The Public Libraries of Lancaster County are pleased to offer an entire week of STEM programs entitled, “STEM and Beyond @ the Library!” These special events will be held at public libraries throughout the county from February 19-24, 2018.
Why?
STEM learning has propelled since reports were published that not enough students in the U.S. were mastering science, technology, engineering, and math skills. STEM programs in public libraries give audiences of all ages more opportunities to learn, experiment, and follow individual interests. Library STEM activities and events happen in grade-free zones where youth can explore and make mistakes without judgment.
Libraries also have a unique position to engage diverse populations in STEM, and by doing so, they broaden the participation of under-represented populations. STEM Library programs offered include individual exploration, and small group involvement. Librarians are intentionally teaching STEM and encouraging scientific inquiry.
Research shows that STEM learning experiences that occur across informal environments, such as, public libraries, positively influence science learning in school, attitudes toward science, pursuit of science-related occupations, and engagement in lifelong science learning.
Early Learning Experiences
The foundation of STEM education begins in a child’s early years. Preschool and kindergarten children are capable of learning science. An approach to these early learners may focus on a single concept, about such topics as “color”, “plant science”, and “weather.”
Hands-On Workstations
In Libraries, where multiple STEM hands-on workstations are set up, children explore and discover while becoming their own teachers. Children may then teach others the skills that they’ve learned and mastered. Youth will strengthen their independent learning skills, and engage in the scientific process, and practices. For older STEM programs, the format may encourage youth to “learn-build-test.” For example, a library program about catapults would look like this: learn (concept exploration) about catapults, see some examples, build one, and then time to test it out. Naturally, all the participants watch to see how everyone’s catapult does, and then discuss the outcomes.
Role of Parents and Caregivers
Parents and adult caregivers are also encouraged to participate in hands-on programs with their children. Through the process, the adults learn first-hand how to foster their child’s growing curiosity about the world. The active engagement of parents reinforces and encourages STEM learning for their children.
STEM and Beyond @ the Library! Events
Adamstown Area Library
3000 N. Reading Rd, Adamstown, PA 17501
717-484-4200 www.adamstownarealibrary.org
Preschool Storytime with hands-on STEM activities
Tuesday & Wednesday, February 20 & 21 at 10:00 am.
For ages 2-6 with caregiver. Please register.
MakeIT AAL- Bricks for Kids
Saturday February 24 from 10am to 12pm. (For ages 7 through middle school.)
This hands-on program will introduce your child to some of the components of STEM. With the help from STEM educators, students will brainstorm and create a vehicle that moves. We will be building all types of vehicles including trucks, buses, cars and more using Legos plans. Kids will get a chance to test the movement of their chosen vehicle during a race between builders. Registration is required.
Eastern Lancaster County Library
11 Chestnut Drive, New Holland, PA
717-354-0525 www.elancolibrary.org
STEM Story Time Registration is requested; walk-ins welcome! Best for Ages 3-5. Preschoolers are invited to hear stories about Curious George and space travel, then build and launch their own air-powered rockets!
Marvelous Math-Grades 5-8- Registration is requested; walk-ins welcome. Description: “Come and explore math at the library! We will do some math related projects.”
Teen Chopped– Grades 7-8. Registration is required for this event. Description: “Come and enter in this food competition. Teens will be paired up and use only three ingredients to create an appetizer and dessert. Ingredients are included. No cooking required!”
Elizabethtown Public Library
10 S. Market St., Elizabethtown, PA 17022
717-367-7467 www.etownpubliclibrary.org
Bedtime Math’s Crazy 8’s
February 20 from 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
This is a recreational after-school math club that helps kids enjoy the math behind their favorite activities! We need 12-16 kids who are currently in Kindergarten through 2nd grade to join us for Crazy 8’s! The club will run 1 hour weekly.
Ephrata Public Library
500 South Reading Rd, Ephrata, PA 17522
717-738-9291 www.ephratapubliclibrary.org
Preschool Tech Time: Swamps and Erosion
February 21, 2018 – 10:00 am
What is a marsh or wetland? Conduct experiments in water absorption this week in our weekly STEM series for preschoolers. Caregivers are encouraged to participate with their children. Ages 2-5. For more information and to register, visit www.ephratapubliclibrary.org or call 717-738-9291.
Baking Club for Kids
February 21, 2018–5:00 pm
Explore the science of baking using household ingredients and simple recipes. Focus on measurements, simple chemical and thermal reactions and kitchen safety. Caregivers must stay for the duration of the program. Please alert us of food allergies upon registration. Ages 5-8. For more information and to register, visit www.ephratapubliclibrary.org.or call 717-738-9291.
Lancaster Public Library
125 N. Duke St., Lancaster, PA 17602
717-394-2651 www.lancasterpubliclibrary.org
STEM and Beyond
Saturday, February 24, 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
Join us at the library for a day of STEM activities! Try your hand at mini-science projects, learn about new technologies, test your engineering skills, and have FUN doing math! There will be multiple activities for each of the STEM categories, and a little bit of art too. This is a drop-in program, so feel free to stop by anytime between 11 am and 2 pm, and stay as long as you like! Ages 5-12
Lititz Public Library
651 Kissel Hill Rd, Lititz, PA 17543
717-626-2255 www.lititzlibrary.org
Week of February 19-24, 2018
Stop in and experience some hands-on STEM in the Children’s area all week long. There will also be some “Take and Make” activities for families to do at home.
