Activity Stations & Passive Programs
Passive programs are self-directed activities, like activity stations or interactive displays. Children and families can engage with the activity independently, with little to no direction or support from staff. Please keep in mind the key elements and key strategies that are based on the research review as you plan and implement your own passive literacy programs.
Here are some activity station and passive program ideas from the Fostering Readers extended activity plans. Read the passive programming handout for more ideas and details about the following ideas.
Here are some activity station and passive program ideas from the Fostering Readers extended activity plans. Read the passive programming handout for more ideas and details about the following ideas.
- "Holy Reading, Batman!": Set up a comic creation station with a variety of supplies and prompts to get kids started.
- It's Raining, It's Pouring!: Display nonfiction books about the water cycle, post a sign with questions to think about or discuss while reading, and provide materials and instructions to complete a “Rain in a Bag Experiment”.
- Let's Create!: Define grit and inspiration on a bulletin board; ask children to write or draw about a time they have been inspired or how they used grit on a sticky note; and have them post their sticky note on the bulletin board.
- Let's Tell a Story!: Create a display with a picture book that you have corresponding flannel pieces for, and invite children and families to read and retell the story with the flannel pieces.
- Let's Write!: Make available pictures and photos of interesting animals, a detailed scene or a series of scenes that might lend themselves to become a writing prompt. Encourage children to draw or write about what they observe in the photos.
- Mmmm... It's a Text Tasting!: Set out a large pile of books and two bins. Label one bin, “I love this book” and the other, “I can’t stand this book.” Create a poster that invites children to swing by and place books in either bin - creating a venue for conversation about book preferences.
- A Recipe for Fun: Post a few recipes on a bulletin board and set out cookbooks to browse, blank recipe templates, and writing materials. Include a sign inviting participants to post a favorite family recipe on the bulletin board and/or use the recipe template to copy a recipe from the board or a book to take home and try.
- Stories Without Words: On a bulletin board or wall, display the three Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) questions and an image from a wordless picture book. Post a sign inviting people to “read” the image and imagine the rest of the story. On a table next to the display, invite people to draw their own page for a collaborative wordless book and add it to the display.
Fostering Readers is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services through the Library Services and Technology Act, administered by the State Library of Oregon.