Streamlined Activity Plans

Feel free to adapt the streamlined activity plans below so they work for you. As you make changes, please keep in mind the key elements and key strategies that are research-based. They are labeled in the streamlined activity plans to help you identify the most important things to do when you implement the activity with children.

The hyperlinks in these documents will not be updated. However we have provided enough information about the sources so that you should be able to find them if the hyperlink is broken.
One school-age child is standing among bookshelves, looking at an open book. In the background are three additional children doing the same thing.
​Building Ideas with Books: Streamlined
Have you ever tried to learn or do something new and it was hard at first? Did you keep trying and trying? Come be inspired by stories of people who never gave up and learned to do and make incredible things. Then, turn that inspiration in to action as you design and build your own air powered car! Variations and Extended Learning ideas for Building Ideas with Books.
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Child in a ball cap smiling at something off-screen. Child appears to be in the middle of reading a graphic novel.
​"Holy Reading, Batman!" Streamlined
Let's explore all things comic! Come explore all kinds of comics and graphic novels. Then, try your hand at writing and illustrating your own comic story! Variations and Extended Learning ideas for "Holy Reading, Batman!"
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Several children gathered around a caregiver. One child is sitting on the caregiver's lap. They are all looking at a picture book open on the caregiver's lap.
​It's Raining, It's Pouring: Streamlined
Have you ever wondered what causes a rainstorm? During this adventure we will explore books that describe the water cycle, learn some cool facts about how water becomes rain, and experiment with making our own rainstorm in a cup! Variations and Extended Learning ideas for It's Raining, It's Pouring.
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Bird's Eye view of an open notebook. Contents are blurred. The sides of the book are being held by a child. Only hands are visible.
​Let's Tell the Story: Streamlined
Come enjoy a fun read-aloud story and help retell a part of the story with the group and create your own illustrations! Variations and Extended Learning ideas for Let's Tell the Story.

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Three children laying on their stomachs on the ground in a forest clearing. They are inspecting something on the ground with a magnifying glass.
​Let's Write with Ants: Streamlined
Join us on an adventure outside to check out some ants up close! Then, we will write and draw about our experience. What kind of story will you create after observing ants with friends? Come find out! Variations and Extended Learning ideas for Let's Write with Ants.

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Young child sitting at a school desk. They are smiling with their head laid on their crossed arms, which are resting on a pile of books.
​Mmmm... It's a Text Tasting: Streamlined
Don't worry, no books will be harmed during this activity! There are so many different "flavors" of books in the world, come find out which types of books "taste" good to you! Variations and Extended Learning ideas for Mmmm... It's a Text Tasting.

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Two pieces of open-face bread decorated with various vegetables in order to look like they have faces
​A Recipe for Fun: Streamlined
Cookies! Flan! Macaroni and cheese! A really fun day! What do all of these things have in common? They can all be written down and shared as recipes! In this adventure we will explore all kinds of recipes and create a cookbook filled with our own recipes for a fun day! What ingredients will yours include? Variations and Extended Learning ideas for A Recipe for Fun.

Bird's Eye view of two hands on a child who is out of the frame. The hands lay on scissors, a ruler, and colorful paper. A bottle of glue stands in the middle.
​Stories Without Words: Streamlined
Did you know that you can read a book out loud--even if it has no words at all? Join us on a storytelling adventure as we read and create wordless picture books together! Variations and Extended Learning ideas for Stories Without Words.

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These streamlined activity plans are shortened versions of the  extended activity plans. They include only the essential research-based activities, bare-bones scripts, and a few of the most important facilitation tips and caregiver literacy messages. The extended activity plans include more complete scripts, more facilitation tips, lots of ideas for variations and extended learning, and embedded research. The extended activity plans were used during the Fostering Readers pilot project and evaluation. The streamlined plans were developed based on feedback from some of the pilot project participants.

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.