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- Description
- Table of Contents
- About the authors
- Reviews
Laying the groundwork for building children’s curiosity, openness to learning, ability to persist in the face of failure, and interest in connecting learning from one subject to the other are important objectives for today’s libraries. Partnering with cultural institutions, such as the Chicago Public Library (CPL) does with Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry (MSI), libraries can forge powerful connections between literacy and science. This resource shares the fruits of that partnership, offering ready-to-go, library-tested activities that meld cutting-edge STEAM education principles with some of the best books available for youth today. It’s a model that can be used in a variety of library or museum settings and can also be adapted for outreach. Inside, readers will find
- 46 book-based, customizable STEAM activities, each complete with program length, materials list, and step-by-step instructions;
- real-life tips, advice, and thoughts from practicing CPL librarians sprinkled throughout the book;
- pointers on incorporating STEAM into existing programs;
- pedagogical strategies behind effective STEAM experiences, ensuring successful implementation of these skills; and
- helpful supporting materials such as a program planning rubric and a vendor list.
The activities in this book will make STEAM education fun while planting the seeds for lifelong learning.
Foreword by Aaron Dworkin
Acknowledgements
Introduction: Are We Reaching Everyone?
1. Float Your Boat
2. Slime Time
3. Flying Gyroscope
4. See Cool Patterns with a Kaleidoscope
5. Wacky Wobbler
6. Balance Birds
7. Circle Spinners
8. Toothpick Tops
9. Straw Pipes
10. Sound Sandwich
11. Marker Tie Dye
12. Freaky Foam
13. Rainsticks
14. Far, Far Away
15. Water Filter
16. Weather Station – Anemometer
17. Weather Station – Barometer
18. Weather Station - Rain Gauge
19. Weather Station – Wind Vane
20. Blown Over
21. Helping Hands
22. On Your Mark, Get Set, Blow!
23. Mind Reader Card Trick
24. DIY Cloud
25. Amped Up Energy
26. Egg-stronaut
27. Original Reaction
28. Up, Up and Away
29. Forget to Water your Plants
30. Two Scoops of Science
31. Insulation Engineering Challenge
32. Newspaper Fortress
33. Seas the Day
34. Look Out Below
35. pH Rainbow
36. Topsy Turvy World
37. Recycled Seed Paper
38. Summer Slopes
39. Reach for the Skyscrapers
40. Solar Snacks
41. Stomp Rockets
42. Bridging the Gap
43. Bubble Blow-out
44. Signal the Superhero
45. Cool Under Pressure
46. Outta this World
Appendixes
- A. Vendor and Store List
- B. Program Planning Rubric
About the Authors
Index
"While the book was written with summer programs in mind, it can be used year-round and most of the projects can be done in an outdoor space. Many could also be adapted, given library closures—librarians could stream read-alouds and offer 'make and take' projects for families to complete the activities on their own ... Providing book-based, library-centric STEAM projects, this is a worthwhile purchase."
— School Library Journal