Goessel Public Library – Page 2 – 101 S. Cedar, PO BOX 36, Goessel, KS 67053, 620-367-8440

After School Program STEAM

March 30, 2017April 1, 2017 by goeslib

Today’s After School Program STEAM Campers learned about circuits. Circuits need to be circular – they need to have a complete pathway for electrons to flow through. We needed to have conductive material (we used tin foil) to go from the power source to the light and then back again so the electrons can go out and come back. A battery gave the force to make the electrons move through our circuits. When the electrons got to the Christmas light, they gave it power to make it work. Our circuits also have a switch so that it could be turned on and off – we used brass brads. This weeks circuit was a series – which means all of the parts are connected on the same pathway one after another. Next week we will try parallel circuits.

STEM Camp —3D

March 23, 2017April 1, 2017 by goeslib

At STEM Camp #2 — 3D, we learned to use the Tinkercad program to print our initials and followed some of the tutorial on how to make a hole in a shape. Only one set of initials were printed today because it takes time.

In the next couple weeks, the items we made and some chosen from pre-made programs will be printed.

We received the 3D printer from a grant last fall – anyone can come in and use it for FREE!

STEM Camp – Circuits

March 23, 2017April 1, 2017 by goeslib

This camp was a blast! We used card board, tin foil, old Christmas lights, brass brads and batteries to make circuits. This was a lot of fun!

We started with just one light but then added on and on! The Snap Circuit kit was also a lot of fun!

The older girls learned to use the Makey Makey – Inventions Kit and the Squishy Circut Kit! Then they showed us what they learned.

It was pretty cool to see how the guitar worked! These kits will be available for check out at the library soon!

We applied for and received a grant for STEM tubs that will contain all kinds of kits and STEM materials. Circuits will be just one of the theme tubs that will be available! We received the 3D printer from a grant last fall – anyone can come in and use it for FREE!

Steam Camp – Water Beads #4

March 3, 2017March 3, 2017 by goeslib

Today was our last camp experimenting with water beads. We evaluated the beads that were dehydrated and the dehydrated diaper stuffing. Then we tasted some edible beads – tapioca. They pretty much don’t have a taste but they sure are sticky.

Dehydrated stuff from inside of a (clean) diaper

Completely dehydrated plain water (small beads down to original size) and salt water beads

For our last experiment, we looked at beads that were frozen at different times today. There wasn’t any discernible difference between the ones put in the freezer at 9:30 am or 12 :30 pm. The ones that were put in at 3:30 pm were frozen hard on the outside but not all the way through. These beads thawed really quickly. All the beads were damaged by freezing. They cracked and were broken.

Finally we got to take beads home as nightlights. The beads were put in water bottles with glow sticks. We tried to make it dark enough in the library to see them. They will probably look better at night.

Bottle lit up with a glow stick and water beads inside – can’t really get the library much darker during the daytime.

STEAM Camp – Water Beads #3

February 23, 2017February 24, 2017 by goeslib

Thurday, Feb 23, we experimented with the material inside of a diaper. It acts very similar to the water beads but the beads are much smaller.

Powder from inside the diaper on the left of the diaper. Hydrated powder on the right.

Looking at how the beads from different solutions are dehydrating, it looks like the beads in the Coke are dissolving and getting smaller. The Coke is not evaporating like the other liquids even though it was poured off just like the others. It also is growing mold and smells “yeasty”. The beads that were in the tonic water are sticky while the beads from the salt water are crusty with salt covering the outside.

The dehydrating experiment – clockwise from the left – broken large beads, plain water, tonic water, salt water, and Coke.

Then we experimented with the beads is shaving cream. This was a lot of fun! Smashing them resulted in what looked like different colors of jello in whip cream – BUT we didn’t eat it! That will be next week (eatable beads)!

Steam Camp – Water Beads #2

February 9, 2017March 3, 2017 by goeslib

Today at STEAM Camp we compared the hydration of the beads in different solutions; water, salt water, tonic water and Coke. We looked to see if our grass seed was growing – it looked like there were some tiny roots developing but it was hard to see with the green water. We will try this again with wheat seed. We worked together to sort the beads counting the different colors. The beads look really neat separated into their colors – we especially liked the different shades of blue.
Results: Large beads – water 2 inches, 2.7 oz; tonic water 1 inch, .7 oz; salt water 1/2 inch, .2 oz. Small beads (too light to weigh) – water 1 cm, tonic water 3/4 cm, salt water 1/2 cm, Coke 7/8 cm (just smaller than water).

Complete stress balls – just need to tie the knots.

Grass experiment – only the seeds that are on top of the water beads are growing now.

Weighing the beads from the different solutions

STEAM Camp- Water Beads #1

February 3, 2017March 3, 2017 by goeslib

Thursday was our first STEAM Camp here at the library. The kids walked over from the elementary school and then the fun began!

This month we are doing experiments and activities with water beads.

First we evaluated whether there were differences in size depending on when water was added to the beads and whether that water was hot or cold. And yes there definitely was difference in size in respect to time but there wasn’t a difference whether the water was cold or warm.

Next we put water bead in balloons and filled them with water. These will make exercise or stress balls when the water beads are hydrated. We discovered that 1/4 tsp. is way too many beads to add – 1/8 tsp. is optimal.

Then we put grass seed in the water with the water beads. Sadly, the grass was dyed so the water color was changed to green! This could make it difficult to see the roots grown. So we will redo this experiment with wheat seed.

Finally, we were free to experience the water beads on our own. They bounce really well, are a lot of fun to smash and are really neat to look at with a flashlight beam shining through! Some of the water beads are jumbo sized!

The Dropbox

December 30, 2016 by goeslib

It is great having a drop box for patrons to use at any hour on any day! EXCEPT….

Except … when it is used when we are open…. and we have already checked the box … IF we hear it drop, then we MAY check it again… and again…. and again… Or a patron complains about fines because they know they returned it on time … and maybe we didn’t check the box (for the thousandth time) …

Except … when patrons include fine money with their books…and the money or envelope ends up separated from whatever item had the fine… and there is no way to tell to whose account it belongs…. or it slips into the bin never to be seen again….

Except …. when patrons have discovered that they didn’t include the dvd with the cover and drop it in the box .. sometimes using a ziplock…

Except … when kids use it as a trash bin…

Our new Christmas treetop star

December 20, 2016December 20, 2016 by goeslib

Tonight I used the 3D printer to make a star for the Christmas tree.

First, I used a preprogramed star shape and placed a cone into the base. Then changed the settings to make the cone a hole so that it could be placed easily on the treetop.