at: https://tinyurl.com/Storytime-with-Carol

​. I also have created a compilation of fun family sites for at-home learning at: https://tinyurl.com/familylearningideas

​.

School Age Storytime: “Soup’s On”

School Age Storytime: “Soup’s On”   K-2 Bedminster School

Featuring soup stories and songs, incorporating fiction and non-fiction, concepts of alphabet, emotions, and months of the year, and participatory storytelling of a classic folk tale.

Kdg only: Book: Growing Vegetable Soup – Lois Ehlert (vocabulary, non-fiction concepts of gardening & food prep)

“Piggy Back” Song/Action: This is the Way we… make the Soup (lyrics for this and all other songs below) (reinforces sequencing)

All classes:  Interactive story with props (pot, puppets, & veggies): Stone Soup  (Participatory storytelling, mentioned old story many variants – I use the Ann McGovern version with old lady and young man - script and songs here: https://carolsimonlevin.blogspot.com/2014/02/school-age-storytime-soups-on.html)

Song/Flannel:  "Alphabet Soup" by Tom Chapin (reinforces alphabet) 

Book: Mean Soup – Betsy Everitt (A great idea for a difficult day – could also make "Mean Cheerios!") (Alternative: That is NOT a Good Idea -- Mo Willems)

Song:  "If you are happy and you know it…" .. sad, angry, excited, etc.

Book : Monkey Soup – Louis Sachar – author of Sideways Stories from Wayside School  (child makes her father a special kind of soup to help get him well – silly!)   Don't try this at home! 

Book/Cards/Song: Chicken Soup with Rice – Maurice Sendak, tune by Carole King from “Really Rosie” concept: the names of the months (Watch on Youtube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSJ0FDplzjk , more tracks from the musical here: https://www.youtube.com/results?sp=mAEB&search_query=really+rosie)

Book (1st & 2nd grade):  Armadilly Chili – Helen Ketterman (Armadillo fails to get help from her friends in chili preparation but when they return with "sackfulls of apologies plus apple cider, cornbread, and brownies, she finds sharing dinner with friends is best of all. This is a  folktale variant of "Little Red Hen" – which I challenged students to identify midway through the story.)

Song/Action: “Doing the Chocolate Shake” (chocolate soup)

1/20/2020

2020 Mock Caldecott Election Results Bedminster School K-4

Contenders

Another by Christian Robinson

Bear Came Along by Richard T. Morris, Illustrated by LeUyen Pham

A Big Bed for Little Snow by Grace Lin

Carl and the Meaning of Life by Deborah Freedman

Daniel's Good Day by Micha Archer

Elvis is King! by Jonah Winter

Fly by Mark Teague

Going Down Home With Daddy by Kelly Starling Lyons, Illustrated by Daniel Minter

Hey, Water by Antoinette Portis

My Heart by Corinna Luyken

River by Elisha Cooper

Saturday by Oge Mora

Small World by Ishta Mercurio, Illustrated by Jen Corace

A Stone Sat Still by Brendan Wenzel

Truman by Jean Reidy, Illustrated by Lucy Ruth Cummins

The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander, Illustrated by Kadir Nelson

Vamos! Let's Go to the Market by Raul the Third

Vroom! by Barbara McClintock

Why? by Laura Vaccaro Seeger

Arrived too late to use:

Fry Bread by Kevin Noble Maillard

My Papi Has a Motorcycle by Isabel Quintero, Illustrated by Zeke Pena

The Shortest Day by Susan Cooper, Illustrated by Carson Ellis

Read Across America 2019

Thank You, Mr. Falker -- Patricia Polacco. Patricia Polacco is now one of America's most loved children's book creators, but once upon a time, she was a little girl named Trisha starting school. Trisha could paint and draw beautifully, but when she looked at words on a page, all she could see was jumble. It took a very special teacher to recognize little Trisha's dyslexia: Mr. Falker, who would not let her fail and encouraged her to overcome her reading disability. 

Action Song:  R.E.A.D. (lyrics here: http://carolsimonlevin.blogspot.com/2015/04/celebrating-libraries-books-and.html)

Imagine -- Juan Felipe Herrera

Have you ever imagined what you might be when you grow up? When he was very young, Juan Felipe Herrera picked chamomile flowers in windy fields and let tadpoles swim across his hands in a creek. He slept outside under the starry sky and learned to say good-bye to his amiguitos each time his migrant family moved to a new town. He went to school and taught himself to read and write English and filled paper pads with rivers of ink as he walked down the street after school. And when he grew up, he became the United States Poet Laureate and read his poems aloud on the steps of the Library of Congress. If he could do all of that . . . what could you do? With this illustrated poem of endless possibility, Juan Felipe Herrera and Lauren Castillo breathe magic into the hopes and dreams of readers searching for their place in life.  

