Monday, October 12, 2015

Creating and Building in the Library

This year is off to a great start. Our kids are loving the library, especially the opportunity to build, create and use their imagination. We have embraced a Maker Space mentality this year and are trying to give the kids multiple opportunities to problem solve and create in the library. Our Kindergarten classes have enjoyed using all of the hands on activities that are in the library this year including Legos and other types of blocks. The students have really enjoyed sharing ideas about what they have built. Some of their stories amaze me, they add so much detail!



We have also started implementing Maker Mondays in the library.  Every Monday afternoon is set aside for Science related Maker Lessons.  Each of them have been challenged based.  The lesson is introduced as a Challenge and then the kids have to use knowledge of what they are learning in Science in order to solve the challenge and to reflect on what they did during the challenge.  

Can you Blow up a Balloon with Pop Rocks? 

This lesson was completed with 4th and 5th grade.  We discussed the states of matter and what would need to happen to cause a balloon connected to a bottle of soda to inflate.  Students made some great hypotheses and then had to reflect on why they hypothesized incorrectly or correctly.  They had a great time reviewing the states of matter and it was also great fun to use pop rocks and soda.   





Can you Create a Boat that Floats? 

With second and third grade classes, we explored the idea of sinking and floating as well as what makes some items sink while others float.  Students were then given materials including popsicle sticks, a paper bag, paper plate and tape and asked to build a boat that would float.  They worked diligently and some of their creations floated while other sunk.  







Thursday, September 3, 2015

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library

As a kid, I was always intrigued with the movie Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.  I loved the idea of Willy Wonka inviting kids into his Chocolate Factory.  I felt like I was on the adventure with them.  In Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library, Luigi Lemoncello is a millionaire toy-maker who has designed a brand new library.  This library is like no other.  It has an IMAX theater, holograms that can be used to research and electronic learning centers.  It's the library that I truly dream of.  For the grand opening of the library, Mr. Lemoncello chooses kids from the town to play a game in which they have to escape from the library.  Will they get out before morning?  What happens if they don't?  Do they all play fair?  If you love puzzles, libraries and adventure, be sure to check this book out!