Window Games
I have a lot of fun trying to decide what to do with our giant front windows that take up most of the face of our building. One idea that I’ve been exploring (once before with the <a href=”http://hafuboti.wpcomstaging.com/2013/05/19/i-spy-a-summer…g-picture-find/ ” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener noreferrer”>Epic Picture Find</a>) is having games or activities be the display. So far I don’t think that I’ve really hit on the best combination of prep-time vs. payoff, but by golly, I’m going to keep trying.
For this month I had been planning a display that was inspired by <a href=”http://rachelmoani.com/?p=375″ target=”_blank” rel=”noopener noreferrer”>this post</a>, but I wanted to have fun with our dragon mascot and <em>Photoshop</em>. I also immediately had a vision of <em>Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? a</em>nd so <em>Where in Gretna is Booker T. Dragon?</em> was born.
<img class=”alignnone size-full wp-image-754″ title=”This may be one of my proudest Photoshopped images to date. It makes me happy every time I see it.” src=”http://hafuboti.wpcomstaging.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/draggysandiegocropped.jpg” alt=”” width=”389″ height=”318″>
I had the best time going around town taking pictures and sort of setting up in my mind the way I’d insert the images of our mascot. And for the most part what I saw in my mind’s eye became reality. Here’s four of my favorite in a <em>montage </em>(because everything’s better in a montage). Wait. That’s film. I guess this here’s a collage (because most thing’s are consolidated in a collage):
<img class=”alignnone wp-image-756″ title=”I personally adore the "selfie" one of him in front of our City Hall. But I really had fun with all of them.” src=”http://hafuboti.wpcomstaging.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/collage.jpg?w=584″ alt=”” width=”584″ height=”422″>
I ended up making nine pictures total that were numbered (both front and back so that kids could either do the game inside or outside). I also made a little worksheet that the kids would pick up at the circulation desk. If they turned in a complete and correct worksheet, then they’d win a sticker featuring Booker.
Here’s what the whole shebang looks like:
<img class=”alignnone wp-image-760″ title=”Here’s the exterior, for when the kiddos are walking in (or if they want to take that activity outside).” src=”http://hafuboti.wpcomstaging.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/exterior.jpg?w=584″ alt=”” width=”584″ height=”562″>
<img class=”alignnone wp-image-761″ title=”From the inside lookin’ out.” src=”http://hafuboti.wpcomstaging.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/interior.jpg?w=584″ alt=”” width=”584″ height=”569″>
The one thing I’m so glad that I thought of doing was putting a piece of black construction paper between the two printouts of the images. This gave them a nice black border, and also blocked the light so the pictures were solid and easy to see.
As of my writing this post, only three children have done the game – and all three had a blast. One girl even wanted to keep her worksheet as a momento. Two of the kids put their sticker of Booker on their library cards. The best part was watching a mom and daughter interact as the daughter kept trying to get hints from the mom.
But this is the thing that kills me: any time we have passive programming (which, admittedly, has only been introduced <em>this year</em> to the library with my encouragement), I am shocked at how little the patrons will initiate the activity on their own. However, if we point it out (and this includes the giant picture find – <em>how do you miss that?</em>) then both children and parents have a wonderful time together which is one of the main goals.
I do hope to figure out a way to get both children and adults more motivated to do the things that we create for them. If I figure out what on earth works, then I’ll be sure to share – I’ll definitely continue experimenting. If you happen to know the answer (or have suggestions), then please share!
