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Explore monthly highlights and get quick links to resources to help you plan after-school activities that are perfect for your group.
October STEM
Combine STEM, Maker Space, and literacy programming by building a simple shadow puppet theater. Tap into your group's hidden talents and have fun telling stories together!
Click on the image for a video showing how to make a shadow puppet theater. Click on the links below to explore the full programming Expansion Pack, get the quick guide, or download a set of printer-friendly storytelling graphic organizers.
Shadow Puppet Theater Quick Guide
Shadow Puppets - page 1 - Activity Expansion Pack.pdfShadow Puppets - page 2 - Activity Expansion Pack.pdfShadow Puppets - page 3 - Activity Expansion Pack.pdfShadow Puppets - page 4 - Activity Expansion Pack.pdfOctober Book Club
This month, we're exploring real and imagined shadows, learning about Bullying Prevention, celebrating World Space Week (October 4-10), and sharing our favorite not-so-spooky stories for All Hallow's Read.
Click HERE for a quick guide to the October Book Club and Activities.
Lotte's Magical Paper Puppets - One Page Read Aloud Guide.pdfCreepy Carrots- One Page Read Aloud Guide.pdfOut of this World - One Page Read Aloud Guide.pdfLotte's Magical Paper Puppets
recommended for 1st - 5th grade readers
Lotte makes her own magical movies by cutting out paper puppets and telling her favorite stories. When a war begins, she is forced to leave home. What will become of Lotte’s paper puppets and her magical stories?
GOOD FOR - SHADOWS & STORYTELLING, BULLYING PREVENTION
Creepy Carrots
recommended for K - 4th grade readers
One day, Jasper the carrot-snacking bunny hears creepy carrots following him. He's certain they creep after him everywhere he goes, but no one believes him! Will Jasper ever be safe from... cReEpY cArRoTs!?
GOOD FOR - SHADOWS & STORYTELLING, BULLYING PREVENTION, ALL HALLOW'S READ
Out of This World
recommended for 1st - 8th grade readers
What do you think about when you stare up into the night sky? Journey through the stars and planets with cosmic imagery and awe-inspiring haiku. What wonders do you have about the universe?
GOOD FOR - SHADOWS & STORYTELLING, WORLD SPACE WEEK
Shadow- One Page Read Aloud Guide.pdfI Walk with Vanessa - One Page Read Aloud Guide.pdfSmall Things - Graphic Novel Read Aloud Guide.pdfWordless Picture Book Selections
These wordless picture books encourage children to confront what scares them with kindness. Use these books to spark conversations and help children tell their own stories.
GOOD FOR - SHADOWS & STORYTELLING, BULLYING PREVENTION
Check out our guide to using wordless picture books for more tips!
Wordless Picture Books - Writing Is Everywhere Guide.pdf
Constellation Viewer
materials - heavy paper or cardboard tubes; paper; scissors; tape; push-pins; pencils; light source; books about constellations and the night sky in your library’s collection - J523.8
Roll and tape a heavy sheet of paper to make a tube.
On another sheet of paper, draw a constellation no wider than your tube’s circumference.
Push a pin through each star to make a hole.
Place your constellation over your tube’s end and secure it with a rubber band.
Shine a light through the open end of your tube in a darkened room to see your constellation.
good for - World Space Week
October Activities
The activities below can be used throughout the month to support the October Book Club selections.
Celebrate World Space Week by making a Constellation Viewer. Explore NASA's STEM page for more great activities to do this week.
For additional information and programming ideas related to Bullying Prevention month, consult teaching resources provided by StopBullying.gov and Pacer's National Bullying Prevention Center.
Relief Monograms
materials - construction paper; crayons or markers; masking tape
Use masking tape to "write" your initials on construction paper.
Draw designs on the paper, going over the tape.
Slowly remove the tape to reveal your letters!
good for - Lotte's Magical Paper Puppets, Shadows & Storytelling
Shadow Sculptures
materials - paper; pencils; light source; random objects that make fun shadows; pipe cleaners
Use the objects to create cool shadows on your paper.
Draw outlines around the shadows.
Swap your paper with a friend, then make 3D sculptures based only on the outline.
good for - Shadows & Storytelling, All Hallow's Read
What's Hiding in the Dark?
materials - paper; dark construction paper; pencils, crayons, or markers; scissors; metal fasteners
On light paper, draw objects or creatures that might be hiding in the dark.
On dark construction paper, draw a light beam, wide or narrow, across the whole page.
Cut it out so there's a long cone-shaped hole.
Place the dark paper on top of the light paper.
Use a metal fastener to attach the two papers at the beginning of the light beam.
Move the top paper to reveal everything that’s hiding in the dark and tell a story about what you see!
good for - Wordless Picture Books, Creepy Carrots, Shadows & Storytelling, World Space Week
Black Out Haiku
materials - discarded books, magazines, or newspapers; pencils; markers
Read through pages of a discarded book, magazine, or newspaper.
Underline words that are interesting to you.
Black out all of the other words with a marker.
Continue blacking out words until you have a poem.
Can you create a haiku poem with 5 then 7 then 5 syllables?
good for - Out of This World, Bullying Prevention, Wordless Picture Books
Additional Resources
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