Building Books -- Megan Wagner Lloyd  (I wanted to find the pix from the woman who designs sculptures with books but didn't find it today. Didn't find that, but found some other cool stuff. Will send the link when I find it.)

• Katie loves to build. She loves the way the blocks click together, the way they crash when they topple to the floor. But most of all, she loves to build something brand-new. Unlike her brother, she hates reading. Owen loves to read. He loves the way the pages rustle when he turns them, the way the paper smells. But most of all, he loves to read something brand-new. But, unlike his sister, he has no interest in building. When their rivalry finally comes to a head, a librarian suggests a solution. Books for Katie to read and books for Owen to shelve. Can they learn to appreciate their siblings hobbies and build something together?

The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore (based on the 2011 Short Film) -- view here: https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3yrl25

The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore is a 2011 animated short film directed by William Joyce and Brandon Oldenburg, and produced by Moonbot Studios in Shreveport, Louisiana. Described as an "allegory about the curative powers of story," the film centers on bibliophile Lessmore and his custodianship of a magical library of flying books. It was created using computer animation, miniatures and traditional hand-drawn techniques. After winning over a dozen film festivals, the film was awarded the Best Animated Short Film at the 84th Academy Awards. 

Reading Makes You Feel Good -- Todd Parr

For more books and songs celebrating reading, visit my website:  http://carolsimonlevin.blogspot.com/search/label/Books%20%26%20Reading

Bedm 1st Grade - Lovejoy 3/1/19

STEAM Storytime Surprise -- Youth Services Forum Oct. 29, 2018 Presentation

See the slides from the presentation

Rebranding storytime as a S.T.E.A.M. Storytime Surprise allows librarians to use the ECRR2 format for early literacy and combine that with the interest and excitement that STEAM brings – not just elements of Science and Technology and Engineering, but also Arts and Mathematics. This format emphasizes process during craft and play times; examples of successful programs for children ages 3-10 years will be shared. 

Info from other programs at the presentation is here: https://www.njstatelib.org/services_for_libraries/consulting_services/youth_services/2018-youth-services-forum/

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Previous Workshops for Librarians & Educators:

Slides & Resources at: Storytime Shake Up -- Jazzing Up Storytime Programs

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Slides: Books Alive! Storytelling Workshop

Around the year thematic bibliography: Using Storytelling Skills and Interactive Books to Create Excitement and Empathy in Your Students 

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Slides here: UnCommon Core -- Youth Services Forum 2014 –Slides

Bibliography:  “UnCommon-Core” -- Outstanding Informational Read-Alouds for PreSchool & Primary Students

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Picture This: Adventures in Art & Imagination
Interested in taking your school-age programing in another direction? Want some ideas for this summer’s Summer Reading Club “Be Creative @ Your Library?” Carol Simon Levin (Somerset County Library - Bridgewater) will share ideas from a program she created that merges literature, art, and creativity. She'll present her program plans for everything from prehistoric cave paintings to Pointillism, Cubism to Chagall, Escher, O'Keefe, Matisse, and many more. It is a program suitable for both public libraries and school settings.

NJLA 2009 “Picture This” Slides and  Program Notes 
(a revised version of my 2007 Youth Services Forum program)

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Carol Simon Levin is a retired youth services librarian, author, storyteller and program presenter for audiences of all ages based in Somerset County, NJ. Whether she is impersonating the woman who helped to build the Brooklyn Bridge, engaging families in a rousing Halloween Hootenanny of songs and stories, expanding on the mathematical and artistic possibilities of a simple square, or sharing the story of a dolphin who learned to swim with an artificial tail (along with activities to help children understand what it is like to live with a disability), Carol always strives to create exciting programs that engage her audience’s interests and expand their horizons.  Librarians are welcome to replicate or use portions of any of these programs. If you have questions or need more details (including providing song tunes), contact her at cslevin59 (at) gmail.com or 908-361-6519.

Maker Program: Emily Roebling Builds a Bridge–A Hands-On Program for Exploring Bridge Building and Encouraging Women in Engineering

"Emily Roebling" tells the story of her role in the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge then assists children & tweens as they experiment with bridge designs & construction.

 

Carol Simon Levin portraying “Emily Warren Roebling”

Matheny School–Program Plans

Asian American History Month

Read: Grandfather’s Journey by Allen Say.  Caldecott-medal winning story of Allen Say’s grandfather who immigrated to the US, then returned to Japan and Say’s own conflicted feelings about home in both countries. Gorgeous illustrations, many of places in the US – great lead-in to singing “This Land is Your Land” – used https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y49N-N11AxE

Read: The Race for the Chinese Zodiac by Gabrielle Wang. Let each student choose several puppets so we could act out the story.

