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 Mad Hatter's Tea Party


Suggested Level: Upper Elementary (3-5) to Middle School (6-8)

Purpose: Students and parents can share a love for reading and get to interact about the library or resources needed to be successful. The event will promote home literacy, parent and community communication, student engagement, promotion of audiobooks and Ebooks, library resources, and library services. 


Materials Needed:
  • Invitations (optional/posted on school website or send an e-vite) - this can be given to students who decide to join the event
  • Flyers (can also be made into a poster/post on school website)- flyers can be passed out to classrooms. The poster can be placed in areas with high traffic such as the cafeteria, gym, front entrance, library, etc.
  • Audio version of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (it can be any audiobook that has an audio length that is within 2 hours)- If you have the audiobook in your collection, you can use it
  • Tableware- tablecloths, centerpieces
  • Plates
  • Napkins
  • Silverware- forks, knives, spoons (you can choose to just provide plastic silverware if you are working with a smaller budget) 
  • Beverages- sodas, waters, juice (have diet/sugar-free options as well)
  • Food- depending on your budget, you can go the expensive route by ordering plates from a catering service/restaurant of choice OR you can go with a more cost-effective approach by providing sandwiches of different varieties, a salad/fruit bar, and a small dessert table 
INVITATION
    
                                                                    

                                                                        FLYER/POSTER    


AUDIOBOOK (Link)

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll - Subtitles English | AudioBook


Planning: Designate a time to schedule the event such as after school. Provide a written statement to be read during announcements (bonus if the librarian or a member of the book club reads it!). Consider methods to market the event so that it reach to as many students as possible; an option to consider is asking teachers to post the flyer digitally on Google Classroom and Remind. You must also plan:
  • What is the best method to have this event also reach out to the parents/guardians? (Posting it on social media, translated in another language, etc.)
  • If time allows it, visit classrooms to briefly announce the event and pass out the flyers/invitations; if you have volunteers then you could ask them to assist in this task
  • Schedule the event in a time period before state assessments or local benchmarks
  • What is the best method to have this event be promoted to students?
  • Preferably, a large area such as the cafeteria would be better for this event if the library does not provide ample space
  • What is the best way to arrange furniture and decorate the space to be appealing for the guests that will be present at the event?
  • What is the best and cost-effective method to provide food to the guests?
  • Ask parents present at the event if you receive permission to take pictures and post them on the school website
  • You will need to plan for the audiobook to be played for all guests
  • You will need to make sure all equipment is in good condition; check speakers, sound quality, and volume
  • Take this chance to promote audiobooks!


Preparations:
All teachers and staff can help with promoting this event by sharing audiobooks with the students. The librarian can provide a PD or PLC teaching the staff how to access the audiobooks in the collection (if audiobooks are in the collection). Promotion involves all staff to assist to advocate the event and planning can be done across all subjects to get ideas to make the event better to improve. 

Qualifications:
None. All students are able to participate with their parents/guardians. Ensure to let students know that only their parents or guardians may come with them. 


Procedures:
  1. All guests attending the event will sign in (digitally or print is up to you)
  2. All guests will be greeted and the librarian will explain the purpose of the event
  3. Highly encouraged that any staff member handling food needs to have a food handlers license or wear gloves while serving the guests
  4. Be sure to point out all the locations where guests may use bathrooms
  5. Hand sanitizer will be available at all times
  6. Guests will be encouraged to sit close to the screen where the audiobook will be read to them
  7. Play the audiobook
  8. Explain how the library provides audiobooks and Ebooks for all students (explain how they are available resources for students) and let the guests know that reading for pleasure is highly encouraged 
  9. Thank all guests for attending the event (if you want them to do a survey for you- provide it at that time)
  10. Dismiss guests and clean up

Payoff:
Students and parents get exposure to the type of resources and services that the library can provide. Home literacy and parent communication may also increase with the result of the event. Students and parents can learn that there a variety of ways to access books and information besides traditional books. Students may grow to develop a further appreciation for the library as well the resources that are available for them. This can also be helpful for advocating for this event for the following school year with improvements. 

PICTURES FOR IDEAS









References
Alt, Laura. “ Shelby Community Library ABOUT USBOOK DISCUSSION CLUBCALENDAR OF EVENTSLIBRARY BOARD MEETING MINUTESLIBRARY FOUNDATIONMISSION STATEMENTNE RESOURCESNEWSPAPER DIGITIZATIONONLINE CATALOGPOLICIESSTRATEGIC PLAN WHAT A REFRESHING TIME AT THE LIBRARY TEA PARTY!” Shelby Community Library, 18 Aug. 2016, http://libraries.ne.gov/shelby/2016/08/18/what-a-refreshing-time-at-the-library-tea-party/. Accessed 11 Feb. 2023.
Colvard, Bill. The Mount Airy News, 15 May 2018, https://www.mtairynews.com/news/61555/library-serves-mothers-day-tea-party. Accessed 11 Feb. 2023.
Doylelhillsco. Just for Kids @ the Library, 3 Oct. 2011, https://hcplckids.wordpress.com/tag/tea/. Accessed 11 Feb. 2023.
Monica Ros School, 2022, https://www.monicaros.org/traditions-special-events/mad-hatters-tea-party/. Accessed 11 Feb. 2023.
Audiobook, director. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll - Subtitles English | AudioBook. Youtube, 1 Apr. 2022, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_uA_hIXd0M. Accessed 11 Feb. 2023.





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