Archives for STEAM activities

Summer STEAM Events

Please join us at the Library this summer for two fun STEAM activities for grades 1-6 in The Trove. On Wednesday July, 12th we will be kicking off our Summer STEAM programs by learning how to create bubbles. After we make our bubbles we will use pipe cleaners and beads to create a bubble wand so that we can test our STEAM experiment. The Library will provide the following materials for our bubbles & bubble wands. Four cups of warm water Half a cup of dish soap Half a cup of sugar Bowl Spoon Beads pipe cleaners Our second STEAM
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Categories: Events, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.

Igloo VR Programs (April-May)

Attention all patrons! Get ready for a journey like no other as the Library invites you to explore new and exciting virtual experiences with our newly installed panoramic video room, the “Optimum Technology Room,” which uses technology installed by Igloo Vision. Thanks to the support of Optimum and the White Plains Library Foundation, we are now able to bring you 360 virtual reality content without the need for a headset. You'll be able to experience 360 videos, interactive immersive apps, 360 slideshows and more, all projected onto three walls in the room. Igloo Virtual Tour – Venice: Thursday, April 6,
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Categories: Library News.

Why STEAM is Important

In our busy world, more often than not, we turn to technology to entertain our children. Are you looking for ways to get your kids off their devices and involve them in different activities? Welcome to the world of STEAM education. STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) education is a great way to help your child make discoveries, ask questions, and solve problems! During the holiday break, White Plains Public Library held a STEAM week for grades 6-12, where kids could drop in to do STEAM activities. The last day, the activity was Paper Airplanes. While STEAM activities are
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Categories: Featured, Homepage Kids, Homepage Teens, Kids, Library News, and Teens.

Dragons & the Ice Sorceress

Talewise presents: Dragons & the Ice Sorceress Saturday, January 21 at 1:00 p.m. PreK – Grade 5 Library Auditorium Join Talewise on a quest to discover the ‘coolest’ thing in science: DRY ICE!  Volunteers from the audience will help conduct several science experiments as we explore the wondrous effects of dry ice! The science experiments are tied together by a fun, interactive tale called “Dragons & The Ice Sorceress.” The entire audience will help the performer tell the story — you’ll even get to decide what happens next! Don’t miss this one-of-a-kind learning adventure featuring stories and the science of
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Categories: Events, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.

STEAMy Summer Days for Gr. 6-12, M-Th through 8/4

Attend one or all of our STEAM activities for grades 6-12 this summer! No registration is required, pop-in anytime during the program to participate.  See below for each week's activities. July 25-28, 1:00-4:00 pm: Coding Using p5.js, with Yiping Dong Day 1: Do an instructional drawing (making a image a partner described) Day 2: Make a fun random face generator Day 3: Make a clock or something creative with the time reading functions Day 4: Make a pong game August 1-4, 1:00-4:00 pm, 3D Design & Printing Projects with Elijah Lederman Day 1: Keychain/Jewelry Design Day 2: Dream House Design
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Categories: Library News.

STEAM Activity: Butterfly Life Cycle

Summer is a wonderful time to learn about insects such as butterflies. This STEAM project will engage young patrons in learning about the stages of a butterfly, which include eggs, caterpillar, chrysalis, and butterfly. This is a great opportunity for children to engage in creating a life cycle craft. You can also use the websites and books provided below to learn more about the life cycle of a butterfly. Materials Paper plates Green construction paper/marker (to create a leaf) small white cotton balls (to create the eggs) Green and yellow pipe cleaners (to create a caterpillar) Brown pipe cleaners or
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Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.

Navigating by the Stars

From April 1st through June 30th, the Harriet Tubman – Journey to Freedom sculpture by Wesley Wofford will be on display in Renaissance Plaza in downtown White Plains. In conjunction with this historic visit by the sculpture, the Library and many other community partners organized events related to Harriet Tubman, the Underground Railroad, and more. Find the full listing of the community-wide programs and events here. Navigating by the Stars Tuesday, May 17th, 6:00 p.m. (virtual) Grades 4+, Teens, Adults Have you ever wondered how ancient people told time? Or traveled from point A to point B without a smartphone
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Categories: Events and Library News.

