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STAR_Net Discover Exhibits
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What Librarians
Are Saying…
I was really grateful to see that [STAR_Net Activities] were such a robust, well thought out, nicely designed curriculum. It’s truly discovery-based. This curriculum is very hands-on and it’s very inexpensive. The project has been fantastic.
Having hands-on things in the library is the way things are moving and need to move, and will happen more and more. Having that opportunity to interact and play with something and investigate something new, I think really gives the books more meaning.
Providing the Discover Earth exhibit to the community has widened our staff and patrons’ definition of what a library can and should be.
Read Our Latest Blogs
Aliens, Astronauts and Asteroids! Bringing Space Exploration to your Library
The Lafayette Library & Learning Center, part of Contra Costa County Public, is an innovative model for libraries. Home of the Glenn Seaborg Learning Consortium, this partnership is comprised of distinguished educational and cultural resources, leading to a wealth of STEM programming, including the future of space exploration. This poster session features the “Mission: Mars” program including activities culminating in a visit from Dr. Pascal Lee, Chairman of the Mars Institute, author of “Mission: Mars.” Children participated in varied learning activities: Mars fact-finding, astronaut training, telescope viewing, “Gravity” presented by Lawrence Hall of Science, and a presentation by NASA scientist Dr. Race discussing the search for life, followed by a “Make a Martian” challenge based on atmospheric conditions on Mars. Children wrote essays detailing why they would be the best candidate for future missions to Mars, with responses judged by NASA scientists. Participants received prizes and completion certificates. Program sponsors included NASA, SETI Institute, Mars Institute, Chabot Space & Science Center and Lawrence Hall of Science. The display focuses on visually providing ideas for libraries to adapt for their own Space Science programming. It includes “Mission: Mars” promotional materials, the program’s “Training Manual,” and event photographs. This poster session was presented at the ALA Conference in SF and is a scheduled program for the upcoming CLA Conference.
Tiny Terrariums
Kenton County Public Library recently held a program called Tiny Terrariums at the Erlanger Branch, and it was very well-attended! Students
DIY Giant Bubbles
The last weeks of summer are a great time to take science outside. At Skokie Public Library, we featured giant bubbles
FEATURED ARTICLE
Little Makers: Dinosaur Dig!
In this session we got to be paleontologists and explore the concepts of dinosaurs and fossils.
Prep Before the Program: There is about 1-2 hours worth of prep to do before this program. I used the following recipe to make the dinosaur fossils for excavation, prior to the program, so they would be hard enough to chip away at.
During the Program: We started out by reading Bones, Bones, Dinosaur Bones by Byron Barton. We learned that a paleontologist is a scientist who studies fossils, and that fossils are the rock-like remains of ancient animals and plants. Then we read parts of Fossils (Science Matters) by Megan Lappi. We looked at pictures of real fossils and did some guessing about how old they were. Our first activity was to act as paleontologists and excavate our buried dinos.
Make A Difference
STAR_Net is seeking support from foundations, corporations, professional associations, and individuals to expand the reach of this innovative STEM program to every community in the nation.
