library-lessons – Tech Fun In The Library

Surviving (and Thriving in) My First Year of Junior High Library Class

June 9, 2026June 9, 2026 Tech Fun In The Library

If you had told me at the beginning of this school year that a blended 7th and 8th-grade library class would become one of my favorite parts of my week, I might not have believed you.

Coming from an elementary background, the thought of staring down a classroom of junior high students for 90-minute blocks, two and three times a week, felt a little intimidating. How was I going to keep them engaged? How do you fill that much time without losing them to the abyss of middle school eye-rolls?

But as the year wrapped up, I looked back and realized it was an incredible success. Having those long blocks actually allowed us to dive into deep, meaningful research activities that you just can’t squeeze into a standard 45-minute elementary rotation.

My secret weapon? Mixing it up every single week. If you are starting a new junior high library class next year, here is a breakdown of some of the units, resources, and activities that kept my students engaged, talking, and learning.

Media Literacy & Big Discussions

Junior high students are drowning in digital media, but they don’t always know how to navigate it. We dived deep into digital citizenship and internet safety using Above the Noise (via KQED/PBS).

How I used it: These videos are sharp, fast-paced, and highly relevant to teens. I paired them with video guides for the students to fill out as they watched to keep them focused. I also used this as an opportunity to practice Google Slides and Canva. Students summarized what they learned by creating presentations in one of these.
The result: This completely unlocked the room. It led to some of the most insightful, honest discussions and discoveries about social media algorithms, fake news, and digital footprints.

Collaborative Research with a Retro Twist

To teach research skills without hearing the groaning and complaining, I used videos from Retro Report (an incredible resource that connects history to current events).

How I used it: We used their investigative videos to look at topics like invasive species and media frenzies. Students worked in groups to unpack the history, analyze the media’s role, and conduct their own deep-dive research based on the prompts.

Creative Writing & Author Deep Dives

With 90 minutes on the clock, we had the luxury of slowing down for multi-step creative projects. Two of our absolute favorite writing and research units were:

“Library After Dark” Creative Writing: I challenged the students to write a creative story about what happens in our library when the lights go out. Giving them the freedom to write ghost stories, fantasy adventures, or mysteries set in their actual school building sparked incredible creativity.
Author Deep Dives: Instead of a generic biography report, students chose an author and did a comprehensive research deep dive. They investigated the author’s background, their writing process, what inspired their most famous works, and how their style evolved over time. It was a fantastic way to blend database research with literary appreciation.

The Middle School Mock Caldecott

Think picture books are just for the younger grades? Think again. One of our major highlights was running a Mock Caldecott unit with my 7th and 8th graders.

How I used it: I chose books that were recommended on different Mock Caldecott blogs and sites, plus some of my own personal favorites. Then, we looked at the actual evaluation criteria used by the real-world ALA judges to grade the art, media, and storytelling. Finally, the students cast their official votes to see if they could successfully predict the real winners.
The result: The kids took this so seriously. It was a brilliant way to practice critical evaluation skills and analyze visual storytelling at a higher level.

Rethinking “Book Time” for Big Kids

You might think 8th graders are “too old” for certain library books, but I found that changing how we interacted with the collection changed everything. Some of the fun activities we did with books were:

Wordless Picture Books: We used these for visual literacy, storytelling, and sequencing activities. It forced them to slow down and look at detail, context clues, and subtext.
Ripley’s Believe It or Not Books: Never underestimate the power of weird trivia. These were fantastic for an end of the year news article writing assignment. They had to pick a bizarre event and then write a realistic sounding news article.
Fractured Fairy Tales: We spent time analyzing traditional fairy tales and breaking down how they are built. Then, I set the students loose to write and create their very own fractured versions. They had a blast spinning old classics on their heads.
Studying Point of View: I pulled various picture books specifically to study point of view. Because they are short and direct, they were a fast, visual, and really effective way to show students how a story changes drastically depending on who is telling it.

Keeping Catalog Skills Sharp

Destiny Scavenger Hunts: Destiny Scavenger Hunts: To make sure they didn’t lose their practical library skills amidst all the big projects, we periodically did Destiny Scavenger Hunts. It was a great way to keep them familiar with using the library catalog system so they can find the books they need.

