Libraries are more than books. Some kids need a little direction to get the creative juices flowing. I gleaned the following from a PUBYAC contributor. If you're a member, check out the archives for 2-13-2009. Please add YOUR comments. Your colleagues would appreciate hearing what works, and what didn't!

(see also: http://pbskids.org/martha/parentsteachers/program/faq.html)

MARTHA SPEAKS, by Susan Meddaugh

INVITATIONS:

• Suggested ages 4-7 years old
• Limit your group to 20 unless you have lots of help.

REFRESHMENTS:

• Small cups of alphabet soup
• Alpha-bits cereal
• Dog-bone cookies
• Gingerbread or sugar cookie letters

FAVORS/CRAFTS:

• Dog ears
• Dog origami
• Dog crafts
• Dog Collars--made of foam with jewels, and dog tag.
• Stickers and bookmarks--foam letters

GAMES:

• Fish for magnetic alphabet letters
• Feed Martha--Foam letters (or alphabet blocks) into an open mouth
• Relay races with foam letters--try to spell a word at the other end
• Doggie, Doggie, Who's Got Your Bone
• Good and Bad--Make-up Flashcards:

  • Good (positive) words: Fantastic, Incredible, Outstanding, Stupendous, Terrific, Excellent, Wonderful, Amazing, Superb, Exceptional

  • Bad (negative) words: Awful, Seasick, Nauseous, Illness, Stench, Irritating, Horrible, Flaw, Bicker, Glum, Disgust, Clumsy, Anxious

  • Can you think of other words, either good or bad?  (Thumbs up-thumbs down.)

PROGRAM:

• Read a book
• Let the children go to various stations to complete crafts
• Have plenty of word searches and coloring sheets on hand as the children work their way through the stations
• Games can be played once the group reassembles
• Have refreshments
• Children love pretending they're dogs.

TIME:

• About an hour-and-a-half should be sufficient.
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