Events for December 5 - February 20

Watch Recorded Webinar View Presentation Slides Lights On Afterschool: Join the Nationwide Celebration! Does your library offer afterschool programming? Interested in working more closely with afterschool programs and other youth-serving organizations? Join the Afterschool Alliance to learn more about Lights On Afterschool, the nationwide celebration of afterschool programs and their important role in the lives of children, families and communities. The event has become a hallmark of the afterschool field, every year generating significant media coverage across the country and sending a powerful message that millions more kids need quality afterschool programs. In this webinar, we’ll also talk about [...]

Watch Recorded Webinar STAR Net Resources for your Library Join Anne Holland (Community Engagement Manager at the Space Science Institute) for a “Grand Opening” of the two new websites. You’ll receive a tour of the new features and resources (available at www.starnetlibraries.org and www.clearinghouse.starnetlibraries.org) as well as have an opportunity to suggest new features and content. You’ll also receive information on how to register your library for the 2017 Solar Eclipse, and get some free swag!

Watch Recorded Webinar View Presentation Slides Is Your Library Ready for the Astronomical Event of the Decade? On August 21, 2017, we will be treated to the first total eclipse of the Sun visible in the continental U.S. in almost 40 years. The spectacular total eclipse will only be visible in a narrow band about 60 miles across, stretching diagonally across the country from a beach in Oregon to a beach in South Carolina. However, everyone in North America will see a partial solar eclipse, where a big “bite” will be taken out of the Sun. This will be the [...]

Watch Recorded Webinar View Presentation Slides Dream Big to Build a Better World Engineers use their skills to solve problems and make the world a better place. Join Jeannine Finton from the American Society of Civil Engineers as she shares a variety of hands-on engineering resources, activities, presentation tips and techniques designed to make engineering fun for all ages. Find out how to connect with local engineers who may be able to assist with a program.

Watch Recorded Webinar View Presentation Slides Eclipse 2017: The Outreach Event of the Decade Join us for exciting updates to our last eclipse webinar in October. This webinar will repeat some of the information provided previously, plus offer eclipse programming and partner suggestions. In addition, you will learn more about the enhanced opportunities to participate made available by our new Moore Foundation funding.

Watch Recorded Webinar View Presentation Slides Girls STEAM Ahead with NASA NASA’s Universe of Learning astronomy education program is celebrating National Women’s History Month with the Girls STEAM Ahead with NASA project, which partners libraries with NASA scientists and educators to empower girls and their families in STEM! During the webinar, we will introduce Girls STEAM Ahead with NASA, discuss how to build girl-engagement into your programming, and demonstrate hands-on coding activity that uses real astronomical observations in the ways real astronomers do. We’ll also connect you to a suite of support materials, such as exhibits, activities, and even some posters inspired [...]

Watch Recorded Webinar Playful Building Librarians, camp programmers, and other out-of-school time facilitators are invited to join STAR_Net and the Lunar and Planetary Institute for two free professional development webinars on the Playful Building activities. Watch one or both webinars and receive connection information & directions to help you better participate in the activities during the webinar(s). Playful Building: Simple Machines This 30 minute webinar will model Team Machine, Water Wedges, and Levers at Play, as examples of simple machines that the children can plan, design, test, and revise. Elements of the engineering design process will be explored in each. Playful [...]

Watch Recorded Webinar View Presentation Slides Celebrate Earth Day with NASA’s GLOBE Observer Learn how your library can celebrate our planet on Earth Day and beyond through NASA’s GLOBE Observer (GO) citizen science project.  Library patrons can contribute to NASA Earth science by downloading the free GO app, observing the sky, and contributing their observations to this international program.  GO cloud observations are helping NASA scientists understand clouds from below (the ground) and above (from space). Clouds play an important role in transferring energy from the Sun to different parts of the Earth system. Because clouds can change rapidly, scientists need [...]

Watch Recorded Webinar Earth Science for a Better World Librarians, camp programmers, and other out-of-school time facilitators are invited to join STAR_Net and the Lunar and Planetary Institute for two free professional development webinars on the STAR_Net Earth science activities. Earth Science for a Better World, Part 1 Looking for fun activities related to your local environment? This 30-minute session will model and include discussions of these activities: Fastest Dresser (http://clearinghouse.starnetlibraries.org/collections/DiscoverEarth/FastestDresser.pdf) Race to dress in clothing and gear appropriate for a specific type of weather. Nurturing Life (http://clearinghouse.starnetlibraries.org/collections/DiscoverEarth/NurturingLife.pdf) Explore what living things need to survive and thrive by creating and caring for a garden. Recipe for [...]

Watch Recorded Webinar View Presentation Slides Crowd-Pleasing Hands-on Activities for Your Eclipse Programs Learn how to facilitate activities that will have your patrons asking, “Really!?!,” and exclaiming “That’s so cool!” Sun Cookies are a sure crowd-pleaser — watch this webinar to see how these tasty treats can help young learners explore the Sun. Engage both youth and adults in out-of-this-world explorations of how our small Moon can eclipse the huge Sun. Experiment with integrating technology into your eclipse programs using online games as well as equipment you may already have on hand.