Year One: In the Books!

Overall, it was a great first year with this course. I was definitely worried at the beginning, but it quickly became one of my absolute favorite classes. It turns out that when you give 7th and 8th graders the right mix of new activities, videos, and creative choices, a 90-minute block actually flies by. I’m so glad I got to try these new ideas with them, and I’m already looking forward to adding to the class year after year.

Fellow librarians: Do you teach a junior high or middle school block? What are your go-to resources for media literacy or creative writing? Let’s swap ideas in the comments!

Click the images below to find these activities on my TPT page.

Deep Thinking Over Hot Coffee

February 28, 2026February 28, 2026 Tech Fun In The Library

This week in our Grade 7 and 8 library class we dove into Retro News articles, and it ended up being one of those lessons that went even better than I planned. Surprisingly my students were really engaged in this assignment, and you could actually see the deep thinking happening.

This lesson focused on the famous Liebeck v. McDonald’s Restaurants case, better known to most people as the McDonald’s hot coffee lawsuit. Some of the students thought they already knew the story while some had never heard of it which is not surprising since it did happen in the early 90s. “Someone spilled coffee and sued for millions.” That was the reaction at first. After talking about it a bit we watched a short video on Retro News that walked through what actually happened.

As they watched, students answered comprehension questions to show they were really paying attention. I always tell them that in library class we are not just reading books. We are learning how to read the world. The questions helped them slow down and notice details. What were the injuries? What did the company know? What information was left out of the headlines?

The discussion after the video is when some great discussions began. Students were genuinely surprised at how different the full story was from the version they had heard before. We talked about the power of media and how a story can be framed in a way that shapes public opinion. We looked at headlines, tone, and how quickly people form opinions without all the facts.

Then we moved into group work. I split the class into four teams and each one took a different deep dive angle.

*Product Safety and Corporate Response
*Legal Precedents and Consumer Protection
*Media Framing and Public Opinion
*Ethics, Fairness and Corporate Responsibility

Each group created a presentation to teach the rest of the class about their findings. I loved seeing them take ownership of their section. They were citing evidence, making connections between cases, and even challenging each other’s thinking in respectful ways. Several students said they were shocked at how many similar cases have happened and how often key details get left out when stories are retold.

What started as “that silly coffee lawsuit” turned into a powerful lesson in media literacy, critical thinking, and asking better questions. Watching students move from quick assumptions to thoughtful analysis reminded me exactly why I love teaching library.

Retro News for the win.

Library Scavenger Hunt with Middle Schoolers

September 6, 2025 Tech Fun In The Library

This year, I was asked to teach a library class for our 7th and 8th graders. I’ve been teaching elementary library (K–6) for a while now, but middle school is new territory for me. We’re all on the same campus, but once kids hit middle school, they kind of disappear from the library. So I was actually really excited to have a reason to bring them back in.

I spent a good chunk of my summer coming up with ideas and lessons that would get them moving and keep things interesting. For our first class this week, I did a QR code scavenger hunt, and it ended up being a total hit.

I made 30 QR codes, and when scanned, each one shows a word related to books and a few that connect to something in the library — like “pencil sharpener,” “Chromecart,” “circulation desk,” stuff like that. The students had an answer sheet with clues, and they had to scan the codes and write the correct word in the right spot.

I wasn’t sure how they’d react — middle schoolers can be a tough crowd sometimes — but they were all over it. Everyone was up out of their seat, looking around, scanning codes, finding books, and talking about what they were discovering. Not one single student said, “This is dumb” or “I don’t want to do this.” That’s a win in my book!

One group did put a book back in the wrong place, and I’m still hunting it down… but hey, small price to pay.

I’m planning to make a few more versions of this activity to use throughout the year. If you’re interested in trying it with your students, I added it to my TPT store. It’s fully editable so you can change the titles to fit your own library setup. Link is below!

Click here to go to my TPT store.

