| July
2009

To
the Moon
Dear
Fellow Book Lovers:
Apollo
11 landed on the moon July 20, 1969. It was the first
manned mission to accomplish this. Neil Armstrong and Buzz
Aldrin, Jr. spent 2 ˝ hours exploring the lunar surface while
Michael Collins remained in orbit. It was on this mission
that Neil Armstrong made the famous statement, "That's
one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."
This summer there will be celebrations throughout the United
States to mark the 40th anniversary of this historic mission.
What a golden opportunity to make science a focus of library
programming for children!
Begin
by asking children to discuss the meaning of Armstrong's famous
words. What is the small step? What is the giant leap? What
is the difference between "man" and "mankind"?
Make a connection between the past and present by introducing
the book The
Wright Brothers: Pioneers of American Aviation by
Quentin Reynolds (ages 9-up). Have children draw a mural called
"The Story of Flight," that begins with the Wright
Brothers and ends with space travel.
Sponsor an art contest called "The Future Spaceship"
where young artists illustrate what they think spaceships
will look like in 2049.
Make Erector Sets available to children, and ask them to build
a model spacecraft.
Have readers find a poem about the solar system, space, etc.,
and ask them to share the poem with others. Encourage them
to illustrate the poem using imagery from the poem as inspiration.
Lead young readers to biographies of courageous pilots like
Amelia
Earhart by John Parlin (ages 6-9).
Lead a discussion about the solar system and why it's important
that scientists continue to explore the planets. Introduce
them to There's
No Place Like Space! All About Our Solar System
by Tish Rave & illus. by Aristides Ruiz (ages 5-8).
Ask young readers to think about what it takes to become an
astronaut. Astronaut
Handbook by Meghan McCarthy (ages 5-8) is entertaining
but factual about the requirements for a career as an astronaut.
Beginning readers race to read all of "The Magic Tree
House" books. Midnight
on the Moon by Mary Pope Osborne & illus. Sal
Murdocca (ages 6-9) is a terrific adventure that takes young
readers to the moon. There is even a companion research guide
called Space
that offers activities to use with children.
Have a science fiction reading club. Discuss the difference
between fantasy and science fiction. Then have readers read
a work of science fiction and explain why the novel is considered
science fiction. Suggestions from Random House include:
Space
Dogs by Justin Ball & Evan Croker (ages 8-12)
Space
Race by Sylvia Waugh (ages 10-up)
Weird
Planet
# 1: Dude, Where's My Spaceship? by
Dan Greenburg (ages 6-9)
The
Xenocide Mission by Ben Jeapes (ages 12-up)
There are a number of websites that young readers may wish
to explore for further information on space. The following
may be used with children, but encourage them to identify
additional websites. Older children may be encouraged to actually
evaluate websites for accuracy, amount of information, clarity
of text, photographs, charts, etc, and ease of navigation.
You may email me
at pscales@bellsouth.net.
Back to home.
Past
“Words from Pat Scales”
February
2003 – Welcome
March
2003 - Reader Guidance
June
2003 - Current Events
July
2003 - Summer Reading
August
2003 - Back to School
September
2003 - Banned Books
October
2003 - Halloween
November
2003 - Families
December
2003 - Book Fan Clubs
January/February
2004 - Dr. Seuss' 100th Birthday
March
2004 - Women's History Month
April
2004 - April Fool's Day
May
2004 - Summer Reading Lists
June
2004 - Spare Time in the Summer
July/August 2004 - The Olympics
are Here
September
2004 - Celebrate the Freedom to Read
October
2004 - Parents and Books
November
2004 - Children's Book Week
December
2004 - Holiday Giving
January
2005 - Promises and New Beginnings
February
2005 - Discovering the Arts, Part I
March
2005 - Discovering the Arts, Part II
April
2005 - Take a Field Trip Through Books
May
2005 - Growing, Growing, Gone
June
2005 - Summer Activities, Part I
July
2005 - Summer Activities, Part II
August
2005 - Summer Activities, Part III
September
2005 - Before School Starts Special Event
November
2005 - Imagine
December
2005 - 'Tis the Season for Celebration
January/February
2006 - Ellis Island and the Immigrant Experience
March
2006 - World of Play
April
2006 - National Library Week Changes Worlds
May
2006 - Sibling Appreciation Day
June
2006 - Rivers Flow Through Books: National Rivers Month
July
2006 - Reading Aloud
August
2006 - The New Kid
September
2006 - Banned Books Week
October
2006 - Get Active @ Your Library
November
2006 - More Books Please!
December
2006 - Where Dreams Come True
January
2007 - And the Winners Are
February
2007 - Truth & Honor
March
2007 - Writing for the Fun of It
April
2007 - A Journey Through Dewey @ Your Library
May
2007 - Dealing with Death and Grieving
June
2007 - Celebrating Fathers & Father Figures
July
2007 - Zoo Camp at Your Library
August
2007 - Poetry & Ogden Nash: A Tribute
September
2007 - Banned Books Ahoy! - Treasure Your Freedom to Read
October
2007 - Hitchcock: The Master of Suspense - Happy Halloween
November
2007 - Celebrate & Connect: Children's Book Week &
Thanksgiving
December
2007 - Reading Round-Up
January
2008 - A "New" and "Old" Resolution
February
2008 Pay-a-Compliment Through Books
March
2008 - Peace and Friendship
April
2008 - Summer Reading Plans
May
2008 - Cheers to Our Pets
June
2008 - Once Upon a Time: A World of Fantasy
July
2008 - From Sea to Shining Sea
August
2008 - Happiness Is
September
2008 - Pack a Backpack with Books
October
2008 - Behind the Mask
November
2008 - Celebrating Teachers
December
2008 - "Hi, Neighbor" Month
January
2009 - The President and His Team
February
2009 - Happy Birthday, Abe Lincoln
March
2009 - Spunky Girls
April
2009 - Worlds Connect
May 2009 - Older Americans
Month
June 2009 - Heroes @ Your
Library
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