Getting tweens into the library to do library activities and explore books takes some creative thinking. Activities that are interactive, fun, challenging, and hands-on are the best way to get started. We need curiosity and mystery in library activities that will keep them on the edge of their seats for more.
1. Get to know your library via a scavenger hunt
Many students do not know how to use the library. They go into the library and ask for help again and again. . This game can be played so that students can get to know the library and all its resources inside out.
Learn More: Cli.org
2. Cross Curricular Research Project
This game encourages children to look up resources. Using the filing system and focusing on the layout of the library. Make multiple lists of different authors and levels of difficulty. Have the children work in pairs and try to complete the list in a timely manner.
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3. Giving a twist to library catalog instruction
Locating a specific book on shelves that are filled with thousands of amazing reads can be challenging and overwhelming. Here is a fantastic game to ease your middle students into understanding the complexity of the library.
Learn More: Trapped Librarian
4. Basic Library Trivia
School librarians can help middle school students get to know the educational topics about how to use the library and books. For example, call number, table of contents glossary, bibliography, encyclopedias, volumes, and more! Here is a quick game, and you can DIY one yourself on card paper to help students feel like a “bookworm”!
Learn More: Quia
5. Murder Mystery at the Library
This fun activity is based on those murder mystery dinner party games. You can DIY at a low cost and just think if you work together with other teachers you can incorporate other subjects as well. Using resources from the library and even trying to use classic literature to find the clues.
Learn More: Programming Librarian
6. Go “Bananas” game board in the school library
This game is so much fun and faster than scrabble. You can set up Bananagram stations and decorate them with stuffed monkeys, apes, and primates. Put up some jungle deco and small groups of students can play this game. Being in the library in a fun environment can stimulate interest. So have fun and go bananas.
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7. Bookworm- Hide & Seek
Kids love playing games, even tweens! 5th and 6th graders will love playing this game and creating laughter in the library is the best gift you can have. Children have to ask the right questions to find clues and like “hide and seek”, find the book that is hidden.
Learn More: Board Game Geek
8. Make a book “trailer” and post it on social media!
8th-grade students are tech-savvy, and using digital resources students can create their own “book trailer” with images, music, text, and more. Tweens will be totally engaged with this project and they can do it in groups. They might have to read it to make a good trailer.
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9. Poetry in the library -Make it fun!
If you say the names of classic poets, the students might ask you who they are and why they are important. Poetry needs to be recognized in the library, but somehow it is still lurking in the shadows. Even Alicia Keys & Halsey are poets. Use these poetry games and have fun!
Learn More: Read It Write It Learn It
10. Cinderella and Fairy Tales in the Library
This is aimed at 5th-7th graders so they can easily learn about literature in the library “Fairytale” style.” Whether it is Jack and the Beanstalk, or Robinhood, kids can learn about the plot characters, and the steps in making a good tale everyone’s favorite.
Learn More: Surf Turk
11. Where’s Waldo?
Waldo is such a funny character and these activities are geared for 5th-7th grade. Learn so many things and lots of great printables for teachers and librarians. The parts of a book, alphabetizing, and word walls. Using the library collection play lots of games too.
Learn More: Scribd
12. Maps are inviting to get tweens to read.
A hundred acres of woods, Winne the Pooh, Narnia, Harry Potter, The Hobbit, and Avatar, are some examples of geography, maps, and lands to discover through literature. With this link, your students can find books that are interesting to them or great for your lesson plan using map quests.
Learn More: Edu Scapes
13. Where in the World is Carmen San Diego?
Use these fantastic resources to play the game inside and outside of the library. Virtual Adventures that you can incorporate reading material for 7th and 8th graders. Using the DIY ideas and a variety of books you have got a great mystery to solve.
Learn More: Van Meter Library Voice
14. Have Middle Schoolers help make a new bulletin board for the library and give it a makeover!
Libraries don’t usually look like shopping malls, there are not any neon lighted signs or blinking lights. There might be a few signs but they probably are just informative and not appealing or enticing for reading. Pre-cut some of these visuals for middle school students to help you put stations and create centers together.
Learn More: Book Pal
15. Cootie Catchers Library Jargon
Middle school students love cootie catchers and kids can come to the library and make them, check out books, and play with them during the break. Games help to reinforce basic vocabulary and ideas and if students associate having fun in the library -they will be back.
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16. The top 30 books to read!
Here is a great collection that librarians, teachers, and parents need to be encouraging students to start reading and make their favorite bookmarks. We must pull away from screens and back to the old-fashioned paper books. Comprehension and social skills are depending on it! How to use the list and get the most out of it!
Learn More: Mind Joggle
17. Get sticky notes and go wild.
Make books jump off the shelves by putting up some decorative library pockets with secret information about the book and some hidden messages only for the reader. The secret notes can be made with bright colored notes and card paper. Creating Curiosity!
Learn More: Class Border
18. Tic Tac Toe
Kids come to the library with a list of names of books for “checking out” you can write 9 titles of books per game. If the book is available they get an O. If the book is “checked out ” they get an X until all of the students can find a title to check out.
Learn More: Book Shark
19. Dewy Decimal System Fun
The Dewy decimal system is something imperative to learn for students. To be able to get around in the library and find resources is important. Students need to see how books in massive numbers can be organized by the Dewy system.
Learn More: Staying Cool In The Library
20. ” Book Tasting”
Set up the library like an Italian Pizzeria and have waiters serving paper drinks and asking for their orders on the book menu. Each menu has only 5 “dishes ” ( books) Each guest chooses one and starts reading. There are three courses. When the time is up. Then choose the book they like to check out!
Learn More: Flickr
21. Dear Harry Potter…
Children can choose one of their favorite books or a book that they are keen on reading but this time they need to focus on a letter to the main character. What would you ask Harry Potter or Hermonie? Would you warn them or just want to share?
Learn More: Book Riot
22. Comic Books
Using digital creation tools, creative educators have created some pretty cool and interactive online comics through your local library. So if you are interested in action and adventure this is right up your alley!
Learn More: CBLDF.org
23. Coloring and making bookmarks
If kids make a cool bookmark they will want to use it. DIY have them design their own bookmarks and have some preprinted ones for coloring bookmarks too. They will love this craft! Make them give as gifts too with recycled paper.
Learn More: WikiHow
24. WOW kids by watching the short video on the best 15 libraries in the world!
This is just a fun video to watch in the library on some pretty cool libraries around the world and talk about ideas of renovation for yours – How can the seating, lighting, tech, and resources be changed to make the library the next place to hang out?
Learn More: Insider
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