Programming Ideas

Programming Ideas for the We the People Bookshelf on "A More Perfect Union"

To strengthen your application, plan your programs, and learn more about the books and themes, visit EDSITEment, NEH's online humanities resource for educators, parents, and students.

You may also consider the following ideas, which are based on actual We the People Bookshelf programs that have been conducted in public and school (K-12) libraries nationwide. Excerpts from successful applications submitted for the 2008 "Picturing America" Bookshelf are also available for review. Please use these ideas to plan a program proposal designed for your local community and library users.

Library Events and Activities

Host a We the People Bookshelf welcome celebration with a display of the We the People Bookshelf books and posters. Include readers' guides to selected topics in the set, give away bookmarks, and feature readings from the volumes.
Create a We the People Bookshelf Web page featuring the titles of the We the People Bookshelf books, including images of the book jackets, book quotes and student reviews. Have a librarian or English teacher moderate discussion via a Web log.
Launch an All-School or All-Community Book Club using the We the People Bookshelf books for each grade level.
Make the We the People Bookshelf books central to your library's Summer Reading Program. Offer prizes to children who read a certain number of We the People Bookshelf books.
Host a writing workshop for elementary, junior or senior high school students, and other audiences emphasizing the works of We the People Bookshelf authors. Final projects can be submitted for review by a committee of community volunteers, and prizes awarded for participation or top submissions.
Host a library "favorite author project" - ask local celebrities to record audio or video and tell why they selected a certain We the People Bookshelf book as their favorite.
Use other library services to spotlight the We the People Bookshelf, such as Dial-a-story or your homework help hotline.
Spotlight the We the People Bookshelf by holding programs during National Library Week and/or School Library Media Month in April, or Teen Read Week in October.
Award ribbons or certificates that recognize young readers who read the We the People Bookshelf books in their age category.
Provide a bulletin board in the school for students to post essays about what the theme "A More Perfect Union" means to them or to their family. If your school has an Awards Day, present certificates to students who read a certain number of the We the People Bookshelf books. Create an interactive display encouraging the public to share personal experiences that explore the theme.

Partnerships with Other Community Groups

School libraries: Work with public and special library staff to offer programs that highlight the We the People Bookshelf titles and tie in the theme. These programs can be offered at night and on weekends and be targeted to all ages.
Public and special libraries: Work with teachers and /or school administrators to prepare a special curriculum with the We the People Bookshelf books for elementary and secondary schools.
Contact community organizations such as storyteller guilds, community centers, historical societies, league of women voters, Kiwanis, American Legion, etc., for possible program speakers.
Ask the local newspaper, local cable access television station, or radio station to feature a story or editorial about the We the People Bookshelf books and supporting the school or local library. Be sure to contact book editors and well as news and feature editors.

Story Hours/Readings/Discussions

Schedule story time sessions for K-3 reading levels using Bookshelf titles to explore the "A More Perfect Union" theme. Hold guided discussion after each story time to allow the children to share stories of their experiences related to this theme.
Invite community leaders to a "Special Celebrity Readers Breakfast." After the breakfast, have each of the celebrities read and discuss one of the books with a selected class.
Combine hands-on activities with story time by reading passages from a Bookshelf selection followed with crafts, games or other hands-on activities.
Invite the local teen group to plan and present a book discussion for school age audiences.
Start a reading incentive program encouraging youth & families to read We the People Bookshelf books, track the books they read, and end the program with prizes.
Create take home book discussion guides, so that families can talk about the books from the Bookshelf titles they've read in school or checked out of the library.
Ask parents and students to co-present and lead book talks and discussions using the selected We the People Bookshelf books.
Sponsor a "Young Authors" competition after students have been exposed to the We the People Bookshelf materials and themes. Ask students to write their own stories on the theme of "A More Perfect Union."

Presentations or Performances

During a weekly lunchtime, select different students to give book talks to other students to encourage them to read the We the People Bookshelf books. Invite community leaders to speak to students concerning their personal experiences related to the theme.
Invite a school or adult drama group to reenact scenes from We the People Bookshelf books.
Hold a panel discussion with teachers and community leaders highlighting real-life stories about their experiences related to the theme. Include discussion about the stories told in the We the People Bookshelf volumes.
Invite a local or nationally known poet or author to talk about the authors included in the We the People Bookshelf and the influence of those books on their work.
Have a panel presentation or lecture by a humanities scholar or other special guest on the theme of "A More Perfect Union" found in the We the People Bookshelf volumes.