Reading specialist Dina P. Evans with the Little Free Library at Maple Lane Elementary, and creators Jalen Caesar and David Ennis. (Brandywine School District)

Brandywine students design, make Little Free Libraries

Ken MammarellaEducation, Headlines

Reading specialist Dina P. Evans with the Little Free Library at Maple Lane Elementary, and creators Jalen Caesar and David Ennis. (Brandywine School District)

Reading specialist Dina P. Evans with the Little Free Library at Maple Lane Elementary, and creators Jalen Caesar and David Ennis. (Brandywine School District)

Students in the Brandywine School District’s elementaries are getting easier access to wholesome books – and some extra school spirit – with new Little Free Libraries adorned with school mascots.

The project also generated real-world experience for the high school engineering and design students who designed and built them – plus some bonding time with their young clients.

I really just want there to be access to good books,” said Dina P. Evans, the reading specialist at Mt. Pleasant Elementary who came up with the idea. “It’s been awesome. A great collaboration across generations.”

The Hanby Elementary Bee Little Free Library.

The Hanby Elementary Bee Little Free Library.

She got quick support from the district, which bought the basic structures for about $300 each. She also got about $3,000 from a fundraising campaign on DonorsChoose to buy books.

Evans wanted the libraries to start out with books geared toward students in kindergarten through fifth grade that promote mindfulness, equity, cultural diversity, LGBTQ issues and social emotional learning. The last concept helps students cope and respond to issues they’re facing in life.

The selection includes picture books, chapter books, graphic novels, nonfiction works and poetry. “Poetry is a great motivator for struggling readers,” she said. “It offers quick satisfaction.”

They’re libraries, so books will come and go – and sometimes quickly. The three dozen books – symbolically, one for each kindergartner – at Hanby Elementary dropped to four in the first week,.

Readers often bring books to the Little Free Libraries to share, and Evans said she has set up a core group of teachers to ensure that what’s put in is kid-friendly.

School libraries are open in the summer, and schools host multiple activities then. And all but one library, in Maple Lane Elementary, will be outdoors, offering even more access to books.

In April, Maple Lane was the first library to be complete, with last ones expected in June.

Carrcroft Elementary already had a Little Free Library, so it was not involved in project. Leaders at Lombardy Elementary have asked for a second.

Evans is already thinking about an encore for next year: have the high schoolers build libraries from scratch, rather than modify kids, for the district’s early learning centers. “I have a passion for reading.”

 

dragonedit

Tajai Lee-Freeman and Sanaa Spangler-Chicco worked with Stephen Clark and Annajae Brown on the little library for Mt. Pleasant Elementary. (Brandywine School District)

Engineering practicum

The high schoolers completed the libraries as part of engineering classes taught by Jordan Estock at Concord, Creighton Anderson at Mt. Pleasant and Judson Wagner at Brandywine, who were asked to share the names of the students and photos of their projects.

The students had to plan their approach, starting out with the problem statement, then the criteria it had to fill, the target values for these criteria (measurable, quantifiable and observable things that can be tested) and constraints (time and money most of all).

For Maple Lane, Concord students Jalen Caesar and David Ennis had to ensure the very long wings of their owl were sturdy.

And they reflected on what they learned – and what they would do in the future.

For Hanby Elementary, Concord students Owen Teaney, John Krikelis and Zak Ettein were blunt in what they learned: “Many of our ideas did not work.”

For Lancashire Elementary, Concord students Maddy Kehoe, Rachel Waslyn and Kathryn Hart noted “Our latest client visit didn’t go as planned” and how they had to rethink.

The Owl Little Free Library for Maple Lane Elementary under construction.

The Owl Little Free Library for Maple Lane Elementary under construction.

Contributing to the free libraries

School, mascot and creators, where available.

Carrcroft Elementary Crocodiles: library already existed.

Claymont Elementary Cougars.

Forwood Elementary Foxes.

Hanby Elementary Bees: Concord students Owen Teaney, John Krikelis and Zak Ettein, plus Marie Kennel’s kindergartners.

Harlan Elementary Hawks.

The Lancashire Elementary Lion Little Free Library.

The Lancashire Elementary Lion Little Free Library.

Lancashire Elementary Lions: Concord students Madeleine Kehoe, Rachel Waslyn and Kathryn Hart.

Lombardy Elementary Tigers.

Maple Lane Elementary Owls: Concord students Jalen Caesar and David Ennis.

Mt. Pleasant Elementary Cecil the Dragon. Mt. Pleasant students Tajai Lee-Freeman, Sanaa Spangler-Chicco, Stephen Clark and Annajae Brown.

 

Share this Post