Groundhog Day in the Library

February 2, 2025February 11, 2025 Tech Fun In The Library

This little holiday is overlooked by many. I know in my school, until I started sharing books about Groundhog Day, most my young readers had never even heard of it. Teachers have so much to squeeze into their day they don’t have time to add this little holiday into the mix. Thus, sharing books and “celebrating” in the library is a great way to expose students to this quirky little holiday that is sometimes overlooked.

Groundhog Day Read Alouds

Each year I have a different book that I read to each grade. Reading picture books about Groundhog Day to students in the library is a delightful way to get them excited about the season’s big question—will we have an early spring or six more weeks of winter? Depending on where February 2nd falls in the we will celebrate the day of or the day before and other years we celebrate the day after.

Here are some books I like to share with my students:

Kindergarten: How to Catch a Groundhog
1st Grade: Wake Up Groundhog
2nd Grade: Groundhog’s Day Off
3rd Grade: Groundhog’s Dilemma
4th Grade: Groundhog Gets a Say
5th Grade: Groundhog Gets it Wrong
6th Grade: Phil’s Big Day

After we read the story I like to share a video about Groundhog Day so they understand the background behind it and why it is celebrated. Here are a couple good ones I found on Youtube that I like to share with students.

Lesson Finale

After reading the picture book and watching the short video it is time to actually watch the real Phil make his predictions. It is fun to do a quick class vote to see who wants 6 more weeks of winter and who wants an early spring. This year my classes had an overwhelming desire for 6 more weeks of winter because we have not had any snow yet and we are all still hopeful.

If I am doing this lesson prior to Groundhog Day I show the video from the previous year to let them see how it works. Once February 2nd has arrived and the new prediction is made I take time in class to show them the current results. This year Groundhog Day falls on Sunday February 2nd so we will do the lesson on Monday February 3rd and Tuesday February 4th. We will then be able to watch the most recent prediction on the same day we read the stories. I always just go to Youtube and look for “Groundhog Phil Prediction Pennsylvania” to find the most recent one.

Here is the one from this year that we watched.

There you have it, celebrating Groundhog Day in the library with picture books and short video clips is a fun and engaging way to introduce your students to this quirky tradition. So, whether you’re reading a fun picture book, watching a short video, or doing both Groundhog Day in the library is a fantastic way to embrace the season and spark children’s imaginations.

Looking for some fun activities to add to your lesson?

Shop here for Wake Up! Groundhog

Shop here for How to Catch a Groundhog

Celebrate Lunar New Year with Picture Books

January 12, 2025January 12, 2025 Tech Fun In The Library

Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is a time of celebration, family gatherings, and cultural reflection. For many families, it’s not just about the festivities; it’s also about passing down traditions and values to the next generation. One of the most enjoyable and meaningful ways to help your students learn about the culture importance of Lunar New Year is by reading picture books that highlight the stories, customs, and history of this holiday.

A Sweet New Year for Ren by Michelle Sterling: A picture book about a young girl named Ren who eagerly anticipates Lunar New Year and the family traditions and festivities that come with it.

Goldy Luck and the Three Pandas by Natasha Yim: A girl named Goldy Luck is not very lucky and ends up causing chaos in her neighbor’s home. This is a fractured fairy tale replacing Goldilocks with Goldy and the Three Bears with Pandas.

Friends are Friends Forever by Dane Liu: Join Dandan, a young girl who is moving from China to America, and her close friend Yueyue, as they navigate the emotions of saying goodbye while cherishing their shared tradition of making paper snowflake decorations on Lunar New Year’s Eve.

Ruby’s Chinese New Year by Vickie Lee: Tells the story of a young girl named Ruby who wants to deliver a special card to her grandmother for Chinese New Year, but her grandmother can’t travel so Ruby decides to journey to her instead.

Chloe’s Lunar New Year by Lily LaMotte and Michelle Lee: Join Chloe as her family prepares for the Lunar New Year.

Tomorrow is New Year’s Day by Aram Kim: Mina shares the traditions of Seollal (Korean Lunar New Year) with her classmates at school while trying to include her reluctant younger brother.

