1. Creative Curriculum Interest Areas
Library
Creative Curriculum Interest Areas
Adapted from Creative Curriculum, 2010

2. Creating An Environment for the Library Area
Location
Furnishings
Materials
Location
Quiet, away from traffic
Carpeted floor & good lighting
Near electrical outlets
Furnishings
Comfy places to sit and look at books or listen to recordings
Table & chairs for writing
Book shelf to display books with covers facing out
Shelf for writing materials
Materials
Wide variety of children’s books
Wall displays (book jackets, posters, schedule, alphabet)
Tape or CD players and headsets
Hand puppets, flannel board and other props for retelling stories
Assorted paper (lined and unlined)
Assorted pens, pencils, crayons, markers
Alphabet strip, name cards, letter and number stamps

3. What Children Learn in the Library Area
Social-Emotional
Physical
Language and Literacy
Cognitive
Social-Emotional
Learn about people who are similar and different from them
Comforted, knowing that others have managed experiences and fears similar to their own
Share books, re-enact stories and write messages
Physical
Strengthen hand and eye muscles
Language and Literacy
Learn new words
Develop phonological awareness
Learn to follow the direction of print on a page
Use language in meaningful ways
Cognitive
Gain a better understanding of the world around them;
Interpret symbols and make predictions
Make connections between stories and what they already know
Sequencing skills

4. What Children Do In the Library Area
Explore Books
Listen to Stories (read by adult or on a tape)
“Read” to each other
Retell a story using props
“Write” a note
Make a book

5. What Teachers Can Do to Expand Learning in the Library Area
Read with the children and model appropriate book use
Ask Questions
Comment on Child’s Writing
Describe what you see
Help the child use writing tools
Ask questions or make statements that help a child solve a problem
Create a blank journal for each child
Read with the children and model appropriate book use
Ask Questions
“How would you feel if [event in the story] happened to you?” (open ended)
“What did the [character] use to make the [item]?” (wh question)
“Have you ever eaten [food item in story]?” (connection)
Comment on Child’s Writing
“I see you’ve been busy writing. Will you tell me what you wrote?”
Describe what you see
“You made a whole row of A’s and then a row of M’s.
Help the child use writing tools
Ask questions or make statements that help a child solve a problem
“Do you want to know how to write Alexa’s name? I wonder whether we can find her name on something in the classroom.”
Create a blank journal for each child