Harriet Tubman Grab & Go Kit

To celebrate Harriet Tubman’s statue coming to White Plains we have a special Grab & Go kit for teens! We have a coloring page showing Harriet Tubman’s fierce determination in leading enslaved people to freedom using the north star, Polaris. This kit comes with materials to light up her lantern and Polaris with LED lights. Students will use copper tape, batteries and LEDs to create an electrical circuit that will light up this coloring page. These kits will be available starting Monday, May 16th as Grab & Go kits you can pick up in the lobby of the Library and
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Categories: Library News.

Harriet Tubman: Journey to Freedom Programs and Events

From April 1st through June 30th, the Harriet Tubman – Journey to Freedom sculpture by Wesley Wofford will be on display in Renaissance Plaza in downtown White Plains. In conjunction with this historic visit by the sculpture, the Library and many other community partners are organizing events related to Harriet Tubman, the Underground Railroad, and more, throughout April, May, and June. Below, you will find a listing of the Library’s events in conjunction with the statue’s visit to White Plains. Get the Zoom link for each virtual program by clicking on that program’s date and time. Find the full listing
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Categories: Library News.

Black History Month STEAM Program

For Black History Month, we’re hosting a STEAM program that will include a LEGO Grab & Go kit. First, we’ll read about African American leaders in space exploration. Then we’ll learn about the constellations that helped with navigation on the underground railroad, and use LEGO pieces to create the Big Dipper. Join us on Tuesday, February 22nd at 4:00 p.m. Supplies are limited, so register through our online calendar here. Suggested Reads: Ada Twist, Scientist by Andrea Beaty Library Catalog Ada had a lot of questions about the world around her. She asked her parents so many questions and they
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Categories: Authors & Books, Events, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.

3D Printing and Design Class

During the February Winter school break, Librarian Erik Carlson will be teaching a class on 3D printing and design for students in grades 4-6. We start on Tuesday, February 22nd and meet everyday until Friday, February 25th, from 1:00-3:00 p.m. You must be able to attend all of the sessions otherwise you will miss some important info. We will be learning to use three different 3D design software programs (CAD and Mesh). You can create free accounts for all of these, just follow the links: TinkCad SculptGL (no account needed) OnShape Education Each day will have a new lesson and
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Categories: Events, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.

Pop Art Workshop with Michael Albert

Join us on Thursday, February 24th at 4:00 p.m. to create some awesome collages with local artist Michael Albert. Albert’s use of recycling in art is truly inspirational, and we’re excited to look at the contents of our recycling bins in a new light during this program. We’re putting together kits that include a canvas, scraps of construction paper, old magazines and various cardboard pieces. You’re welcome to gather any art supplies or recycling from around the house to use during the program as well. This program is intended for grades 4 through 8. Supplies are limited so make sure
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Categories: Events, Featured, Homepage Kids, Homepage Teens, Kids, Library News, and Teens.

Halloween STEAM

Halloween is a wonderful time to learn about ghoulish goblins, bob for apples, visit Sleepy Hollow, and go trick-or-treating. However, if some of these activities aren’t an option, there are still plenty of fun things to do virtually to satisfy your need for creepy crawlies and menacing mummies! The Library will be hosting two fun and spooky STEAM projects: one for grades 1-6 and one for grades 4-8. Twelve kits will be available for each age group and patrons can register online through the library calendar to pick up their kits. Both kits will include items needed for the program,
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Categories: Authors & Books, Events, Featured, Homepage Kids, Homepage Teens, Kids, Library News, and Teens.

