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Garden City School Library: Welcome to School / Book Care Basics

Essential Question

How can I show that I am ready for kindergarten and checking out library books?

Lesson 1 - Welcome!

  • Introduction: Welcome the students to the library and start learning names. Ask if any of them have ever been to a library before. Explain that at the school library, we read books, play games, and do activities. But we always need to make sure we are following school rules.
     
  • Readaloud: Read The Book of Rules, written by Brian Gehrlein and illustrated by Tom Knight.
     
  • Discussion: What was your favorite rule in the book? What are some rules that we need to follow at school? What are some ways that school is different from home? Create a T-chart of "Bulldog" behavior and "Monster" behavior.
     
  • Activity: Play a few rounds of Simon Says.

  • Readaloud: Remind students that above all, they should be kind. Read KINDergarten: Where Kindness Matters, written by Vera Ahiyya and illustrated by Joey Chou.
     
  • Activity: Students may choose a coloring page.

    Love your Library - Tina Kugler

    Book of Rules mantra tracing - TPT (p. 20 of PDF)

    Be Kind - BrightSprouts.com
     

Lesson 2 - First Checkout

  • Review and discussion: Ask the kids ways they have shown Bulldog behavior this week. Then ask what they know about taking care of books. Write down what they share on the whiteboard.
  • Readaloud: Read Never Let a Ghost Borrow Your Library Book, written by Karen Casale and illustrated by Cecilia Rebora. Point out any rules that the students already shared. (Skip the fine print.)
     
  • ​Activity: Bring the students on a mini-tour around the library. Show them the BD, E, and NF sections and explain that these are where they can choose books from. Also show them the call numbers for each section so they understand there is a method to the organization.

    Then explain how circulation works and what they can do after they have checked out (read, color, play quick games). Have a few kids model the options so students know where to get materials and sit. Also explain how to put everything away and line up at the end of class!

    As students check out, ask them to show you the call number of their book. Tuck a note to their grownups into their books. For today, the coloring option is book care rules (free download from TPT).

Standards Addressed

AASL: III.D.1 - Actively contribute to group discussions; V.A.1 - Read widely and deeply in multiple formats and write and create for a variety of purposes 

RI Core: R.I.K.10 - Actively engage in group reading activities with purpose and understanding; SL.K.1 - Participate in collaborative conversations

Rhode Island Cross-Curricular Proficiencies: Collaboration - Provide examples of how words, actions, attitudes and behaviors impact others; Communication - Use a method of communication (e.g., written, oral, visual, graphic, audio, and/or interactive) to present ideas

Rhode Island School Library Curriculum Priority Skills: 2.1 - Participates in discussions about stories and other texts that have been read aloud; 3.1 - Respects the rights of others to express ideas, use the library, and have equitable access to the resources by listening respectfully, following the rules and procedures of the library, and returning all resources on time; 4.1 - Requests/chooses materials related to personal interests / Respects personal space and the boundaries of others