Boys Don’t Fry by Kimberly Lee: Jin wants to help his Malaysian family prepare for the Lunar New Year feast. But, he is discouraged because “boys don’t fry” or cook. Jin’s grandmother recognizes his passion and allows him to join in the meal prep traditions.

How to Catch a dragon by Adam Wallace: This book follows a group of kids during Chinese New Year celebrations as they try to catch a mischievous dragon that is roaming through their town.

Grumpy New Year by Katrina Moore: A young girl named Daisy wants to visit her Grandpa in China to celebrate Lunar New Year. In her excitement she becomes too tired to sleep and becomes grumpy.

The Night Before Lunar New Year by Natasha Wing and Lingfeng Ho: A picture book about a young girl who is excited for Lunar New Year but is nervous about the loud noises at the parade.

Activities You Might Find Helpful:

Shop for your copy of How to Catch a Dragon here.

Shop for your copy of Lunar New Year Sudoku here.

How I Teach the Newbery Medal Awards

January 2, 2025January 8, 2025 Tech Fun In The Library

January has arrived, winter break is almost over, and planning for a new year has begun. The Newbery Awards is one of my favorite lessons to do in January, second only to Mock Caldecott, but just as worthy of some recognition. I feel it is a valuable lesson that exposes students to past winners and hopefully gets them reading some of these great books that are hiding on the shelves. There are reasons why the books on this list have won and exposing students to good literature is a key part of our job. Adding this unit has been a great way to keep students engaged and learning about NEW and OLD books in my library.

What is the Newbery Medal Award?

The Newbery Medal is an annual award given by the American Library Association to the author of the most distinguished children’s book published in the previous year. The winner is announced at the end of January at the same time Caldecott and other literature awards are announced. The Newbery Medal winner is chosen by a committee of 15 people. The winning author receives a bronze medal and may have a metallic seal of the medal added to future printings of their book. In addition to the medal winner, one or more honor books are also chosen each year.

Each year I start my unit by doing a Google Slides presentation to teach students about the Newbery Medal. Even though students may hear the lesson a couple times they are still learning as the information is lost over the year and reteaching is always a good idea. After the lesson slides we read the book Balderdash!: John Newbery and the Boisterous Birth of Children’s Books by Michelle Markel. This book gives some great background on John Newbery.

Finding Newbery Winners in Your Collection

Most of us have or should have many of the Newbery Award winners and Honor winners in our collections. This is a great time to bring them to the attention of students and get them circulating again. I like this lesson because it does stimulate circulation of good books that may have been forgotten. The lesson I use is a scavenger hunt that sends students into the stacks looking for the Newbery winners. Not only will they be looking at books to possibly check out later but they are also practicing finding books within my library. That is a win win in my book.

To add to this lesson and give them more to do than simply find the books and write the call numbers. While they are doing the scavenger hunt they will also need to make book recommendations. I usually have them do 2 recommendations from all the books they will search. This is just short form they fill out with title, number of pages, and brief synopsis.

What if I Don’t Have the Book?

When using the Newbery winner and the Honor Medal list there may be a number of books you don’t have in your library. I also don’t have all of them but this leads to a great opportunity for students to use Destiny….or whatever system your library uses…to look up the books. They can then see if the book is available in the library or if it might just be checked out by someone else. If it is not available I have them put an X on the box. If it is in our library but checked out I have them put a check mark on the box. I have found this to be a great way to get students using the library system to look for books and then later they can use that skill to find books they are wanting to read.

Wrapping Up the Lesson

This lesson may take more than one library class to complete. I have them work with a partner and that does help speed up the process as one can be the person who reads the call number while the other is writing it down. Same with the recommendation form, one can read the synopsis out loud and both can decide how to summarize it. Once they have completed the scavenger hunt and the recommendations I give them an exit ticket which is a half sheet that the fill out with the titles of 3 Newbery Award books they think they would like to check out in the future. I feel this adds to the lesson because students are picking up the books, reading the synopsis, and then deciding if it might be one they would like to read in the future.

I believe this is a great lesson for getting students out looking through your collection, finding Award winners, evaluating them, and maybe even reading some of them.