Summer STEAM: Beaded Bubble Wand

After the Summer Solstice on Sunday, June 20th, summer is officially underway! We’re celebrating with a summer-themed Grab & Go STEAM kit, available to pick up on July 26th. The kits will contain beads and a pipe cleaner. This is a fun and easy craft that can be done indoors or outdoors. You can make the design above or use these instructions to create your own unique craft. Whether you love to blow bubbles, want to work on a creative craft or just want to unplug, this is a fun activity for the entire family. For an enriched STEAM activity
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Categories: Library News.

TaleWise: The Mummy at Mystery Mansion

TaleWise presents: The Mummy at Mystery Mansion Tuesday, June 15, 3:30 p.m. Grades K-8 Access the program here. Note: a free registered Zoom account is required to access the Library’s youth programs. Get a Zoom account here. Frankie and Casey visit their uncle for his annual costume party, only to find out that a creepy mummy has been scaring everyone away! Some say the house is haunted, but Frankie and Casey have a different idea. Join them on their adventure to unravel the mystery of the mummy! Along the way, you’ll explore some spooky and exciting science concepts about blackouts,
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Categories: Events, Featured, Homepage Kids, and Kids.

TaleWise presents: Dragons: Return of the Ice Sorceress

TaleWise presents: Dragons: Return of the Ice Sorceress Tuesday, May 18, 3:30 p.m. Grades K-8 Access the program here. Note: a free registered Zoom account is required to access the Library’s youth programs. Get a Zoom account here. A long time ago, in a faraway world, two brave villagers go on a daring journey to save the kingdom from the evil Ice Sorceress. When things don’t go as planned, however, they need to look to themselves (and to science!) for the answer. Don’t miss this fun fantasy adventure exploring the science of dry ice! Check out a trailer for the
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Categories: Library News.

On-Demand TaleWise April Show

Did you miss the STEAM-azing show, Earth Day: Revenge of the Toxic Robot, presented by TaleWise on April 22, or perhaps you want to watch it again? You can view the show, for free, on-demand, through August 31, 2021! In addition to the stream of the show, you will have access to educational resources, experiments and STEAM activities related to the program! Here’s how to access the on-demand show: Visit Earth Day: Revenge of the Toxic Robot. Create a new, free, TaleWise account or sign in with Google, Facebook or an existing TaleWise account. TaleWise respects your privacy and will
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Categories: Library News.

TaleWise: Revenge of the Toxic Robot

Talewise presents: Earth Day: Revenge of the Toxic Robot Thursday, April 22, 3:30 p.m. Grades K-8 Access the program here. Note: a free registered Zoom account is required to access the Library’s youth programs. Get a Zoom account here. When the town’s park is suddenly gated and locked, a group of friends decides to investigate. Their adventure leads them deep into the woods, where they are chased away by an eccentric robot powered by toxic sludge! Join the gang on their quest to clean up the act of a despicable polluter and save their park from being destroyed. Along the
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Categories: Library News.

STEAM at Home: Phases of the Moon

Join us on May 25th, at 4:00 p.m. for this Phases of the Moon event. After we read Mae Among the Stars by Roda Ahmed, we will work together to create a “phases of the moon” STEAM craft. Supplies are limited, so  please register here. Please be sure to include an EMAIL ADDRESS or PHONE NUMBER in your registration in order to be contacted to pick up your Kit for participation in the program. Our Grab & Go kits will include a paper plate, a template of the phases of the moon, and black and white construction paper. If you
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Categories: Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.

Black History Month Events

This February we're celebrating Black History Month with a variety of events for all ages. Below is a chronological list of events and various resources and reading lists. To see a full list of our February events, please check our online calendar. Through February 28th Film Screening: Black Ballerina Black Ballerina is a story of passion, opportunity, heartbreak and triumph of the human spirit. Set in the overwhelmingly white world of classical dance, it tells the stories of several black women from different generations who fell in love with ballet. Sixty years ago, while pursuing their dreams of careers in
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Categories: Library News.