Tag: all ages

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Summer Reading 2022

Summer Reading is finally here!!! We have challenges for every age. Track your summer reading and earn prizes along the way! Each challenge has a paper version or you can track it all online at https://bowmanlibrary.beanstack.org.

Here is a little bit about each challenge being offered:

Pre-K: Complete the Activity Bingo card by choosing to read books to your child in ways that fit each of the 9 prompts. Once you have completed all 9, a blackout, turn it in, or contact the library to receive a prize! (Paper Version can be picked up at the front desk.)

Ages 5-12: Track 20 hours of summer reading and complete the included Activity Bingo card and earn prizes along the way! (Paper version can be picked up at the front desk.)

Ages 12-17 (Teens): Set your own reading goals and smash them! Once completed, contact the library for a prize! (Paper version can be picked up at the front desk.)

Ages 18+ (Adults): Read 6 books, each book having an option of 3 different keywords. You must pick a title that includes one of the keywords for each book. (Check out our new display for the paper version and some ideas to get you started!)

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Paper Fans

Please note that we will be taking a break from the weekly take-n-make crafts for the month of May. This is so we can get ready for our summer reading program and find some creative new ideas! We will pick them back up again in June!! So stay tuned for our schedule of events!!

For this craft, you will need two square pieces of paper, two popsicle sticks, and glue.

First, decide if you would like to decorate your pieces of paper or draw designs on them. Then accordion fold each piece of paper. (See pictures for reference.) Once they are accordion folded, fold each piece in half. Glue them together so they make a half-circle. Then, add glue to both sides of a popsicle stick and tuck it into the nearest fold at the end. You can then glue the fold shut. You may need to hold it tight for a few seconds, along with any of the other seams you glued to be sure they are sealed shut. Then do the same on the other side. Now you can open and close your fan!

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Egg Shakers

You will need 1 plastic egg (filled with either beads, rice, beans, or something that will make noise and hot glued shut), decorative tape, markers, and two plastic spoons.

Decorate your filled and sealed egg and spoons however you wish. . Then you will tape a spoon on either side of the egg, covering the glue. Add more tape on the handles. See the picture for reference. Enjoy your shaker!

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Cloud Squishy

You will need white paper, cotton, clear tape, a scissor and markers.

First, fold your white paper in half. Draw a cloud design on one half and cut it out so you have two.

Next, make a face for your cloud with the markers. Do this on the top cloud you cut out. Then you will tape over the first cloud with the clear tape so that there is tape hanging over all the edges.  Cut the tape closer to the cloud so that your tape makes an outline of the paper cloud. It doesn’t have to be much, just enough tape all the way around, in your cloud shape, to fold over the cloud after the next step. You will then cut little slits in the tape all the way around. The trick is to make them close together and cut all the way to the paper edge. (This will make little strips of tape and help you fold them over the paper edge of the cloud, connecting the front and back of the cloud together.)

Here is how the little strips will look before being folded over.

Line up the duplicate cutout of the cloud with the first so that you can fold each small strip of tape over.  Be sure to leave the top open though, for now, so we can add the cotton and fill the cloud. Make sure your remaining tape stays out of the way of the cotton as you stuff the cloud. Otherwise, it will not stick. So it is best to fill the cloud with small bits of cotton at a time. Once you have carefully stuffed the cloud, finish folding the last strips of tape over to seal it up. Enjoy your squishy!!!

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Spring Flowers

Before we move on from flowers, we are offering one last flower craft to remind us spring is arriving. For this one you will need a paper cup, a plastic spoon, liquid glue, yarn, old book pages, tissue paper, and a scissor. You can also choose to use paint, crayons, markers, etc. to further decorate your flower pot.

First, take your tissue paper and cut petal designs out so that you end up with 4-5 petals. Glue them onto the front of the spoon where it is concave). Then you will add glue to the center of the spoon and add your yarn in a spiral to create the flower center. Cut any excess yarn you don’t need.

While that dries, decorate your pot. The cup will be upside down. You can tear pieces of book pages to decorate your cup ( we also used our paper bags the take-n-makes come in), or if you want to paint or color it, feel free to do so! Once it is decorated, you will poke a small hole on the bottom of the cup in the center (which is now the top) and stick your spoon in there.

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Paper Flowers

You will need a scissor, a paper circle template, colored paper in various patterns, and liquid glue to complete this project.

First, cut out your cardstock circle. Then you will take your colorful patterned paper and tear off petals. Glue the petals onto the cardstock in layers, starting on the outer edge of the circle and working your way towards the center. Included is a button to glue in the center, or you can cut out paper to use.

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Shamrock Wands

You will need a paper straw, a shamrock cut out of green paper, streamer material (can be paper strips, string, ribbon, etc.), and glitter. You will need a scissor and liquid glue.

Cut your shamrock out and glue it to the top of your paper straw. Then cut the streamers and glue them on the back of the shamrock. Lastly, add glitter and let the wand dry.

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Straw Airplanes

This week we are making straw airplanes. All you will need is a regular-sized sheet of paper or cardstock, four straws, scissor, tape, and markers etc. to decorate.

First, you will take each strip of paper and decorate them however you wish. Then tape the ends together, forming a circle.

Next, take your 4 straws and cut the bendy part off of each one. Tape each straw, evenly spaced apart, to the inside of the bigger paper circle just as the picture shows.

Then tape the straws to the outside of the smaller paper circle at the top, once again evenly spacing:

Your airplane is ready to fly! Which way does it fly the best? Does it fly better throwing it with the larger end forward, or the smaller end? Why do you think that is?

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CD Case Mazes

For our Tuesday Take-n-Make this week, we are making CD case mazes. You will need an empty CD case, wax sticks (also called Wikki Stix or Monkey String), or you can use hot glue and pipe cleaners, permanent markers to decorate with, and a marble.

First, decorate your case however you wish, sharpies work well for this. Then use your wax sticks to create your maze walls. Press the sticks in various ways to create a track. Make sure you have enough space for your marble to get through. Then test out your track!

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Valentine Yarn Hearts

You will need a pencil or marker, yarn, wax paper, liquid glue, a fork and bowl, and scissors. Glitter is optional. This is a slightly messy project.

Take your wax paper and spread it out on a flat surface. Use the marker or pencil to draw heart outlines. These outlines will be your guide for the yarn heart, so make them big enough that you can arrange your yarn inside.

Next, you will pour liquid glue into the bowl and add pieces of yarn. If you want to trim some of the yarn pieces smaller first, you may do that. Use the fork to mix them up so they get evenly coated in glue. Then you will squeeze out any excess glue and arrange them inside your heart outlines on the wax paper. If you would like to sprinkle some glitter on, this would be the time to do it. Then let the hearts dry overnight. Once they have dried, take some yarn or string and cut it to size to hang your work!