Science Fun with Snow & Ice!

We've been having lots of fun with snow & ice @ the library--and learning important early literacy skills along the way!

Toddlers painted blocks of ice using watercolors in only the primary colors. They saw first hand what happens when these colors mix--and they observed what happens to ice at room temperature. They also made many prints of their work--just pressed white paper down on top of the painted ice. The ice kept changing as they painted and it melted--so many made lots of prints. Later older kids--and teens--had a great time painting and printing blocks of ice.

 

 Just freeze blocks of ice in containers for several hours. Turn the containers upside down and run them under warm water for a few seconds. The ice block pops right out--and the fun & learning can begin!

While there is still so much snow, explore some its properties. Make a small snowball and ask--will it float or sink? Then try it. There were many surprised scientists at the library when we offered this activity for STEAM Friday. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math--every Fri. @ the library!)

Which takes up more space--snow or water--or are they the same? Make a prediction (your hypothesis) and then conduct the experiment. Fill two identical cups to the same level--one with water and one with snow. Once the snow has melted, what do you observe? Was your hypothesis correct? It doesn't matter--what matters is that you followed the Scientific Method--make a hypothesis, conduct the experiment, observe, draw a conclusion.

Have fun with The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats. This year is the 53rd anniversary of this sweet award winning classic for young children. We made snow tracks on dark paper using 'snow paint' we made. It just takes equal parts flour, salt, and water. Mix it together and then paint tracks in the snow like the ones in the book. When it dries, it glitters and really does look like snow! So easy--and a great measuring activity! Check out some more ideas to use with this fantastic book at Ready-Set-Read, http://www.ready-set-read.com/2013/01/the-snowy-day-book-activities.html

 When you explore science, math and the world all around, you are helping your child get ready to read. Studies show that the more your child knows about his world--and the more vocabulary he learns as a result, the more successful he or she will be when he begins to read!

It's Hard to Believe

It doesn't quite seem possible that the school year is almost over, does it? Today, I'm going to give you a slideshow recap of what the children have been doing at the library. It's been fun!

Great Artists

This month, our Saturday Craft Program was inspired by some of the great artists. We used artwork by Wassily Kadinksy, Jasper Johns, Henri Matisse, and Georges Seurat as our inspirations.

The children were given an example of the artwork, supplies and set loose to create their own masterpieces. At one point a child was heard asking, "That one was so much fun! Can I make another one?" Music to this librarian's ears!

Each child had his or her own take on the art and they all came out fabulously!

January Wrap Up

Time got away from us this month and I've been very bad about posting. Here's a quick glimpse of what happened at the library in January:

During Preschool Story Hour, our 4 and 5 year olds enjoyed some silly animal stories and songs. They then created animals of their own, using an oval for a base. This gave them an opportunity to practice several early literacy skills by drawing, talking about their pictures and  sometimes pretending by creating their own animals.

During our Swamp Party, the elementary school crowd heard stories from the swamp, hunted for swamp animals through the library and sampled some delicious swamp juice. Don't those "eggs" look tasty? And yes, there IS a fish swimming in that cup.

I was impressed that all the kids (except one with allergies to food coloring) tried the swamp juice. And all but one seemed to enjoy it.

During our Bubble Wrap Family Fun program, the children made sculptures from bubble wrap, used bubble wrap to make prints on paper and had a "popping" snack when they put Pop Rocks and sprinkles on their cookies.

One little guy got very into his art and decided to paint his arm instead of his bubble wrap. Could that have been the influence of this book:


  I Ain't Gonna Paint No More! by Karen Beaumont

We have lots happening in February, too!

In celebration of President's Day, we have presidential activities available every day.

In honor of Valentine's Day, we're invited children to make a valentine for the Library Lion.

And we have all our regular programs, as well.

This week:

Tuesday, Feb. 5 at 10:30am or 1:00pm, Preschool Story Hour for ages 4-5

Thursday, Feb. 7 at 4:30pm, Lego Mania for children in grades K-6.

Saturday, Feb. 9 from 10-12, Carnivale Crafting Fun for children of all ages.

This Week at the Cedar Lake Branch Library!

Thursday, September 13 @ 10:30am - Toddler Time for children ages 2-3 and their caregiver.

Join us for stories, songs, fingerplays and rhymes, a craft and more!

Saturday, September 15 @ 10am - Apple-licious Art for all children through 5th grade

Join us to make a variety of crafts, all with an apple theme. We'll have the craft room open from 10am to noon, so come when you can and stay until you've done all the crafts! Children must be accompanied by an adult, please!