By Children’s Librarian Eileen Saam
At the Oak Park Public Library, we are always looking for ways to foster learning experiences for children who we serve.
We have developed a sizable collection of Discovery Kits, which are filled with everything you need to foster the kinds of exploratory, hands-on experiences that are inherent in STEAM learning. See the STEAM and technology kits you can check out from the library below!
But what is STEAM Learning? The acronym stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics. This interdisciplinary approach to learning integrates all five of these disciplines.
You might be wondering…why the focus on STEAM Learning?
STEAM learning helps students…
- Get excited about learning
- Embrace creativity
- Foster a passion for inquiry and innovation
- Develop and practice skills for the 21st century
- Flourish in a tech-driven environment
STEAM learning allows kids to make connections and discover new things through exploration, inquiry, and problem-solving, the way one would in real life. They learn the importance of applying ingenuity, critical thinking skills, and creativity to solving problems. They also learn that mistakes are an integral part of the learning process.
To learn more about the philosophy of STEAM education, check out this video from STEAMspirations.
Want to give it a try at home? Check out these Discovery Kits…
Botley
In this kit, kids use coding principles to program Botley the robot to “think” using a remote programmer and coding cards as a guide. This kit helps build many skills inherent in STEAM learning.
Code & Go Robot Mouse
Kids are introduced to coding concepts with Colby, the programmable mouse. Colby lights up, makes sounds, and responds to simple coding commands via colorful buttons. Kids can build a maze for Colby to follow and match coding cards to follow sequential steps. Kids practice sequencing, problem-solving, and basic programming skills.
Electricity Kit
With this electricity kit, kids explore basic engineering, electronics, and circuitry concepts by assembling electronic circuits using building components with snaps.
Sphero Mini
With the Sphero mini robot, beginning coders can drive and play STEM-inspired games with the Sphero Play app. More experienced learners can program the Sphero robot using block-based coding or Javascript in the Sphero Edu app. Kids can take their learning to the next level and build their own mazes, obstacles, towers, and tracks to navigate through the house.
Squishy Circuits
Using playdough and simple tools like LEDs, motors, and a battery pack, kids can explore electronics and circuitry concepts while creating their own electrical circuits. They can get creative as they explore the materials in the kit to make their own inventions that light up or move.
More STEAM-focused Discovery Kits
- Bridge Building Kit
- Cardboard Engineering Kit
- Gears Kit
- Magnets Kit
- Physics Games Kit
- Straw Constructor Kit
We hope these kits spark joy, inspiration, collaboration & creative exploration!
At your public library, we value all types of learning. We love when patrons are inspired by the resources in our library to take their learning to the next level.
If you are inspired to share what you have created, please do so. We’d love to know how you took your learning to the next level!
And if you are inspired to learn more about careers in STEM, check out this video: STEM Careers: Inspire the Next Generation of Innovators.
About Eileen
Eileen Saam is a children’s digital learning librarian who loves discovering new things, learning from others, and sharing with children the joy and wonder of books. One of her favorite things to do at the library is to help children, families, and teachers find books and digital resources that delight and inspire them.