Terry:
When my daughter was in 1st grade, each student had a day
they could bring in their parents for "show and tell." There was a
surgeon, a florist, a carpenter -- people who could demostrate some
interesting skills to these kids. When my turn was approaching, my
6-year old was concerned because, as she put it, "I didn't know how
to do anything." I got a laugh from that because it really is
difficult to explain to young children what a law librarian does.
So, I decided to bring the biggest and dustiest book I could find
(and carry) and show them "the law." I selected a thick volume of
Statutes at Large. I thought this was probably going to bomb, I
mean, who cares about a big book? Well, it really worked out great.
I told them I was a librarian that took care of the law and that the
law was is big books. I got oohs and aahs from my audience as I
pulled out this book and told them that there were laws in the book.
Every kid took their turn to hold it and feel how heavy it was. Then
I asked them if they could tell me what the law is. I got some great
responses -- most were along the lines of how daddy got a ticket
one time for driving too fast and breaking the law means going to
jail etc. The teacher told me weeks later that the kids were still
talking about that big book with all the laws.
I learned that you don't have to do anything elaborate to make an
impression on children this young. And some kind of prop like a book
or some other object (maybe one of your judges could loan you a
gavel) that they can associate with the law is very effective.
Have fun!
Ann Kitchel
Associate Director
Creighton University Law Library
Omaha NE 68178
> From: "Terry Long" <tlong@richmond.infi.net>
> To: <law-lib@ucdavis.edu>
> Subject: Law Lib for 5 yr olds
> Date: Wed, 17 Nov 1999 14:36:25 -0500
> You guys--
> I have been asked to visit to my nephew's class to tell them about my
> career. He's 5! I would love suggestions for helping a five year old
> understand what we do. I have a book about the U.S. Supreme Court for
> children, "Marshall, the Courthouse Mouse". I will probably read that to
> them. But, would welcome your suggestions/experiences.
> Thank you.
> Terry
> Elizabeth Terry Long
> Assistant Law Librarian
> Virginia State Law Library
> Supreme Court Bldg., 2d Fl.
> 100 N. Ninth St.
> Richmond, VA 23219
>
> tlong@richmond.infi.net
> 804.786.2075
>
>
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