Winter Reading Bingo

Getting teens to participate in winter reading isn't always easy. Smack in the middle of the school year in the yuckiest months after the holidays and I'm supposed to find a way to encourage teens to read...for fun? I'm supposed to do that all year long, but something about these winter months makes that task a struggle. 

I turned to my trusty pal Pintrest for ideas and came across several versions of Winter Reading Bingo. The best part? No sign ups. No set amount of reading. All teens have to do to is complete a Bingo by doing the activities in that row (or column or diagonally!). And the free space is "Do Your Homework." Other activities include: Read a graphic novel or manga, check out a book on display, read anything for one hour, and watch a movie based on a book. 

Winter Reading at my library lasts from January 11 to March 12 this year, and I'm allowing teens unlimited play for the entire program with only one Bingo per sheet. Each completed sheet becomes their ticket in the prize drawing at the end of the program. The more plays, the more chances! I also give them a piece of candy for each completed sheet. Tootsie rolls make great bribes. 

I made my Bingo sheets in Publisher, then moved and switched the tiles around to create four different sheets so teens weren't stuck with the same things to do or read every time. When the program kicked off this year I was handing a Bingo sheet to every teen as they were hanging out in the department or when they were checking out. Now that we're a month into the program they've been grabbing up a new sheet as soon as they turn one in! I've added link below to one of my Bingo sheets. 

Now let's talk prizes! This is where knowing your teens helps (and sparks intense competition!). I based my prizes off of what my most popular programs tend to be: movies, food, and make up. The Hollywood Pack: popcorn, candy, a soda, & a Hunger Games DVD. The Coffee House Pack: coffee drinks, cookies, a nice journal & pen set, & a book of their choice. The Beauty Pack: Everything for a DIY pedi! I also threw in a gift card for another option.

Winter Bingo Sheet

Pom Pom Bookmarks

This was an easy, fun, mostly mess free craft from our Try It! Tuesday program.

Supplies: Yarn & Scissors. That's it! Seriously!

Step 1: Cut a string that's about 8 inches long and another that's about 10 inches long. Set aside.

Step 2: Wrap yarn around your first three fingers 90-100 times, keeping it snug but not too tight!

Step 3: Cut the yarn after you're done wrapping and carefully slide it off of your fingers.

Step 4: Lay it down over the 8 inch piece of yarn & tie a knot tightly around the middle of the loops. It's very important that you tie the knot very tightly or once you start cutting the pieces will be too loose!

Step 5: Tie the 10 inch bookmark piece around the same string you used to tie the loops together.

Step 6: Cutting! Cut through the loops on each side. Be careful not to cut your center string. Now your ball should look like a crazy overgrown hedge. Start trimming until the pom pom is rounded off. Again, be careful not to cut your bookmark string during this part. I found that it helps to hold onto the bookmark string and that the sharper your scissors are, the easier the shaping step is.

It took my teens roughly 10 minutes to make a bookmark and aside from sweeping up bits of yarn, this was a super easy craft!