 

Followed with “He’s Got the Whole World in Our Hands” with sign language video  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-xK8ArLEP0  then with the puppets we’d used.  Also did Q&A with puppets asking two-choice questions.

(second group only) Shared selections from A is for Asia  by Cynthia Chin-Lee (915 CHI).  We found pictures and more info. on the Internet for some of the concepts mentioned.
No time for these but left these books for the class:

Gypsy’s a.m. classes 5/11/18, More ideas here: http://carolsimonlevin.blogspot.com/search/label/Chinese%20New%20Year

School Age Storytime & Craft: Earth Day

 

Earth Day Heroes: A non-fiction “un-common core”  K-2nd grade storytime featuring inspiring stories of diverse people who have made a difference to our planet. Introduces American and global environmental history and issues, non-violent change agents, along with a book about photosynthesis and the interdependence of all life on earth. Also includes songs, sign language and gorgeous images (visual and literary) of our planet. Not all items used with all groups.

Spring finally arriving – flowers outside – opened with poem  “Spring Is” by Bobbi Katz from Sunflakes: Poems for Children.

Book: The Camping Trip that Changed America: Theodore Roosevelt, John Muir, and our National Parks by Barb Rosenstock (The true story of how a camping trip in California with John Muir inspired Teddy Roosevelt to preserve America’s natural wilderness – long but the kids enjoyed.)  Could also booktalk John Muir: America’s Naturalist by Thomas Locker (gorgeous illustrations)  Miss Lady Bird’s Wildflowers by Kathi Appelt (President’s wife’s advocacy led to the beautification of America’s highways.)  and  Redwoods by Jason Chin (A boy is transported through the pages of a book into a forest of these magnificent trees.)  (Mentioned they can see a sequoia/redwood tree in nearby Buck Gardens.)


Book/Song: This Land is Your Land by Woody Guthrie
or Song: “We’ve Got the Whole World in Our Hands” (traditional – optional props/puppets: world globe ball, brothers/sisters, bird, fish – lyrics http://carolsimonlevin.blogspot.com/2015/04/sing-springhappy-earthday.html.)

Book: Living Sunlight: How Plants Bring the Earth to Life by Molly Bang & Penny Chisholm (572.46 BANG) -- this creative and memorable explanation of photosynthesis will stick with kids for a long time.

And the Green Grass Grew all Around (flannel) – lyrics here: http://carolsimonlevin.blogspot.com/2015/04/sing-springhappy-earthday.html Song on Rachel Buchman’s “Sing a Song of Seasons” (Children echo words in italics)

 

Take a Walk Outside (from Pick Me Up, Fun Songs for Learning Signs – played the song from the album as we “danced with our hands”)

Book: Wangari’s Tree’s of Peace: A True Story from Africa by Jeanette Winter (The inspiring story of the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize Winner who spear-headed the reforestation of Kenya despite threats and jail time.)  (Mentioned “biography” – non-fiction about a person)

Action Book: Earth Dance by Joanne Ryder (Kids stood up and acted out this poetic tribute to our earth. Touches on the ideas of earth science, gravity, seasons, and planetary rotation)

Finished with:

(Younger classes) Book: I Love Our Earth by Bill Martin Jr. and Michael Sampson (Dan Lipow’s photographs are “eye candy” – a splendid look at the earth’s gorgeous diversity.)

(Older classes) Book: Mother Earth by Nancy Luenn ( personification of the earth “The ground is her skin, Mountains her bones, Trees and plants her living hair, Birds are her songs, And the listening stones her ears…”  remind listeners that we must use her gifts well, and return them with respect and love. Gentle watercolor illustrations by Neil Waldman)
Sign Language Song: “Walk the World Now Children” from Tom Chapin’s Album Some Assembly Required. Find signs here: http://www.signingsavvy.com/ – skipped at Bedminster 2018 because didn’t get album in time.  Used at Milltown.

 

Milltown afterschool program:

Book: The Camping Trip that Changed America

Book/Song: This Land is Your Land

Book: Wangari’s Tree’s of Peace: A True Story from Africa

Sign Language Song: “Walk the World Now Children”

Booktalked and read selections from other titles.

Craft – torn construction paper collage – earth, environmental, spring scenes (some kids asked, could they use “random”? – I responded “Sure” and introduced the concept “abstract art”)

(Played music from Tom Chapin’s album This Pretty Planet playing as kids made crafts.)  Didn’t remember to use Earth Ball with song “We’ve got the whole world in our hands. Could use next time.)

More Earth Day programs here: http://carolsimonlevin.blogspot.com/search/label/Earth%20Day%20%26%20Environment

Bedminster K-2, Milltown Afterschool 4/2018