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STEM

Who Does Lego Wedo? We Do!

2016-07-01T12:02:40-06:00

By Maija McLaughlin, Director of Digital Access, Fayetteville Free Library Since January of this year, the Fayetteville Free Library has been running a monthly Lego WeDo program for children K-2nd.    For several years, the library has facilitated programs for teens and middle schoolers utilizing Lego robotics platforms such Lego MindStorm.  Our savvy patrons and parents asked “Is there Lego robotics programming for younger children?”  Enter Lego WeDo.  WeDo is a lego robotics kit which can make 9 different robots.  The robots include an alligator, a drumming gorilla, a man in a boat, a lion and the list goes on.  Once the [...]

Who Does Lego Wedo? We Do!2016-07-01T12:02:40-06:00

Science on the Fourth of July

2016-06-28T08:24:03-06:00

Looking for a 4th of July activity that will make your holiday sparkle? Steve Spangler, a nationally renowned television personality, author and science teacher, has compiled a list of some of the most intense and sparkling science experiments and activities that families can do to celebrate our nation’s Independence Day. These activities are sure to draw scientists from every age group by featuring different fields of science to maximize all the wonders and excitement that this national holiday has to offer. Some learning elements found in these experiments include: detecting ultraviolet light; the properties of light, cameras and colors; the properties [...]

Science on the Fourth of July2016-06-28T08:24:03-06:00

Tumbling Around With Tumblewings and Walking Along With Walkalongs

2016-06-12T23:47:07-06:00

Do you know how to make a telephone book fly? One page at a time, of course! Kids (and adults, as well) can have a great time learning about air flow, aerodynamics, creative paper engineering, and patience, with nothing more expensive or hard to acquire than an old phone book, a large piece of cardboard, a drinking straw or two, tape, and a pair of scissors.  Oh, yeah, you'll need a large room, as well. The internet offers several different patterns that can be freely printed and used to make tumblewings, also known as walkalong gliders.  Here are a few examples [...]

Tumbling Around With Tumblewings and Walking Along With Walkalongs2016-06-12T23:47:07-06:00

Three Little Pigs and the Budding Architects

2016-06-09T11:32:04-06:00

Skokie Public Library’s experiential learning space, the BOOMbox, focuses on a different STEAM theme every four months, providing tools and inspiration to learn more about a topic through hands on experimentation. While this space is intended for youth, teens, and adults, it is not developmentally appropriate for children younger than kindergarten So, in conjunction with the BOOMbox theme, we offer a STEAM program designed for preschoolers (ages 3-5 with an adult caregiver) every other month. Science Club Jr., as we shared in a previous post, aims to equip youth participants with background knowledge to understand foundational science concepts at a very [...]

Three Little Pigs and the Budding Architects2016-06-09T11:32:04-06:00

What If? to Oh Cool! The Scientific Method Put to Work Launching Stomp Rockets

2016-06-08T18:55:32-06:00

      How can  kids use the scientific method to develop better, higher flying paper rockets, or, better yet, shock the administrators on the third floor?  It's easy! For the last several years, I've been doing stomp rocket programs at my library.  Whether it's during summer reading club or in the middle of the school year, it always draws quite an good crowd.  The pre-program preparation requires a fair amount of work, but it's both fun and the results make it worth the effort involved.  Each time I do the program,  I add a bit more experimentation to the kids' activities. [...]

What If? to Oh Cool! The Scientific Method Put to Work Launching Stomp Rockets2016-06-08T18:55:32-06:00

Week of Making

2016-06-02T15:22:03-06:00

The following text is from a White House press release on the Week of Making (June 17-23). Libraries are invited to share their plans for the week, and learn more about other Making efforts across the country. The full press release and page to share your ideas is linked at the bottom of this post. "The White House will be celebrating the National Week of Making, June 17 -23. We invite libraries, museums, rec centers, schools, universities and community spaces to support and grow the number of our citizen-makers by hosting events, making commitments, and highlighting new innovations. The week will [...]

Week of Making2016-06-02T15:22:03-06:00

Paper Airplane Challenge!

2016-05-18T15:06:55-06:00

Last week my Crafternoon participants (with a few moms and one teen-aged sister included) enjoyed a paper plane tournament.  It was a wonderful, low cost, quick prep program which everyone enjoyed thoroughly. I collected all the paper airplane books that my library system owned, added quite a few that I bought online, and had them laid out on tables around the room.  I made sure that I had paper of the correct dimensions available, as well.  Most of the books that I used required standard 8 1/2 x 11 letter size paper, but a few called for 6" x 6" squares.          [...]

Paper Airplane Challenge!2016-05-18T15:06:55-06:00

Host a BioBlitz at the Library

2016-05-03T09:25:56-06:00

BioBlitz participant examining a planter with a magnifying glass. As part of Earth Day celebrations, the Skokie Public Library hosted a BioBlitz, inspired by the annual event of the same name coordinated by National Geographic. A BioBlitz is a survey of a defined geographical area in an attempt to inventory all the species (animals, plants, bugs, etc.) in that area in a set, short amount of time. Everything living counts and is counted in a BioBlitz, and in the end, we have a biodiversity data snapshot of a given place at a given time. National Geographic hosts 24 hour [...]

Host a BioBlitz at the Library2016-05-03T09:25:56-06:00

Life on Mars: Citizen Science for Upper Elementary

2016-04-21T09:41:12-06:00

One of my favorite STEM programs combines the awe factor of potentially living on Mars and the positive impact of Citizen Science. This “Life on Mars” program was presented to youth in grades 3-5 at Skokie Public Library and would work well through grade 6. Citizen Science, where the general public contributes to science research, is resurfacing with the help of online platforms--like Zooniverse--that curate various Citizen Science projects to support research in areas like space, climate, social science, and art. Emphasize the importance of Citizen Science to youth in the library: when non-scientists are doing scientific work for the betterment [...]

Life on Mars: Citizen Science for Upper Elementary2016-04-21T09:41:12-06:00

States of Matter: Chemistry Programming for Preschool and Early Elementary

2016-04-11T08:12:03-06:00

When you put the time into creating a dynamic STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) program for youth, it feels like a big bonus to be able to offer modified versions of the program to multiple ages of children. Below is a great example of a program that can be adapted for multiple age groups--and it’s recently field tested, having been facilitated here at Skokie Public Library for both preschoolers (ages 3-5) and kindergarten-2nd grade. Our goal for early childhood STEM programming--which we typically offer under the program titles “Science Club Jr.” (for preschoolers) and “Science Club” (for early elementary)--is to [...]

States of Matter: Chemistry Programming for Preschool and Early Elementary2016-04-11T08:12:03-06:00
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