Elementary and high school students often have assignments based upon themed history months. They will receive research projects as assignments, often similar to Science Fair projects, for Black History Month, Women’s History Month, Asian American-Pacific Islander Month, and other special monthly tributes.
School librarians can do their part to help students create their topic searches and do research for their projects. This is not only helpful for students as far as the particular project at hand, but can also create stronger bonds between students and the librarians they look to for assistance. Students can realize that librarians serve an integral educational role in their lives.
Community librarians can also help students, and the youngsters will appreciate their help. They will see the importance for themselves and for the community as a whole.
These History month projects can involve various school subjects: social studies, English Language Arts, art, and music are most typical. Sometimes science and foreign language classes, as well as others, may participate.
School librarians can collaborate with teachers in their school, and communication between librarians and teachers is key. These bonds are crucial.
How can librarians help classroom and specialty teachers?
- Creating questionnaires for the students to help them select a topic AND/OR creating questionnaires for teachers. A few key questions on the questionnaires can pave the way for smoother and more meaningful research, fine-tuning a topic.
- Set up tables in the library with books and media on topics, and the students can visit them as if they were visiting a museum. Make them inviting.
- Consider the actual projects students are being asked to create. Are they writing a report? Creating arts or craft projects with explanatory sections? Posters? “Facebook profiles of famous people” for that month? Creating slideshows? Making a video? More traditional written reports? Costumes? Puppets?
Confer with teachers about this, and offer suggestions to the students who are considering what to do.
Will there be a History Month Fair, similar in style to a Science Fair? For example, will there be a Women’s History month fair for the students to exhibit their projects? Or will they be decorating walls in the school corridors or showcases? Or perhaps a video screening or an assembly with performances? Help the students to think about how they can create and present their work. Art teachers and media/technology teachers may also be involved, so discuss the possibilities with them.
Where and how can media librarians and teachers meet?
Encourage students to visit the library and confer with librarians not only in the early stages of creating their projects but later on. Emphasize that a librarian may be able to help a student polish a project and make it very good, or help a student who is experiencing frustration at a particular stage in creating the project. The librarian can offer some ideas for further research, or at least “another pair of eyes.”
If there is a judging process, librarians can help with this, and even give a specific grade or score based on how well the students used the library resources. School librarians can even help teachers make the grading rubric.
In some schools, the library may be the actual exhibition space for projects (not just the school gym, auditorium, or yard). Make it a festive occasion. In some schools, the projects may be “traveling” on carts, and the librarian can help facilitate this.
Reach out to families and guardians, and provide reading and media materials (even handouts or an email blast) to accompany their students’ efforts. Many parents and families may appreciate hearing from the librarian, with suggestions of movies, YouTube clips, websites, and articles that will enrich their learning along with their children.
Librarians can consult Video Librarian to suggest film titles to students and teachers. See our holiday-themed lists for more information.
History months offer wonderful opportunities for librarians to join together with teachers, and the community in general, to help educate and spread the word about a particular month’s theme. It also strengthens the relationships between the library and the school community as a whole.