Can You Survive? : A LARP Twist on Oregon Trail for Teens and Tweens

Last week you might have seen my post about using gaming to help transition tweens to teen services. If you haven't seen it, here is a link: https://www.alsc.ala.org/blog/2019/02/play-it-big-helping-tweens-transition-to-teen-services-with-board-games/

Gaming is vital to youth development.

Another important developmental need in the realm of gaming is LARP (Live Action Role Play) programming.

Programs such as this allow teens and tweens to try out different roles and personalities that help them to form their own identity. These programs can be quite extensive though. As a result, I usually only offer one a year.

In 2018, I offered a LARP on Mars program for teens and tweens.

Last November, I was tasked to come up with a LARP program that would tie into our Big Read. Our book was Station 11 by Emily St. John Mandel.

After a quick brainstorm with my manager, we decided to do a live-action Oregon Trail game with an Apocalyptic twist.

The game could be played without the knowledge of the book, but with a survival element, it got the attention we were hoping for.

The program was an instant hit, and because it had an Oregon Trail tie, it was a tremendous success as an inter-generational program. It is one we know we could reuse for multiple age groups.

Sound good? How about if I added that his program was completely free!

It only required us to make colored copies and laminate construction paper. Laminate twelve 12 x 18 pieces of construction paper to act as the game spaces and print out the directions below for a ready to use program.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me. If you use the plans, leave a comment and let me know how it goes!


Until next time,


-Pamela

Staff Directions and Calamity Cards 



Signs, Supply cards, and Money Printable 




Directions for Players 
Each team received the packet below and money in a large manila envelope that had a laminated picture of a covered wagon on it. If the team had time, they could decorate their wagon. 

Play it Big : Helping Tweens Transition to Teen Services with Board Games



I am over at the ALSC blog today talking about how you can use board games to help tweens transition to teen services. 


Image result for gif check it out

- Pamela

A Hogwarts Reading List : Books for Teens in Ravenclaw




I am continuing my Hogwart Reading series for teens. This week I will be covering books every teen Ravenclaw should read. 

Ravenclaws are often categorized as the smartest house, but this doesn’t mean that people in other houses are less intelligent. Like all houses, there are a diverse group of people that make up the house. Perhaps the most distinguishing quality of Ravenclaw is their love of learning. This often makes Ravenclaws possess intelligence, creativity, individuality, and wit.

When it comes to reading, they often want to be challenged and learn something new. This results in Ravenclaws reading a wide range of literature. They especially love mystery or puzzle based books, thrillers, historical fiction, and reading about a character unlike themselves that they can learn from.
Here are a PDF of a few of my favorite teen books books for Ravenclaws. Feel free to print this out and use it for reader's advisory or for display purposes. 




Need More? Below are even more picks. 

For your convenience, they are linked to Goodreads 


36260155


37683438


33918889


34521785

Mirage by Somaiya Daud

32768520


34810320


29451548


33803125

As always, if you need any more suggestions or if you have any questions feel free to contact me. 

 If you would like to view the tween version of this, follow this link to the ALSC Blog.  

Until Next Time, 

-Pamela

A Hogwarts Reading List : Books for Teens in Hufflepuff

I am continuing my Hogwarts Reading series for teens. This week we are covering Hufflepuff!

Hufflepuffs are often overlooked as a house. When being sorted into houses, not many people jump up and down and wish they were a Hufflepuff, but they should! These houses possess some of the best characteristics of the other houses. They are brave, fair, kind, loyal, patient, hardworking, and tolerant. They are also very intelligent. Let us not forget Newton Scamander the Magizoologist and author of the book Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them was a Hufflepuff. Unlike other houses, Hufflepuffs are just very modest about their accomplishments.
When it comes to reading, Hufflepuffs prefer book characters with the same traits. Since they are so tolerant, they aren’t tied down to one genre and are open to trying new things. 
If you get them started on a series, they loyally finish it till the end and stand by its according fandom. Hufflepuffs will read just about anything but they are drawn to books about animals and books that spotlight kindness and empathy.
Here are a PDF of a few of my favorite teen books books for Hufflepuffs. Feel free to print this out and use it for reader's advisory or for display purposes. 




Need more? Check out these other titles!



A Hogwarts Reading List : Books for Teens in Slytherin

I am continuing my Hogwart Reading series for teens. This week I will be covering books every teen Slytherin should read. 

People in this house are ambitious, cunning, strong leaders, and tend to form unbreakable bonds with their own. As a result, they tend to be brave, driven, and very intelligent. They will stop at nothing until they get what they are after. Teens in this house tend to appreciate plot-driven books with complex characters that possess these qualities. They also tend to like characters that get into a little mischief too (Can you blame them?) 

Here are a PDF of a few of my favorite teen books books for Slytherins. Feel free to print this out and use it for reader's advisory or for display purposes. 




Need more? Check out these other titles! 

                                For your reading convince, each book is linked to Goodreads. 


                                                    Fatal Throne by Candace Fleming 


31123244



34726469


26032825


41014903


27883214

The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy by Mackenzi Lee 


37880094


38355098


23197837


As always, if you need any more suggestions or if you have any questions feel free to contact me. 

 If you would like to view the tween version of this, follow this link to the ALSC Blog.  

Until Next Time, 

-Pamela



A Hogwarts Reading List : Books for Teens in Gryffindor




Last summer, I did a special series on the ALSC blog where I highlighted books tweens would like based off of their Harry Potter Hogwart's house. Harry Potter is such a special series because people of all ages can enjoy it. With that in mind, I wanted to share my teen version of this series! 

 Gryffindors have always had a great reputation. Harry, Hermione, and Ron are all in this house. Need I say more? Gryffindors are known to be courageous, honest, and brave. They are daring and tend to root for the underdog who bravely does what they need to do.
People in this house tend to enjoy reading books with characters who have the same qualities and usually enjoy plot-driven page-turners that center around the hero’s tale or survival stories. They tend to gravitate toward books that are a series so they can watch the character grow and develop from underdog to hero.
Here are a PDF of a few of my favorite teen books books for Gryffindors. Feel free to print this out and use it for reader's advisory or for display purposes. 



Need more? Check out these other titles!

 For your reading convince, each book is linked to Goodreads. 

35820001 

32333174


35238072


34495927


35297380


34728667


28096541


35618351

If you need more, please let me know! This has been such a fun reader's advisory tool and it opens the door for connections you can make with teen customers through conversation and Harry Potter!

Until Next Time, 

-Pamela 

P.S. If you would like to view the tween version of this, follow this link to the ALSC Blog.  



How to Create a Successful Tween Book Club

Book clubs are an excellent tween and teen program, but they are often difficult to get started and maintain. I am over at the ALSC blog today discussing six ways you can make your book club successful. 


I'll be back on my blog next week sharing more programming ideas and fun reader advisory tools. 
One thing I am super excited to share with you soon is a Harry Potter reading list for teens. So be on the lookout the next few weeks for that. 

Hope you are having a great week!

-Pamela