Strategic Resources. Coding and Gaming

The 2016 AASL National Institute, GAME: Gaming as Meaningful Education, inspired me to think about expanding collection options for my school library. Since attending that conference, I've added games, puzzles, activity sets, and coding materials. Budgets are tight and every dollar must count. I put the items through the same collection development thought process as any other item that I buy for the collection. I want them to support curriculum or STEAM and be age appropriate, as well as provide an opportunity to practice social skills. Take a look at the following ideas and see which ones fit into your collection development plan.

Games

Games provide students the opportunity to practice social skills, like taking turns as well as reading and following directions, while having fun. With the right choices, games can also connect with curriculum. One of the games I learned about at the AASL National Institute was Secret Code 13+4. I could immediately see connections to elementary math concepts. However, when a college professor came by and commented on how she would use it with her students, I started to see a broader range of uses than I had first imagined.

Keep your eyes open and imagination working as you consider new alternatives. Try some of the Osmo kits. The starter kit includes letters and tangrams that you can connect to English and math concepts. The "Genius" kit includes those two and a set of number tiles. The "Monster" game encourages your young artists. There is also a coding set, if you wish to tie this gaming experience to coding. Children of various ages will enjoy the activities.

When your students are learning figurative language, bring out Figurative Language in a Jar. The cards give examples of metaphor, simile, and idiom and help students understand what they mean. It provides a fun way to learn language arts concept.

Puzzles

Puzzles help youngsters see how shapes fit together and become aware of how details combine to form the bigger picture. They can be a great tie-in to social studies standards. For example, your fourth graders likely study your state. They could create a puzzle of their home state. Fifth graders generally learn about the United States. There are numerous map puzzles available, just decide the size and details that you want. The math standards that include geometry take on a new look after students have spent time putting puzzles together. Nowadays, puzzles include 3D options that include historic buildings, but could also be as light-hearted as a sports team's helmet..

Activity Sets

Activity sets come in a wide-range of options. If you would like to make a science connection, try some of the Snap Circuits, electronics building kits. You can't go wrong with "Electronics Discovery," "Light," "Sound," or "Motion." There are some "Jr." sets that intrigue students as well. We have several of them and our students love them.

With the emphasis on the E for engineering in STEAM, K'Nex make a great tool for students to use. Choose the size kit that appeals to you or that you can afford. These kits can make so many things, from model Ferris wheels to horseshoe games

Magnetized blocks come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Children love them and at some point magnets likely appear in your science curriculum. Choose several different styles to have available for your students to use.

Coding Materials

Coding, a hot topic today, can also be encouraged through opportunities in the library. Ozobots could be a starting point. They are relatively inexpensive and children can enjoy them with very little direction. Spheros are more expensive, but allow youngsters to explore what to do with a robot. There are apps available to use with it. Dash and Dot robots also allow youngsters to experience the fun of coding and robots.

Our 21st-century libraries provide great literature, as have previous libraries, but we have the advantage of being able to also provide activities as well. Get started planning how to include them in your collection and programming.