indiana library federation district 1 conference handout

Tinker: Made in Chicago Indiana Library Federation District 1 Conference 2015

[email protected] http://tinkergroup.wordpress.com @TinkerGroup facebook.com/tinker.folks

Roller Coaster Marble Runs

Cost: Level of difficulty: Age group:

Size of group: 20 kids Program duration: 1 hour

Prep time: Low-Medium Staffing: 1-2 people

Equipment: Pipe insulation, cardboard boxes, duct tape, painters tape, marbles, and buckets

Precut all of the pipe insulation (purchased from Home Depot) to create tracks for the

marbles. The day of the program, use the painters tape to tape up tracks of pipe insu-

lation to a wall. Then set out cut-up cardboard boxes, buckets to catch the marbles at

the end of the coaster, duct tape to attach other tracks together, marbles, and what-

ever else you want the kids to have during the program. During the program, present

the kids with challenges: get your marble to roll down the track and over a hill, then a

loop, then a turn, and so on. At the beginning of the program, discuss the concept of

kinetic and potential energy. Be sure to give yourself a little time at the end of the pro-

gram to have the kids help you clean up!

—Alison Tseng, [email protected]

Paper Roller Coasters


Size of group: 12-15 kids Program duration: 1-2 hours

Prep time: Medium Staffing: 1-2 people

Equipment: Roller coaster template from paperrollercoasters.com, cardstock, Scotch tape, large foam board

(base for coaster), marbles, scissors. OR paper tubes, popsicle sticks, masking tape, marbles, large foam board,

scissors

There are two approaches to this program. First approach: purchase the

paper roller coaster templates from the website ($20), and print off tem-

plates on different colored cardstock (you won’t need as many copies of

each piece as instructions recommend). Then staff can precut or have kids

cut. If the kids are cutting, you need 2 hours. Kids work in groups of

3-6. Give them the jobs of cutting, taping, and engineering. Make sure you

leave them at least 30 minutes to assemble and test the coasters. Second approach: gather donations of pa-

per tubes of any size, and then use them with popsicle sticks and masking tape to make coasters. This ver-

sion takes less time. Both versions are great for drop-in or family programs, too.

—Renee Neumeier, [email protected]

https://www.facebook.com/tinker.folks



Scratch


Size of group: 10 kids, depending on number of computers Program duration: 2 hours

Prep time: Medium-High Staffing: 1-2 people

Equipment: Computers, screen, projector, Internet connection

Scratch is a digital media design program created by MIT Media Lab’s Lifelong Kinder-garten group. It’s often described as an introduction to computer programming. Users can make games, stories, videos, music, and more, by snapping together programming blocks. The latest version of Scratch runs in an Internet browser, and it is also available as a free download. Users can store and post their projects on the Scratch website, which has a social networking component. At Wilmette Public Library, two-hour pro-grams for grades 5-8 work best. Ideally, they’re run by one librarian and one tween/

teen volunteer. Usually, the class works on a librarian-created project as a group. Then participants work in-dependently to customize the project. Alternatively, everyone experiments on their own, helping each other when needed. —Janet Piehl, [email protected]

Further Resources

Scratch website: www.scratch.mit.edu

Tinker blog: Includes example projects. https://tinkergroup.wordpress.com/2014/04/16/scratch/

K’NEX Roller Coasters


Size of group: 10-15 kids Program duration: 1 hour Passive programming: Multiple hours

Prep time: Medium Staffing: 1 staff member

Equipment: 1 Roller Coaster K’NEX Kit

Incorporating physics and engineering into library programming is fun and engaging when designing roller coasters. It’s an opportunity to learn about the different types of motion and energy while allowing the kids to creatively make their own roller coaster. K’NEX Education offers a Roller Coaster Physics set with multiple roller coaster options. Dedicate one afternoon or evening for a “Build Night” to establish a beginning base for the K’NEX Kit and then have patrons work on it throughout the week.

**Helpful hint: Sort the types of parts before the program.

—Katie LaMantia, [email protected]

Further Resources

http://www.knex.com/shop/16772/roller-coaster-physics/


Scratch Jr


Size of group: 10 kids, depending on number of tablets Program duration: 1 hour

Prep time: Low Staffing: 1-2 staff members

Equipment: iPad or Android tablets, screen, projector

Scratch Jr is a great tool for kids who just can’t wait to get started learning computer programming. Kids in

roughly grades 1-3 can make simple interactive stories and games with this introductory programming lan-

guage. They snap together programming blocks to create action and movement. Working as a group, start

with one of the example projects included on the app. Then let kids use what they’ve learned to create their

own projects.

