Winter Holiday Picture Books Rotation for Fun Virtual Learning
Hi, friends! You may remember that I normally like to have a winter holiday picture books rotation, as I explained in this blog post. I used to sort most of our winter holiday picture books into large envelopes or gift bags with routing slips so that they rotated through the school in December.
I loved this idea, because many classes had a chance to read the newest, prettiest picture books, instead of just one or two students checking them out. Students AND teachers loved the fun of unwrapping a book to see what was inside, making reading seem like a treat instead of a chore. Positive peer pressure also encouraged those teachers who might not ordinarily make time for picture book read-alouds to join in the festive fun.
Of course now that we are quarantining library books for a week after anyone touches them, sharing books all over the campus sounds like a TERRIBLE idea!
Sharing Winter Holiday Picture Books via Distance Learning
My solution is to create a Google Slide that you can share into the distance learning platform (Google Classroom, Canvas, Schoology) for each classroom in your school. Teachers can project this on a screen or interactive whiteboard for students learning in-person.
I’ve created an example that you can use, and you can grab here for free. If you are on my Library Learners Journal mailing list, you’ve already received this link in your inbox!
On this Google Slide are 12 gift images. Each gift image is linked to a video with a copyright-compliant reading of a winter or winter holiday picture book. When the students or a teacher click on a gift, then click on the link, they will see and hear a winter picture book read aloud.
To make this your own, you can record yourself reading one of YOUR favorite winter holiday books, upload it as an unlisted Youtube video, and replace one of my links to the link of YOU reading to your students. Or, if you want to be spectacular, record your teachers reading winter books, upload them as YouTube unlisted videos, and use those links for your students, so they will be surprised to see familiar faces when they digitally “unwrap” the book (by clicking on a link). Of course you will not make any of these videos publicly available, but unlisted links shared within a physical classroom or a password protected learning platform will not violate the copyright of the authors and illustrators. You will not make these videos available to the general public.
I know that the winter holidays in 2020 will be like none we’ve known in our lifetime. I know that teachers and students and families are struggling. I believe that reading books together brings us joy AND connection. I’m committed to making it easier for librarians and teachers to share picture books now more than ever!
Beyond Winter Holiday Picture Books
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