Below is an outline of a library induction session for children in the Primary 4-5 age range. A full sample induction session and materials for activities which might be used with with this age group can be accessed from the Current Documents section on the right. Additional materials will be added as they are developed.
Children will work in groups set up by the teacher beforehand. Classes from schools which have been involved in the Highland Literacy Project will be used to working in trios, where each child has a different role (Reporter, Recorder, Checker). This arrangement will work well for library activities.
Outline of induction sesion for P4-5
- Welcome and introduction
- Questions and answers about the library (this could be the librarian asking the children what they know about the library, or the children asking questions they have worked out with the teacher beforehand)
- Red, Amber, Green activity to familiarise the children with the library and the different kinds of resources they will find there
- Sorting activities to introduce the children to how the library is arranged
- Story or poem
- Children have an opportunity to borrow a book if they wish before leaving
Alternative or additional activities
Country Theme - a series of activites based on a country theme, has been developed by staff at Dingwall Library. It includes stories,poems, music and craft activities, plus a look at the language and script if different from English.
The Bear Book Club is a personal reading scheme for children who have progressed to chapter books. They have to read one fiction and one non ficiton book. For the fiction book they have to talk about it chapter by chapter to their teacher or librarian, make up an alternative ending and write about one of the characters. For the non fiction book there is a simple activity related to how the library is arranged. Once they have completed these tasks they get a certificate. This is an activity children could be involved in at school or at their library if their class visits regularly.