Manheim Community Library
15 E. High St., Manheim PA 17545
717-665-6700 www.manheimlibrary.org
“Simple Machines”
Tuesday Feb. 20 from 6pm-7pm.
Kids will be constructing and using simple machines with kits provided by the library as well as materials that can be found at home. Registrations will be online for this family program. Ages 5+ are encouraged to attend. (siblings are always welcome) Limit of 30 children.
Story Times will also be incorporating simple machines into each program.
Manheim Township Public Library
595 Granite Run Road, Lancaster, PA
717-560-6441 www.mtpl.info
Design Challenge – Build a Ball Launcher! Session 1
Tuesday, February 20th
4:30 pm – 5:30 pm (Registration required)
We’re participating in the annual Fluor engineering challenge to get as many kids engineering as possible! Come to one of our sessions or all three! Build it here, or at home and bring it in to test and submit your entries! We will have the following opportunities for your team or student:
- Opening session for building, testing and formal scoring if completed:
February 20th 4:30 – 5:30 pm
- Mid-contest session for building, testing and formal scoring if completed:
February 28th 6:30 – 7:30 pm
- Final session for building, testing, and formal scoring:
March 15th 4:00 – 5:00 pm
Download complete details and rules for Design Challenge Contest
Milanof-Schock Library
1184 Anderson Ferry Rd., Mount Joy, PA
717-653-1510 www.mslibrary.org
All activities during the week of Feb 19 – 24 will be celebrating the theme of
STEM AND BEYOND!
Monday 10am – 1:00 pm: Wee Build, Free Build drop in and practice your building skills (engineering) with our materials
Tuesday 1:00 pm: weights and balance are key in this mobile art project
Wednesday and Thursday 10:30 am: Sing, Shake & Sway use rhythm instruments & wave those silky scarves to count it out & keep the beat in this preschool story time
Thursday 6:00 pm: STEM Club Candy Math and Science it’s a sweet month, so we’ll use candy to conduct science experiments, graph, pie charts, calculate percentages and much more!
Friday 10:30 am: Rhythm and Rhyme Storytime for Children with Special Needs and their Families This Storytime is geared toward children at the preschool level with autism or other developmental disabilities
Saturday 4:00 -6:00 pm: Rock Your Socks Off Party is the end of our “STEM and Beyond” week. Join us for a pizza & dance party. Tickets are $3 and there will be raffles and a souvenir shop!
Moores Memorial Library
9 West Slokum Avenue, Christiana, PA
610-593-6683 www.christianalibrary.org
LEGO Club on Thursday Feb. 22 at 6:00 pm
Ages 6-12. Focus on Engineering!
Week of February 19-24, 2018.
Pequea Valley Public Library/Salisbury Township Branch
835 Houston Run Drive, Gap, PA 17527
717-442-3304 www.pvpl.org
STEM and Beyond @ PVPL
Saturday, Feb. 24 from 10 AM-12 noon. Freestyle design with Legos and magnetic tiles, try coding with Code-a-pillar and Cubetto, design, make and take a button pin, and more. For ages 5 and older. Space is limited. Registration is required by calling
717-768-3160.
Quarryville Library
357 Buck Rd, Quarryville, PA 17566
717-786-7336 www.quarryvillelibrary.org
February 20 – 23: It’s a county-wide celebration of Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, Art, and Reading at your public library!
We’ll have interactive stations out each day, plus a display about STEM education and activities for the whole family. Stop by the display during your visit and see what it’s all about! (For all ages)
Strasburg-Heisler Library
143 Precision Ave, Strasburg, PA
717-687-8969 www.strasburglibrary.org
Construction Zone Friday, February 23, from 10:00 am – 12:00, for ages 2-5.
Duplos, MagnaTiles, and other building toys!
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The Adamstown Area Library is pleased to announce the appointment of Andrea Black as the new Youth Services Librarian/Assistant Director for Adamstown Area Library (AAL). In her role as Youth Services Librarian, she will provide comprehensive library services for children from birth through teen years. Andrea will present story times, develop new programs, serve as liaison to schools and community organizations, and continue AAL’s history of quality library services to children and their families. Andrea received her Master’s in Library Science from the University of Pittsburgh. She worked in public libraries for 6 years in several capacities—as Youth Services Librarian at Middletown Public Library, as the Branch Manager at East Pennsboro Library, and as the Library Director at Dillsburg Area Public Library. “We are very happy to have Andrea on board and are looking forward to all of the new and creative ways she will service the community by administering literacy-based story times & crafts and STEAM & STEM programming,” said Library Director Kathy Thren.
finishing the interior of the library. It is also a time for the community to reflect on the progress made with this $2.5 million expansion and to head into the final phase of the construction.