Yesterday I shared some of my favorite last-minute program ideas for the CSRP theme. Today, I wanted to share some of my favorite iREAD programming ideas. I always get envious when I like another library’s programming ideas more than the ones that we have, especially when I can’t figure out a way to use them in the theme that we’re using that year, but I always file them away for future use. At some point, even if it’s not with a summer reading program, I’ll be able to use that program in another way with my teens, and give credit to the brilliant library staff person who created it along the way.
That’s one of the things that I love about librarianship, and people outside of library world often don’t understand. We want people to take our ideas and use them, and share them- we’re overjoyed when an idea for a program goes from one library to another, and catches like fire. People aren’t stealing our ideas or copying them, they’re replicating them and improving them, and it’s awesome.
Anyways, program ideas…
Celebrate the music of tropical lands by listening to CD’s and creating flowers. Over on Crafts by Amanda, she has an easy tutorial using scrapbook paper, pipe cleaners (excuse me, chenille stems) and pony beads that make the most beautiful creations.
Over on Dishfunctional Designs, there are a ton of craft ideas using old sheet music, including flowers, origami stars, and nail art.
On ekstrax, there are a ton of different ideas for involving teens in art, one of which is getting sharpies and puffy paint and having them decorate CDs. It would be perfect use of the weeded CDs and DVDs that can’t be donated.
Then again, on Deceptively Educational, they take a CD, a balloon, and a soda bottle top, and make a hovercraft.
If you have teens that can afford to bring a clean pair of canvas shoes, Creative Me Inspired You has an awesome tutorial on how to create lyric shoes (that could also be applied to quotes from books and TV shows). Those that didn’t or couldn’t bring shoes could easily do the craft on canvas squares purchased at a craft store, and display them on their wall.
And then there’s always duct tape! Music player holders, bracelets, bows, you name it and anything related to music can be created with duct tape.
What are your favorite go-to crafts? Share in the comments!