Observations from the Book Festival Activity Room

Yesterday, at the book festival, I spent part of the day in the activity room. We had about 10 (I think) 4 foot round tables set up in a space about the size of the Artisan sanctuary. Each table seated eight. There was also seating for 15 in front of the room for presentations.

Each table held two activites with instructions and the two sample crafts displayed in the middle and the neccessary materials. We set up a puppet theater with fuzzy puppets in another corner of the room. The under 3's liked the puppet theater and the Pre-K to Elementary school children could use the theater with the puppets they made.

We had a variety of activities targeting kids preschool to middle school. Many of the activites could be easily stretched for younger and older children. I figure about 80 parents and children at a time were rotating through the room between 10 am and 4 in the afternoon. About 1500 people attended the festival.

The room was incredibly quiet. Kids were very well behaved. If they weren't (which was rare even right before lunchtime) the parents took them out. I'd say parents averaged 30's and 40's (some older and some younger- male and female.)

Though most tables were rarely empty, we cleaned up tables as people left and straightened and replenished materials which only took a couple of seconds. Most people cleaned up after themselves. I'd say that most people spent 20 minutes per table. Many families went to more than one table.

Now, book festivals are apt to draw parents and children who like books. That's what they had in common. The Rochester Area Children's Writers and Illustrators worked with the Rochester City School District this year so I think there was a mix of Greater Rochester and City families.

Incredibly quiet and orderly. I had to ask myself, why! Because this model is so similar to what's happening in the sanctuary at Artisan on Sunday nights, I thought it was an observation worth blogging.

I suspect that the reason "why" is that every child is engaged. Very, very engaged. Each child had seven other children and adults within an arm's length, direction, help, materials, an age appropriate challenge and creative alternatives to choose from. They were creating. I think it's also the reason a guided-discovery/movement ed approach worked so well in my preschool gym classes.

What if.... each table was creating a project together or a part of a project to join with the projects that were being created at the other tables? The noise level would grow, but one the objectives of a model like this would be that social/community element. Children middle elementary and up would be especially ready for something like this for special projects.

...maybe we are a guild!