Summary
Activities for middle graders to inspire visits to libraries and museums
It’s a good time to talk about libraries and museums—because it’s always a good time to talk about libraries and museums!
Libraries and museums have an enchanted, mystical vibe year-round. They are particularly good places to spend some hours in this “long-haul” part of the school year when winter’s festivities seem a distant memory, yet a lengthy grading quarter separates us from summer. Whether your library of choice is your school library media center, your local public library, a museum library, or one that houses a collection on a certain topic, you might lead your students through library-oriented activities such as these… or take advantage of them for yourself!
Then, follow up on new library learning experiences with a local museum visit that offers connections on topics of interest. Instilling a love of libraries and museums within middle graders during the last months of the school year will inspire them to continue their visits throughout summer—and in years to come.
Activities to inspire visits to libraries and museums for middle graders (or anyone!):
Do judge a book by its cover! Head to age-appropriate stacks in your library and choose a book you have never heard of based only on the cover image. After reading some or all, consider:
- Is the book a fit for your tastes?
- How does the reading experience differ when you avoid learning anything about the book first?
- Find a local or online museum exhibit about a topic featured in this book to expand your knowledge.
Share a favorite writer! On a trip to the library, choose a middle grade novel by a favorite author. In a small group reading circle, trade choices around until everyone has a book in their hands by a writer they are unfamiliar with.
- As a potential reader, peruse the book by reading the jacket copy, blurbs or reviews, the copyright page summary statement, and the first 2-3 pages.
- Ask questions of the author fan who brought the book to the circle.
- Then use critical thinking skills to explain why or why not the book is a likely contender for future reading. Keep track of your choices on a “To Be Read” list.
- Swap books for perusing and consideration until everyone has 2-3 titles on their personal “TBR” list.
Travel to a book setting! Find a middle grade work in the library that represents a real setting far, far away for a travel experience via book.
- The setting can be geographically far from home (to explore a new place) or far away in the past (for a historical journey).
- Next, find a local museum online in that location and use online exhibits to read up on the region’s history.
- Share your “journey” with other readers by creating a vintage-style travel poster for the setting in your book choice.
Amplify interest in libraries and museums! Devote some exploration time to learning more about libraries and museums themselves.
- For students, “A Brief History of the Public School Library” has bite-sized, bulleted facts for further research.
- For adult library lovers, DPLA’s “A History of Public Libraries” offers info on the development of library systems from colonial times.
- If a museum existed that housed the world’s oldest museums, which ones would be included? This World Atlas list mentions some possibilities!
- Or take a path less traveled and seek out the highly unusual museums around the U.S. for inspiring virtual visits. Rodeo? Neon? Pinball? There’s a museum for each of those and many other specialized topics!
Don’t forget that all visits to libraries and museums—both in-person and online visits—have a direct, positive impact on these institutions’ funding, success, and future!
Finally, stop by the library to check out some middle grade favorites that feature library and museum settings in the narratives! Here’s a short list to get you started. The New York Public Library has some great ideas for museum-set MGs, and the Boston Public Library shares some additional library settings!
- From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg
- A Kind of Paradise by Amy Rebecca Tan
- Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library by Chris Grabenstein
- Book Scavenger by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman
- Property of the Rebel Librarian by Allison Varnes
- Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett
- Framed by James Ponti
Have fun on your library and museum excursions, and thanks for reading. We would love to hear more titles and activities; please share in the comments!
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