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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Hi! Below is a great article from ALA’s Association for Library Services to Children about low-maintenance science activity tables for libraries. Summer is
 almost half over and everything may be going great so you’re looking for easy science programs to do throughout the year or things may not be working out like you planned so you’re looking for ways to improve your program quick. Here is an idea with a link
 to resources.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Don’t forget your CSLP summer reading manual also has lots of ideas you can use all year round, which you can check out from the State Library if it got lost
 in the chaos: <a href="http://osl-lis.blogspot.com/2010/12/past-cslp-summer-reading-manuals-books.html">
http://osl-lis.blogspot.com/2010/12/past-cslp-summer-reading-manuals-books.html</a>
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Pinterest can be a great resources too:
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2"><![if !supportLists]><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Symbol;color:#1F497D"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">        
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Science program ideas for kids:
<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=fizz%20boom%20read">http://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=fizz%20boom%20read</a>
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2"><![if !supportLists]><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Symbol;color:#1F497D"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">        
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Science program ideas for teens:
<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=spark%20a%20reaction&rs=ac&len=7">
http://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=spark%20a%20reaction&rs=ac&len=7</a> <o:p>
</o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Enjoy,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Katie
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black">Katie Anderson, Library Development Services<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black">* Youth Services Consultant * Oregon Center for the Book Coordinator *<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black">Oregon State Library, 250 Winter St. NE, Salem, OR 97301<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black"><a href="mailto:katie.anderson@state.or.us">katie.anderson@state.or.us</a>, 503-378-2528<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black"><img border="0" width="110" height="86" id="Picture_x0020_3" src="cid:image002.jpg@01CF9CF8.F22CABB0" alt="Fizz Boom Read"><img border="0" width="69" height="90" id="Picture_x0020_2" src="cid:image004.jpg@01CF9CF8.F22CABB0" alt="Girlandcloud"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Summer Reading 2014 at</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">
</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><a href="http://libdir.osl.state.or.us/">Oregon libraries</a></span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Find a</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">
</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><a href="http://www.summerfoodoregon.org/">summer food site</a></span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<a name="1"></a><a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AlscBlog/~3/GOEUzJl60bE/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#000099;text-decoration:none">The Science Explorer Table</span></b></a><span style="font-size:14.0pt">
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<span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:#555555">Posted: 08 Jul 2014 09:01 PM PDT<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p style="line-height:140%"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black">A couple of years ago, we introduced a make-and-take craft table in our Children’s Room. The table sits right by our Reference Desk so that
 it’s easy for staff to keep an eye on it and refill supplies as needed. We found, however, that our craft table did not work so well during the summer months. To accommodate the increased traffic at our Reference Desk, we moved the table a few feet away and
 we found we were refilling supplies constantly, which was a big pain.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height:140%"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black">So this year, we debuted our Science Explorers Table. Instead of a craft, we’ve put out various science-related activities for children to
 explore while they visit the Children’s Room. It’s been a hit! The table is very frequently used and provides a learning experience as well as entertainment for kids.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div id="attachment_9046">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:140%"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black"><a href="http://www.alsc.ala.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/photo-2.jpg"><b><span style="color:#000099;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="300" height="183" id="_x0000_i1026" src="http://www.alsc.ala.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/photo-2-300x183.jpg" alt="Science Explorer Table at the NAFC Library. Photo by Abby Johnson."></span></b></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="line-height:140%"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black">Science Explorer Table at the NAFC Library. Photo by Abby Johnson.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p style="line-height:140%"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black">The table is self-directed, and signage lets parents know that materials stay on the table for the next child to use. We may include some questions
 or guidance as to how to use the materials, but kids also have fun picking things up and exploring on their own. We switch out the activities every couple of weeks to keep things fresh. The table also provides some space to set out leftover program handouts
 (all relevant since we’re doing so much science programming this summer!).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height:140%"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black">We purchased several of the Can Do! science sets from Lakeshore Learning, which are super easy since they come with everything you need. We’ve
 also used some of our own activity ideas like these <a href="http://www.abbythelibrarian.com/2013/10/preschool-lab-magnets.html">
<b><span style="color:#000099;text-decoration:none">magnet wands with pipe cleaner hair</span></b></a> (SO simple and popular!) and the
<a href="http://www.abbythelibrarian.com/2014/06/preschool-lab-five-senses.html">
<b><span style="color:#000099;text-decoration:none">mystery boxes</span></b></a> my colleage Miss T made.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height:140%"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black">I’ve been asked by colleagues about keeping statistics and to be honest that’s a part that I hadn’t thought of and we didn’t figure out for
 this summer. Some possibilities for keeping stats on an activity like this might be:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:48.0pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:140%;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1">
<![if !supportLists]><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:Wingdings;color:black"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">§<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black">selecting a week or a few typical days during the summer to keep a tally and extrapolating statistic<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<![if !supportLists]><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:Wingdings;color:black"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">§<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black">including some kind of take-home element or something kids can contribute to and then counting up how many were taken or how contributions
 were made (adding notes or pictures to a notebook, etc.)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<![if !supportLists]><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:Wingdings;color:black"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">§<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black"><a href="http://fatgirlreading.com/"><b><span style="color:#000099;text-decoration:none">Angie Manfredi</span></b></a> at the Los Alamos
 County Library System posts challenge questions and asks kids to come to the Reference Desk to answer the questions and earn a small prize (I think they use candy, but it could be a sticker or a hand stamp)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height:140%"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black">I’ve blogged about the Science Explorers Table on my personal blog; see
<a href="http://www.abbythelibrarian.com/2014/06/fizz-boom-read-self-directed-science.html">
<b><span style="color:#000099;text-decoration:none">Fizz, Boom, Read: Self-Directed Science Activities</span></b></a> for more ideas!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height:140%"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black">Are you doing any self-directed science in your library this summer? Please share what you’re doing in the comments! We may decide to keep
 the Science Explorer Table year-round (in lieu of take-home crafts), so I need all the ideas I can get!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height:140%"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black">– Abby Johnson, Children’s Services Manager<br>
New Albany-Floyd County Public Library<br>
New Albany, IN<br>
<a href="http://www.abbythelibrarian.com"><b><span style="color:#000099;text-decoration:none">abbythelibrarian.com</span></b></a>
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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