Shared Foundations Activity Guides

ACTIVITIES, RESOURCES, AND INFOGRAPHICS FOR EVERY FOUNDATION

Explore six practical guides designed to support school librarians in fostering essential skills, mindsets, and practices across the Shared Foundations of the National School Library Standards. Developed by ALA Emerging Leaders teams (2019–2025), these guides provide scenarios and activities to help learners become inquisitive, inclusive, collaborative, creative, reflective, and responsible citizens. Each guide equips school librarians with strategies and resources to engage learners in meaningful, equitable, and digitally responsible ways, making the school library a hub for growth, inquiry, and innovation.

Click on the links below to view and download materials.

INQUIRE | Developing Inquisitive Learners

This guide encourages curiosity, inquiry, and information literacy. Activities support librarians in designing learning experiences that nurture problem-solving and critical thinking, helping learners become resourceful, independent, and adaptable citizens.

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Activity Guide | Resource Matrix | Applied Framework | Infographic | Video

AASL educational materials titled 'Developing Inquisitive Learners, Critical Thinkers, and Resourceful Citizens Activity Guide,' featuring a colorful brain illustration and supporting pages on standards, resources, and a learning journey through curiosity, critical thinking, and cognitive rigor.

INCLUDE | Developing Inclusive Learners

Focused on the Include Shared Foundation, this guide helps librarians foster equity, empathy, and global awareness. Activities and resources encourage inclusive thinking and collaborative learning, empowering students to engage with diverse perspectives and contribute to equitable learning communities.

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Activity Guide | Applied Framework | Infographic

“Building an Inclusive Learning Environment.” Publishers Weekly. Volume 267, No. 11 | page 36-40

Visual overview of the AASL guide for developing inclusive learners and citizens, featuring diverse figures in a circle and sections on multiple perspectives, diverse collections, safe spaces, instructional collaboration, and community partnerships.

COLLABORATE | Developing Creative Collaborators

Focused on the Collaborate Shared Foundation, this guide empowers learners to work in teams, embrace diverse perspectives, and develop empathy. School librarians can use activities and resources to model inclusive collaboration, helping students become flexible, resilient contributors in classrooms and beyond.

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Activity Guide | Resource Matrix | Applied Framework | Infographic | Video

AASL educational materials featuring illustrated diverse individuals and resources titled 'Developing Creative Collaborators, Flexible Partners, and Resilient Citizens Activity Guide,' including a colorful chart on collaborative communities, a resource matrix, and a standards framework.

CURATE | Developing Critical Curators

Based on the Curate Shared Foundation, this guide helps learners evaluate, organize, and reflect on information from multiple perspectives. Activities and resources support librarians in fostering thoughtful curation, enabling students to navigate information critically and ethically.

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Activity Guide | Resource Matrix | Applied Framework | Infographic | Video

Activity guide titled 'Developing Critical Curators Seeking Diverse Perspectives' featuring illustrated cover with people interacting with books and a globe, alongside pages showing a standards framework, resource matrix, and strategies for equitable school libraries.

EXPLORE | Developing Reflective Explorers

Aligned with the Explore Shared Foundation, this guide inspires curiosity, creativity, and problem-solving. Activities and scenarios encourage learners to explore, reflect, and innovate, while applied frameworks support librarians in guiding students to become adaptive and thoughtful explorers.

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Resource Guide | Applied Framework | Infographic | Video

Cover and interior pages of the 'Developing Reflective Explorers and Innovators Activity Guide' by AASL, featuring colorful sections, icons, and instructional content designed to support school librarians in fostering student innovation and reflection.

ENGAGE | Developing Responsibly Engaged Learners

Aligned with the Engage Shared Foundation, this guide helps learners think critically, act ethically online, and participate responsibly in connected communities. Activities and resources support librarians in fostering global citizenship, digital responsibility, and meaningful engagement, helping students contribute positively to their learning communities.

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Resource Guide | Resource Matrix | Applied Framework | Infographic | Video