STEM programs for Early Learners and School age Learners

Amanda Roberson-- Coordinator- Children and Teen Services

STEM Kits• LEAP: Science is Fun! Program that was

launched in 2007 by Harford County Library, targeted toward third to eighth grade children.

• Little Leapers, pre- and early-literacy kits that focus on fostering and developing pre- and early literacy skills through STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) topics. Targeted for children ages birth to 5 years.

• Little Leapers 3.5 is geared to children ages 3 to 5 using iPad minis and apps to engage young minds in STREAM topics, and to familiarize children with digital devices before they enter school.

LEAP kits are boxed sets that include science equipment and/or

specimens along with supplementary materials including books, DVDs,

posters, and other materials that create a

complete learning package.

LEAP kits cover topics ranging from

Astronomy through Zoology. A complete

listing of the titles can be found on the HCPL

website: http://hcplonline.org/programs/leap/

.

How much do kits cost?

• Kits range in price from under $100 to over $400.

• The science equipment in LEAP kits is most often purchased from vendors who supply school science teachers. Like libraries, school teachers want durable items that can be used repeatedly, versus the toy market that expects a single child/family to use an item once or twice.

Funding?• LSTA Grant• Library

Foundation Sponsorship

Circulation

How long do they checkout?

LEAP kits can be checked out for a week at a time. We charge $2.00 per day as an overdue fee, which

is consistent with our overdue fees for DVDs and

other special items.

What happens when something is missing?

Our experience is that very few items actually go missing. The most likely pieces to go missing are small pegs or connectors. These items are easy to replace and if a kit is returned without one one or two small

pieces we will generally decide not to charge replacement fees. If larger pieces are missing when a kit is returned we will call the last borrower to see if the items

can be recovered. If they can’t be located then the borrower is charged the

replacement cost of the item plus a processing fee.

LEAP Programs• School-year programs revolved around

themes. Eight themes were selected (Electricity, Chemistry, Earth Science, Medicine, Invention, Zoology, Archeology, Codes).

• Summer Programs involved non-traditional science programs: “Silly Science Toys,” July was “Sharks,” and August “The Science Show” which featured music, juggling, and illusion as ways to understand science.

• “The Future is Mine! Fair” was a Science and Technology Career Day held on March 7, 2009. Nine exhibitors and five presenters provided an overview of science and technology careers ranging from veterinary assistant to Ph.D microbiologist

Little Leaper kits are boxed sets developed to excite the library’s youngest customers

about science and math that contain a mixture of fiction and non fiction books, ‐

toys, music CDs, science tools, and science specimens. Each kit has an early literacy

focus, and we have based activities on the five literacy practices from Every Child

Ready to Read: talking; singing; reading;playing and talking.

There are currently ten Little Leaper themes. The kits have the following titles:• All About Me – a young child begins exploring

her world as soon as she is born and the• closest thing to explore is herself and her

immediate world. • Baby Animals – babies and toddlers can relate

to baby animals and their families.• Colors, Shapes, and Numbers the ‐

fundamentals of mathematical literacy• My Senses – Observation is at the heart of

science through touching, seeing, tasting,• hearing, and smelling. • I am an Architect – children are natural

builders and planners• I am a Botanist – a good chance to compare

and contrast as you study plants• I am a Chemist – discover answers to “What

if…?”• I am an Entomologist – all children are

fascinated by bugs • I am a Marine Biologist – introduction to wide

variety of marine life• I am a Paleontologist – dinosaurs!

Cost and Materials

Kits may range from $200 to $300 depending on the contents of each kit. HCPL was fortunate to receive private funding to cover the cost of the materials and the plastic containers

Where can I purchase the equipment?We have included a list of the vendors that we used for this project. Each toy must meet the government’s CPSIA regulations before it is even purchased. The CPSIA compliance certificate is then kept on file at administrative headquarters.

Do the kits contain consumables that need to be replaced?Batteries are included in some kits, for things like flashlights and sound puzzles. None of theother materials are considered consumable; however, items may need to be replaced due to wear and tear, or the need for updated materials or lists of books.

Circulation

How long do they circulate on a patron’s library card?

They can be checked out for a week at a time and renewed for another week, as long as there are no hold requests. There is a $2.00 per day overdue fee which is consistent with HCPL’soverdue fees for special items.

What happens when something is missing?

Staff may contact the previous borrower to determine the situation. The borrower may be asked to look for the missing item, and if it cannot be found or is damaged, may be charged a replacement cost.

Funding

We are fortunate to have received funding for this

project from our title sponsor Celebree Learning

Centers and several supporting sponsors

including SAIC, M&T Bank, and Hart to Heart

Ambulance.

Richard Huffman, CEO of Celebree and the title sponsor of the Little Leapers program, has been a longtime supporter of Harford County Public Library and values how the

Library and Celebree complement the work each does with early childhood education and literacy. “Celebree focuses on early

childhood education and Harford County Public Library reinforces our work with solid,

age-appropriate programs for young children,” stated Huffman of Celebree. “Little Leapers is a great way for us to partner with an organization that offers so many fun, yet educational, programs for young people in our community.” Supporting sponsors of

Little Leapers include SAIC, M&T Bank and Hart to Heart Transportation.

Growth

• Adding additional kits• Expansion to Kits for 1st,

2nd and 3rd Grade• Adding additional

branches

• Little Leapers 3.5 is geared to children ages 3 to 5 using iPad minis and apps to engage young minds in STREAM topics, and to familiarize children with digital devices before they enter school.

Little Leapers 3.5 gives children and caregivers the opportunity to engage together in imaginative apps, learn

“swipe” technology, and hone critical digital literacy skills. Parents and

caregivers will also receive assistance and learn techniques to help their

children enhance creativity skills and to explore tablet technology.

The Launch• iPad Minis in the

branches and book mobile

• Programming• App List- http://

hcplonline.org/downloads/FunApps.pdf

• App of the Month- Facebook and Website

http://www.wbaltv.com/news/library-ipads-help-kids-bridge-digital-literacy-divide/24817814

Funding

• The Morris A. Mechanic Foundation donated $10,000 toward the project, which includes purchase of the iPad minis, apps, and tables and chairs used in the Children’s departments.

• The project total is estimated at $24,000 and also includes funding from the Harford County Public Library Foundation and the Harford County Public Library.

Success!

2013 2014

Expansion

• Little Leapers 3.5 Digital Camp– Class 1: Parts of a Computer

and the Mouse– Class 2: Typing and Emailing– Class 3: Searching and

Browsing– Class 4:Ebooks for PCs and

Tablets– Class 5: Using a Tablet for

Digital Photography, Photo Editing and Story telling

– Class 6: Tablet Skills and Apps

• Adding 4 more branches

• New App List• Fred Rogers Institute

and Little eLit Digital Literacy Symposium, Sponsored by Comcast: Welcome to the Digital Neighborhood

Questions?

Amanda RobersonCoordinator- Children and Teen Servicesroberson@hcplonline.orgwww.hcplonline.org410-273-5601 ext 2230