Libraries are more than books. Some kids need a little direction to get the creative juices flowing. I gleaned the following from PUBYAC contributors. Please add YOUR comments. Your colleagues would appreciate hearing what works, and what didn't!

See also: Space: The Final Frontier & A Universe of Stories

Astronaut Training File

For more offerings, see: Storytime-Space; Space & Stars

INVITATIONS: Blast Off;

                     Launch Crew

                       "Bang, Zoom, To the Moon";

                    "What's Up?"

DRESS: 

• Suggest white tee-shirts and jeans; add stickers for patches (flag/NASA)
• Jet packs (can be craft)
• Name Badges: Mission Specialist; Payload Specialist; Space Ranger (Speedy, Heroic, Helpful)

REFRESHMENTS:

• Veggie Aliens (create your own)
• Star Fruit; star sandwiches; star cheese'n'crackers
• Alien cookies; moon cookies; star cookies
• Rocket/Star cake
• Space ice cream (freeze-dried)
• Tang  Drink
• Candy (Starburst; Milky Way; Mars Bar)

DECORATIONS:

• White tablecloths, blue plates, red napkins
• Red, white, blue & silver star balloons
• Star stickers on blue background
• Mission Control Center--knobs on a computer; silver orange juice lids; laundry detergent caps; red, white & blue stripes

MUSIC:

• Patriotic
• Star Wars

FAVORS/CRAFTS:

• Flag/NASA stickers;
• Build rocket; 3-D aliens;
• Jet Packs (make out of oatmeal & cereal boxes or duct tape pop bottles to the side of the cereal boxes; red cellophane from the center of the engine; wide ribbons through holes to make straps--use shower curtain rings to hold in place)
• Paper Plate Helmet Picture Frame

GAMES:

• PIN—tail on comet
• TOSS—moon rocks into containers (Pringle cans covered in duct tape.)
• FLOOR—astronaut training (exercises); float around room & have children tell you what they see in the galaxy
• Astronaut, astronaut, alien (played like Duck, duck, goose) 
• Comet balls (t/b picked up using over-sized garden gloves)
• RELAY—with rockets (1 red, 1 blue)

PROGRAM:

• Have various stations for crafts & games before ending with Mission Award Ceremony
• Read a book or a chapter, depending on your theme. 

VOLUNTEERS:

• Get adult help to “serve” 

COST:

• Most supplies can be purchased in bargain bins at craft stores or Dollar Stores. 

TIME:

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