Sparks
Spark a Reaction can be a literal theme if you want to - check out these ideas for programs that feature actual fire!
Fire Dancers
The CSLP manual suggests hiring a group of fire dancers as a summer event at your library. This would be an awesome kick-off or wrap-up event for your summer reading program, but requires you to have a local fire dancing troop in your area. The following web sites suggested in the manual may assist you in locating local performers.
Gig Masters. Professional Fire Dancers.
Gig Salad. Fire Dancers.
Fire Dancing. Fire Performers of the World.
Fire dancing is the sort of event that would likely attract the attention of local news outlets as well, so you might try searching local news archives to see if you can find a group near you.
Gig Masters. Professional Fire Dancers.
Gig Salad. Fire Dancers.
Fire Dancing. Fire Performers of the World.
Fire dancing is the sort of event that would likely attract the attention of local news outlets as well, so you might try searching local news archives to see if you can find a group near you.
*Marshmallow Roast
Perhaps it isn't possible for you to host an actual fire at your library as is suggested on page 91 of the CSLP Teen Manual. If you have the means, this program would be great for teaching teens the art of starting fire. However, if this is not possible, you can still have a fun marshmallow "roast" with your group. You can make *Solar S'mores with your group!
With the exception of the food, you probably have most of the materials you would need to make Solar S'mores with your teens at the library. To create your "oven" you'll need to assemble the following materials:
Ask local pizza chains to donate delivery boxes and you'll be pretty much set. The blogger recommends thermometers if possible, but it's likely you can ask staff to let you borrow these. For this program, it would be fun to let teens build their ovens in small groups, or even one oven each so that they can take their ovens home.
You will need a hot, sunny day for this program, so be sure to schedule a rain date. Also, because the s'mores take about a half hour to cook, be sure you have some activities available to keep the teens busy while their waiting.
With the exception of the food, you probably have most of the materials you would need to make Solar S'mores with your teens at the library. To create your "oven" you'll need to assemble the following materials:
- Pizza box
- Pencil and flat edge
- Box cutters/craft knife
- Aluminum foil
- Scissors
- Glue
- Black construction paper
- Tape
- 1-2 clear sheet protectors
- Graham crackers, chocolate bars and marshmallows
- Stick, ruler or dowel to hold the box lid open
Ask local pizza chains to donate delivery boxes and you'll be pretty much set. The blogger recommends thermometers if possible, but it's likely you can ask staff to let you borrow these. For this program, it would be fun to let teens build their ovens in small groups, or even one oven each so that they can take their ovens home.
You will need a hot, sunny day for this program, so be sure to schedule a rain date. Also, because the s'mores take about a half hour to cook, be sure you have some activities available to keep the teens busy while their waiting.
Art by Fire
Pottery, etc.
The CSLP Teen Manual also suggests field trips to visit artists who create with fire (p. 94), including ceramic artists, glass blowers, or metal sculptors. If it is not feasible for you to take your teens on field trips due to insurance and liability issues, you can still feature these artists at your library.
Artists can bring in examples of their work and show pictures or videos of how they work with fire in their art. In the case of ceramics, you could also have teens make projects on site and allow the artist to take them away for firing. We did this in Council Bluffs a few summers ago, teaching teens how to make ceramic gargoyles. The artist talked about the kiln and how it worked and showed pictures of the process. Even though the teens didn't get to experience the full process, they still enjoyed the program and learned tons!
Artists can bring in examples of their work and show pictures or videos of how they work with fire in their art. In the case of ceramics, you could also have teens make projects on site and allow the artist to take them away for firing. We did this in Council Bluffs a few summers ago, teaching teens how to make ceramic gargoyles. The artist talked about the kiln and how it worked and showed pictures of the process. Even though the teens didn't get to experience the full process, they still enjoyed the program and learned tons!
Miniature Clay Charms
Another program idea set out for you in the manual (p. 97) is to have teens create miniature baked good charms with oven-bake clay. The manual recommends crimping tools and small jewelry wires, but you can make this program more cost effective by simply using toothpicks to create paths through your charms. This is what we did in Council Bluffs and you can see from the photo on the left that the teens were very creative in their designs, with no jewelry supplies necessary. Some teens chose to make charms which they strung up on cording, and others chose to just make small sculptures. We didn't limit the theme and just allowed them to create designs of their own choosing. If you choose this path, you might consider having some example photos to help them get inspired.
*Shrinky Dinks
You might think Shrinky Dinks are just for kids, but teens *LOVE* this project. We have done it countless times in Council Bluffs.
If you order your paper from the Shrinky Dinks web site, they offer wholesale pricing for non-profit organizations. You have to buy the paper in bulk, but that just means you can use it for more and more programs!
Shrinky Dinks from Recycled Plastic: There are also many tutorials available for making your own Shrinky Dink paper with #6 plastic. Be sure you try this out first to make sure it works before you set your teens loose with it. This is not a proven method for Shrinky Dinks from the makers of this web site--just a suggestion for your consideration!
Ask the staff around your library to borrow a toaster oven or two, get some markers, and colored pencils, and you'll be ready to go. For the less artistically inclined, you might also have stencils available for tracing. Teens love to watch the shrinking process and are amazed by the finished product, which you can string onto jewelry cording or make into key chains (just be sure you punch the hole before you shrink!).
If you order your paper from the Shrinky Dinks web site, they offer wholesale pricing for non-profit organizations. You have to buy the paper in bulk, but that just means you can use it for more and more programs!
Shrinky Dinks from Recycled Plastic: There are also many tutorials available for making your own Shrinky Dink paper with #6 plastic. Be sure you try this out first to make sure it works before you set your teens loose with it. This is not a proven method for Shrinky Dinks from the makers of this web site--just a suggestion for your consideration!
Ask the staff around your library to borrow a toaster oven or two, get some markers, and colored pencils, and you'll be ready to go. For the less artistically inclined, you might also have stencils available for tracing. Teens love to watch the shrinking process and are amazed by the finished product, which you can string onto jewelry cording or make into key chains (just be sure you punch the hole before you shrink!).