As a teacher-librarian or school library media specialist, you know how time-consuming it is to plan and teach your library lessons. You might need to:
- Brainstorm new lesson ideas each week, for every grade level you teach;
- Create the lesson materials needed, and
- Write and turn in thorough lesson plans that are aligned to standards with assessments and learning targets (or objectives).
Instead of spending hours on your evenings and weekends designing engaging lessons, you can use the curriculum materials I’ve developed and refined over the past 15 years of teaching elementary library classes.
Every lesson, read-aloud unit, library center, and activity listed here is editable, and includes a comprehensive lesson plan with AASL National School Library Standards for Learners and National Common Core Standards.
These are the same lessons and curriculum I use to teach in my own elementary school, so you know they are librarian-tested to be engaging and effective.
Library Lesson Topics
- Research and Inquiry Lessons (also called information fluency or library skills)
- Reading Appreciation and Book Care Lessons and Activities
- Library Centers, including research centers, reading centers, and makerspace centers
- Back-to-School and Orientation Lessons
Research and Library Skills Lessons
No library curriculum is complete without research instruction. It’s at the core of what a teacher-librarian does and how she or he supports student learning.
These lessons teach students in kindergarten through 5th grade how to use the library resources to find, use, and evaluate the information they need to answer a question or solve a problem.
- Beginner Research Database Scavenger Hunt (Digital)
- Beginner Research Database Scavenger Hunt (Printable)
- “Zig and Wikki” Digital Read-aloud Lesson
- Library Catalog Skills Passport Unit
- Ladybugs Research DIGITAL Library Center
- Trivia Question Research Library Center
Reading Appreciation and Book Care
Inspiring students to read for learning or for pleasure is an essential function of any library program. It doesn’t matter if the books are in print or digital form either. Everyone can find something to love in these read-aloud lessons designed with primary elementary students in mind.
Printable Read-aloud Lessons for Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grade classes
- Nonfiction Picture Books Read-aloud Unit
- Primary Graphic Novels Read-aloud Unit
Digital Activities for kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grade read-alouds
- “Benny and Penny: The Toy Breaker” Digital Read-aloud Lesson
- “Nursery Rhyme Comics” Digital Read-aloud Lesson
- “Babymouse” Digital Read-aloud Lesson
- Primary Graphic Novels Digital Read-aloud BUNDLE
- “Zig and Wikki” Digital Read-aloud Lesson
- “Binky the Space Cat” Digital Read-aloud Lesson
Library Centers
The library centers model (pioneered by the amazing Cari White of Library Learners), has been completely transformative in how I teach students in 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade for several years now. I even use it with 2nd grade classes near the end of the year if we finish our other units early. While I’ve made my own modifications, this way of teaching is both pedagogically sound and sustainable for your personal and professional life.
Learn how to start using library centers in your library with the “Getting Started with Library Centers” online course from Librarians Teach (my sister company).
READ MORE: Check out all of my blog posts about library centers.
Research Centers & Curriculum
Students practice their research skills after a mini lesson or direct instruction.
- Bird Watching and Research Library Center (Digital)
- Bird Watching and Research Library Center (Printable)
- Beginner Research Database Scavenger Hunt (Digital)
- Beginner Research Database Scavenger Hunt (Printable)
- Ladybugs Research DIGITAL Library Center
- Trivia Question Research Library Center
Reading Centers
Students read independently or vote in their state book awards contest.
- State Award Book Voting Library Center
- Independent Reading Library Center
Makerspace Centers and Materials
Students create, design, build, and make at these centers. (And yes, these centers do get loud.)
READ MORE: How to fit makerspace centers into 40-minute library classes (including book exchange).
- Collaborative Sticker Puzzle Makerspace Library Center
- Marble Maze Building Makerspace Center
For the beginning of the year and back-to-school
The first few weeks of school are when you establish the library routines during class, teach or review books care, and remind students where to find everything in the library’s space.
Library Orientation Read-aloud Units for Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd Grade Classes
- Kindergarten Library Orientation Read-aloud Unit
- 1st Grade Library Orientation Read-aloud Unit
- 2nd Grade Library Orientation Read-aloud Unit
- Primary (K-2) Library Orientation Read-aloud Units BUNDLE
- 1st Grade Library Orientation BUNDLE – Read-aloud Activities for Google Slides with Lesson Plans
If you want to encourage more student responsibility in taking care of library books and materials, try using this FREE Library Use Agreement that students and parent sign. While I never required that the form be signed and returned to check out books, I did limit students to only books without a signed form. If they wanted an audiobook or maker kit, they had to return a signed slip.
Library Orientation for 3rd, 4th, and 5th Grade Classes
Get students moving and active on their first day of library while taking a tour of the library and reviewing library procedures & rules. Plus, you may want review how to use your library’s online catalog to find materials too.
READ MORE: Get Moving and Have Fun with Library Orientation Games
- Library Catalog Skills Passport Unit
- Outer Space Theme Library Orientation Life-Size Board Game
- Camping Theme Library Orientation Life-Size Board Game
- Pirates Theme Library Orientation Life-Size Board Game
- Superhero Theme Library Orientation Life-Size Board Game
- Library Orientation Games BUNDLE