—Janet Piehl, [email protected]

Further Resources

Scratch Jr website: http://www.scratchjr.org/



Light-Up Art


Size of group: 12-15 kids Program duration: 1 hour-1.5 hours

Prep time: Low Staffing: 1-2 people

Equipment: LEDs, copper tape, CR2032 (coin) batteries, crayons, colored pencils, scissors, cardstock, thumb-

tacks, cardboard scraps, templates of 3D houses or pyramid lanterns, Scotch tape (Amazon.com)

K-Grade 2: Have kids color their own pictures or use a drawing sheet with the intention that LED lights will

be added to part of the picture. Explaining circuit basics at the beginning helps. Squishy Circuit kits or Little

Bits are great for introducing concepts.

Grades 3-5: Have kids draw their own pictures or cut out and decorate templates (houses, lanterns, pyra-

mids, etc.). Then have them add the copper tape, LEDs, and batteries. At the beginning,

make sure kids understand how circuits work.

Grades 6-12: Have kids draw their own pictures, cut out and decorate templates (houses,

lanterns, pyramids, etc.), or design their own piece to light up. Thumbtacks work great for

creating cool patterns on cardstock (use cardboard under cardstock) to then add the LEDs

to. Adding book pages or darker paper also makes cool effects on pieces.

—Renee Neumeier, [email protected]


Arduino


Size of group: 10 kids (1 kit and computer for 2 kids) Program duration: 1-1.5 hours

Prep time: High Staffing: 1-2 people

Equipment: Computers, Arduino kit (including LEDs, wires, resistors, etc.)

Before the program: Download free Arduino software from www.arduino.cc and Arduino codes to the com-

puters. Assemble the redboards and breadboards for each Arduino kit.

Take electronics one step further than LED cards and light-up art and create simple and complex circuits with

Arduino kits. Explain what circuits are and how electricity flows from the computer to redboard-breadboard

and at what voltage. Exercise 1: Blinking an LED. Attach the wires, LED, and resistors as seen in the guide-

book. Connect the Arduino to the computer via the USB cable and upload the pre-written code. Explain how

the electric current flows from the computer to the redboard, breadboard (with LED and resistor), and back

to form a current. Have the students change the placement of the wires or LED and subsequent code to un-

derstand the principles behind coding and electronics. Practice running through the various circuits and exer-

cises, increasing in difficulty.


Further resources: https://www.sparkfun.com/products/12060



LED Greeting Cards


Size of group: 10 kids Program duration: 30-45 minutes

Prep time: Low-medium Staffing: 1-2 people

Equipment: 3v 5mm LEDs, copper tape, cardstock, scissors, glue, markers, CR2032 batteries, book tape

Create simple circuits on homemade greeting cards to make them

extraordinary. Tape or glue the positive side of the LED (the long side

of the light, called an anode) with the positive side of the battery.

Tape the negative side of the battery with the shorter side of the

LED, called a cathode. Use copper tape as a conductor to extend

your circuit or to create an open switch, pull tab, or push feature to

connect the circuit entirely so the LEDs aren’t lit up the entire time.

Make sure everything is properly connected, and get creative!

**Helpful hint: Make sure the battery and LED work before taping or

gluing to the paper.






Size of group: 10 kids Program duration: 1 hour

Prep time: Low-Medium Staffing: 2 people

Equipment: iPads or cameras on tripods; flashlights, light-up toys, glow sticks, or string lights

Darken the room completely and photograph designs made with lights. To cap-

ture the traces left by the lights, lengthen the exposure time on a digital camera

mounted on a tripod. For even better results, use an app like LongExpo on an

iPad. You won’t need a tripod if you’re using this app. For light sources, use flash-

lights and toys from the dollar store. For added color, put a balloon over the end

of a flashlight. This project works well when kids work in pairs. The partner with

the light stands about ten feet away from the partner with the camera or iPad.

Light painting is really a big experiment in science, technology, and art, and it’s

fun to see how participants put their own spins on the project. —Janet Piehl, [email protected]

Further Resources: Wilmette Public Library’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/wilmettelibrary/

photos_albums

Light Painting

Contributors

Katie LaMantia

Teen Librarian

Schaumburg Township District Library

[email protected]

Renee Neumeier

Young Adult Librarian Supervisor

Evanston Public Library

[email protected]

Janet Piehl

Youth Services Librarian

Wilmette Public Library

[email protected]

Alison Tseng

Youth Services Technology Librarian

Algonquin Public Library District

[email protected]


https://www.facebook.com/wilmettelibrary/photos_albums

https://www.facebook.com/wilmettelibrary/photos_albums