School Corps > Services & programs > SUN School services
SUN School services
The School Corps offers these fun, literacy-related programs to SUN Schools and other after-school and summer programs. We can also present the programs we offer during the school year. Programs can be offered on a one-time or a regular or series basis.
The minimum length of the presentations is noted in the descriptions but may be adjustable to meet your needs. Some presentations require special equipment (that School Corps brings).
Please note:
- There is no charge for any of our programs.
- We have a minimum group size of 8 youth.
Story scouts series (all Story Scouts programs are for grades K-2)
Multicultural series (1-10 sessions)
At each session, we'll read a different multicultural picture book aloud, involving kids in literacy skills, discussion and questions. Then kids will participate in one or two activities related to the story.45 minutes-1 hour for grades K-2.
Do-It-Yourself Multicultural series
We always receive more requests for Multicultural Story Scouts than we can accommodate, so we have created kits for SUN schools to borrow from us. We'll send the kit to your closest Multnomah County Library branch for pickup, and you can keep it until the end of the fall session. We provide: 10 of our favorite books from the Multicultural Story Scouts series and a teacher's guide with discussion and activity ideas to go with each book. You provide: a staff person to teach to the class and basic craft supplies.45 minutes-1 hour.
Art series (1-10 sessions)
School Corps staff begin each session by reading one or two picture books illustrated with the same artistic technique (i.e.: printmaking, collage, stencils). Then kids will participate in a related art activity. These classes can be offered individually or as a series. We have 10 different stories, so this class can be offered from one to ten times.45 minutes-1 hour.
Research Ranger series, grades 3-5 (4-8 sessions)
These classes can be offered individually or as a series. Students use books to do a scavenger hunt on popular topics and earn a Research Ranger certificate. We can do book scavenger hunts on each of the four topics, or if you have access to a computer lab, we can also do computer scavenger hunts on each topic. The descriptions below can be used to encourage students to attend these programs. 45-60 minutes.
Gross and Yucky Stuff:
Is it true that if you chop off the head of a cockroach it can live for up to a week? Do boogers really contain particles from outer space? Learn the answers to these questions and many more, and earn a certificate to show that you're an expert!
Pirates:
Arrgh! If you get captured by pirates, you won't have to walk the plank. After taking this class you'll be a pirate expert!
Space:
What do astronauts eat? What's a black hole? Find out more fascinating facts about space, and earn a certificate to show that you're an expert!
Pets:
Is a guinea pig really a pig? How can you tell if a parakeet is male or female? Learn the answers to these questions and many more, and earn a certificate to show that you're an expert!
Research Ranger series, grades 6-8 (4-8 sessions)
These four classes can be offered individually or as a series. Students use books to research popular topics and earn a Research Ranger certificate. We can do book scavenger hunts on each of the four topics, or if you have access to a computer lab, we can also do computer scavenger hunts on each topic. 45-60 minutes.
Gross and Yucky Stuff:
Is it true that if you chop off the head of a cockroach it can live for up to a week? Do boogers really contain particles from outer space? Learn the answers to these questions and many more, and earn a certificate to show that you're an expert!
The Mysterious and Unexplained:
Is Bigfoot real? Did a UFO really crash in Roswell? We can't guarantee you'll know for sure, but you'll be a mystery expert after taking this class!
Junk Food Junkies:
What's in your doughnut? Do kids in Japan really eat squid-flavored ice cream? Become a junk food expert and earn a certificate to show it!
Extreme Adventure:
Are you a fan of extreme sports or adventure racing? Complete the Extreme Adventure scavenger hunt and earn a certificate to show that you're an expert!
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (grades 4-8)
Learning to tell scary stories is a great way for students to build self-confidence, to improve their memories and to hone their storytelling skills. This class has 4 sessions, but could be paired with Top Secret to extend it to 5-8 sessions. Here's a description to use with students: Learn how to tell spooky, creepy-crawly stories about monsters, ghosts and other scary things in this class. Then next time you're at a slumber party or sitting around a campfire, you'll have a scary tale to share too. 45 minutes -1 hour.
Top Secret (grades 4-8)
Students use reading, math, writing and logic skills to write and decipher codes. This class has 4 sessions, so it can be offered from one to four times. Need more than four session? Pair this class with Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark. Here's a description to use with students: Have you ever needed to write a secret letter to a friend but were worried someone else would read it first? Learn how to write and read secret codes! 45 minutes-1 hour.
Curriculum support
School Corps offers curriculum support to all locations for any project, without a need to apply for the service. Just contact School Corps at least three weeks in advance of needing lists or materials.
Bucket of Books (grades K-12)
These tubs contain 24-30 books on a topic plus a teacher's guide with an annotated list of age-appropriate Web sites, a pathfinder for doing research on the topic at Multnomah County Library and instructions on how to obtain additional copies of the books. Visit the Bucket of Books Web site for a current list of topics and instructions on how to request a bucket through the online library catalog.
Booklists (ages 5-18)
If we don't have a Bucket of Books (see above) on your topic, we can create a customized booklist on a topic and send one copy of each book on the list to a nearby library for you to check out. Requires a three-week lead time.
One-Time Presentations for Students
Live Homework Help (grades 4-12, adult)
Learn how to access this program, which connects students one-on-one to qualified tutors online. Students will need their Multnomah County Library cards to use Live Homework Help, but it can be demonstrated without student cards. This is a one-time presentation. An Internet connection is required. 15 minute minimum
Think Before You Click (grades 4-12)
This one-time presentation about Internet safety and etiquette covers topics such as online privacy, advertising, spam, viruses, false information, and appropriate online behavior. Computer lab preferred1 hour
One-Time Presentations for parents
Safe Space: Social Networking for Parents, Educators and Caregivers:
Forget the hype and fear-mongering! Learn what kids are really using social networking sites like MySpace for and how can you educate them about being safe online. 25 minute minimum.
Homework Resources Parent Night (parents of grades 4-12):
Parents learn how to access free library resources to help their students succeed in school. Resources covered include the library catalog, Live Homework Help, the Homework Center, or library databases, depending on the age of the students. An Internet connection is required. 30 minute minimum.
To schedule a School Corps presentation at your site, contact the School Corps Lead Worker at 503.988.6004 or lib.school.corps@multcolib.org.