Young Innovators at the Pawling Library

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Since 2010 the Pawling Library has been engaging young children in exciting and educational Science, Technology, Engineering, Art & Math programs (STEAM). Below are a list of the current programs we offer.

I can’t stress how important it is to be able to encourage and facilitate kids working and playing with Legos, computers, 3D Printers, and any other technology we can put in their hands. The history of technology is populated entirely by boys and girls who liked to take apart, rebuild, and play with circuits, radios, computers, and networks. These curious children grew up to be the innovators who created important breakthroughs like the ENIAC, Apple II, Microsoft Windows, the Internet, and the iPhone. Today’s tinkerers, hobbyists, and enthusiasts are tomorrow’s innovators, and we have to give them the opportunity to explore now if we want them to be able to build our future. Make no mistake, the kid creating figurines and toys with a 3D Printer now will be the technician 3D printing your new heart or liver in twenty years.

For more info or sign up for these programs, contact our Children’s Programmer, Ms. Karen or our Teen Programmer, Nicole Curcio.

Programs for Kids Grades K through 5

Books & Blocks and Brilliant, Brains & Blocks
Using Lego building materials that were donated by the community, we have developed two different programs, Books & Blocks for grades K – 2 and Brilliant Brains & Blocks for grades 3 – 4.  In our primary program, we build using concepts that are easy to understand and assemble like cars, trains, bridges and houses.  In our older program, we use the bricks to solve problems involving stability, friction, symmetry and center of gravity, where the students must build, test and redesign their creations for the best possible results.

Science Buddies
This spring, we expanded these STEAM services to our preschool families, by offering Science Buddies.  Using literature as a springboard, families with children ages 3 – 5 years learn science vocabulary and concepts.  This is followed by engaging children and their caregivers in hands-on science to provide experience with observing, predicting, recording and drawing conclusions while exploring the science concept presented in the story.

Programs for Kids Grades 5 and Up

Computer Programming Space
Teens learn HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and PHP, programming languages that form the foundation on which the internet is built. Building on these skills, we introduce kids to designing and manipulating web pages and blogs.

Minecraft Clubs
Minecraft is a sandbox construction game where players interact with the virtual world by placing and breaking various types of blocks in a three-dimensional environment. In this environment, players can build creative structures, creations, and artwork on multiplayer servers and single player worlds across multiple game modes. Kids playing Minecraft develop skills in math, 3D Design, cooperation, and collaboration. Our first club has since split into 3 clubs due to its overwhelming popularity, and one group is charged with researching elements of the game to bring back to the other clubs to play.

Teen Fashion Club
Our Teen Fashion Club allows the teens to experiment and explore different ways of making clothing and accessories.  The members have made everything from jewelry to dresses using donated fabric. They use both hand sewing and sewing machines to create their items.