STEAM: Science / Technology / Engineering / Art / Math
To kick off our series of activity ideas for STEAM in Libraries, we begin at the beginning of the word: S for Science!
Science is a broad word that can have a lot of different connotations. In its essence, science is just the method by which things are studied: scientifically! Science can encompass nearly the rest of the STEAM acronym in and of itself, so it might be prudent when discussing science activities in a library setting to go deeper into what the scientific method is and how it's used.
Therefore, a science activity could be just about anything! Experimenting, building, and analyzing: these are the things to touch on in any science-related activity. Below are some links and ideas for science activities at the library, broken down by age group.
Young Children (Ages 2-5)
This lava lamp experiment is a fun, colorful way to get kids talking about how different substances work with each other. It also uses very few materials and is super affordable! Perfect for a public library activity time!
Elementary-Aged Children (6-12)
Expanding on the idea of learning about chemical reactions, this candy-filled balloon experiment is sure to be a hit! Using balloons, candy, and soda, students can see in real (delicious) time how substances react.
Teens (13-18)
Another easy but more advanced activity for older kids will teach them all about osmosis! The "naked egg" experiment could be a great way to subsidize high school students' biology and chemistry classes, using only a few simple ingredients.
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