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TPiB: Mummies

May 23, 2013 by Karen Jensen, MLS   Leave a Comment

Tweens and teens in my library are separated not only by that HUGE stretch of year (twelve going to thirteen) but by what they are interested in. My teens seem to want movie programs where they can chill, do crafts, and play games in corners and socialize, or gaming programs where we have a variety of things for everyone.


My TWEENS, however, want ACTION and ADVENTURE and EVERYTHING! I have done Angry Birds, Just Dance 4 Wii, and am actively planning my summer themes to blend the two collaborative themes: Dig Up a Good Book (the youth theme) and Beneath the Surface (the teen theme) as these patrons are stuck between the two worlds.

The first one I’m attempting is a mummy/archeology themed program, and I’ve pulled together ALL of my notes to share with you!  Follow the break to see what I’ve pulled together, and note that a lot of these can work for or be aged up to work with teens…

GAMES
Mummy Wrap:  Team up into pairs, and have one person be the mummy, and one person be the embalmer.  Take rolls of toilet paper, and on the start whistle, have the embalmer wrap the mummy from head to toe in paper.  Mummy must be completely still while the embalmer runs around the mummy.  When the mummy is done, the embalmer and mummy must cross the finish line together.

Spider, Spider: Have the players gather in a circle, and one person is designated it.  That person closes their eyes and placed in the middle of the circle.  Then another player in the circle is given a plastic spider to hide behind their back.  Everyone else then hides their hands behind their back as well.  At the signal, the spider hunter opens their eyes, and then has three chances to guess where the spider is by looking at the other players.
Why Did It Have to Be Snakes?:  Play exactly like Hot Potato, except with a plastic (or stuffed) snake to throw around.  Can be set to music from Indiana Jones movies or The Mummy movies, and when the music stops, the person holding the snake is out.  Those that are out go to tables to color while the rest plays.
Obstacle Course:  Using props like hoops to step in and chairs with streamers to climb under, create and obstacle course to avoid the evil bad guys.  Those with the best times will compete to see who wins the treasure!

Dance of Death:  Create a playlist (or mix CD) of music from Indiana Jones, The Mummy, and other music from mummy and archeology films, as well as those with an Egyptian theme (Walk like an Egyptian, etc.).  Set chairs around the room for the number of players that you have, minus one.  When the music beings, everyone moves around in the circle in various styles (walk like a mummy, shuffling your feet; walk like you’re sneaking past the bad guys, etc.).  When the music stops, everyone scrambles to find a chair- the last one to not have a chair is out.  They go to a table to color and watch while the rest continue. 
CRAFTS
Bendable Mummies

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Gumby like mummies using simple flexible wire and muslin.  Or make it a recycle craft by using strips of old t-shirts.  Cheap, easy and full of win.  More information at Family Chic.

Binoculars

·         Materials:  hole punch, toilet paper tubes, yarn, markers, glue, self adhesive jewels
·         Punch holes into the tops of toilet paper tubes ahead of time
·         Take two toilet paper tubes and glue together.  Loop string around the ends of each side, then tie together so that they make a lanyard for the binoculars to hang off the neck.  Decorate at will with leftover materials.
Sarcophagus
·         Materials: containers (Kleenex boxes, shoe boxes, Pringles tubes, etc). Gold Construction paper. Glue. Scissors. Self adhesive gems. Markers.
·         Have tweens take safe scissors and cut an opening into the container if there isn’t one already there.  Take construction paper and cover the containers completely, gluing were appropriate.  Decorate with markers and self-adhesive gems.

Hierogrlyphics Stone Tablet

You can use salt dough or self hardening clay to make Hieroglyphic stone tablets. Complete instructions here. 

Mummify a Barbie

Visit your local thrift store and by some super cheap Barbies then allow your tweens to mummify them with this condensed process.  You can eliminate steps if you want, or go for accuracy.  There are also great instructions here.

Kits

If you don’t feel confident doing crafts on your own with scrounged materials (some don’t and that’s fine- do what’s comfortable for you), then there are always kits available at a variety of online places. Do a search for Egypt or archeology or mummys and see what comes up. I found things like these from Oriental Trading Company- see what you can order to fill out your program.

 
MOVIES
I always like having movies available to me, especially since we pay for a public performance license. With tweens it gets tricky because I really don’t feel comfortable setting them down for a PG-13 movie, yet they always assure me they’ve seen them (or R movies) all the time. I just keep telling them that because they’re under 13, I can’t show it them or I will loose my job, and that ends the discussion. You, however, can show whatever you’re comfortable with. I’ve pulled a list of movies that (generally) fit with the theme that are rated PG and are covered under the Movie Licensing USA agreement. (NOTE: If you do NOT have a public performance license, please do not show movies- it is NOT worth your job or the fines if you get in trouble).
 
Aladdin
Beetlejuice
Coraline
Encino Man
The Flintstones
The Goonies
Hercules
Holes
Hotel Transylvania
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
Journey 2: The Mysterious Island
Journey to the Center of the Earth
Jumangi
The Jungle Book
National Treasure 1 & 2
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Secret of NIMH
The Corpse Bride

Filed under: archeology, Collaborative Summer Reading Program, Mummies, Teen Program in a Box, Teen Programming, TPIB, Tweens

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About Karen Jensen, MLS

Karen Jensen has been a Teen Services Librarian for almost 30 years. She created TLT in 2011 and is the co-editor of The Whole Library Handbook: Teen Services with Heather Booth (ALA Editions, 2014).

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