Seven-year-old Kara Wolfe (left) and five-year-old sister Anna use wooden blocks to discover principles used in building. Kara built a farm while Anna was building a treasure hunt. They were part of a Saturday morning learning experience at the Ford City Library.
Young children were introduced last Saturday to various aspects of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) through a program at the Ford City Library. The children learned the shapes of blocks that could sustain a multi-story building.
Library Assistant Katie Wolfe explained the purpose of the program.
“We were trying to expose kids to building and the different skills needed for that - patterns, shapes, colors,” she explained.
Wolfe also read from a Library Mouse book, “Home Sweet Home” about houses and architecture from all over the world. She showed pictures of various types of architecture.
“They had LEGOS they could play with, wooden blocks, dominoes, magnet blocks, cubes that make geometric designs, lincoln logs, and also little plastic gears. It allows them to be creative and to explore.”
In addition to this program, Wolfe also does Pre-School Story Time on Wednesday mornings at 10:30 for ages one through five years old.
“We do music and movement, then I read a book. And we end with a simple craft or coloring pages.”
Wolfe also coordinates DIY (Do It Yourself) Thursday on the third Thursday of each month at 5:30 PM. This Thursday, September 20, Wolfe said they will be making a Sunflower Wreath.
“I’m using old book pages and we are going to wrap them similar to an ice cream cone shape, then you tape them to form a wreath. DIY Thursday is family-friendly and we make simple crafts and projects that then people can take home. So far, they have all been free.”
Wolfe said the programs are open to anyone and a library card is not required.
She has designed a new local history series set to begin October 4 called “Legends of the Library”. It will be held the first Thursday of each month.
“It will be about local history - famous people, famous events, and little known facts and local legends. We will kick it off at 5:30 PM with a trivia game on how well do you know Ford City. There will be about 20 questions. We will have refreshments and snacks, and I will be giving out prize bags to my top three scorers. All the prizes in those bags are donated by local businesses.”
For more information about any of the programs, you can call the Ford City Library at 724-763-3591.