Afterschool Library Camp: Final Day of Marshmallows

Our last day started with the book, Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin. Really, no tie-in to the marshmallows. I just knew the kids would enjoy it :) We had 6 kids who were able to attend on Thursday. It was a beautiful day out and boy were they squirel-ly! I'm glad I underplanned the afternoon so we could spend 30 minutes outside. It was too windy to attempt the solar cooked smores, but I have it planned for the summer!

For snack, we made edible sculptures out of marshmallows, PEEPs, frosting, peanut butter, and graham crackers.














Then we finished our Dissolving PEEPs experiment. We took each one out and used our senses (minus tasting!!) to see what exactly had happened to our 2 year old hardened PEEPs. They were amazed and really disgusted by what the tea and soda did to our little birds.

Then we attempted marshmallow shooters. In the future, only paper cups work. Plastic equals uber-fails!! They were cool with it, though, and were excited by the challenge to see if they could make one at home.

Then we went outside and played with chalk, frisbees, hula hoops, and the LEGOs.

We came back inside for a library scavenger hunt. Once all items were found, the child could pick out a book to keep.

We finished by reading another book and talking about all the things we did over the week.

After School Library Camp: Day 3 of Marshmallows

On Wednesday, we had 8 kids in attendance. First, we started off with the book, "Everyone is a Scientist." I let them know how we were going to be scientists the rest of the day by gathering facts and using our senses and tools.

After our story, we did another guessing jar. This time, I had 68 mini marshmallows in a measuring cup. We took turns writing our guesses in secret and then talked about the differences between the previous guessing jar and the mini marshmallow guessing jar.

For snack, we worked together to make Rice Crispie Treats, using measuring tools, flavored marshmallows, butter, rice crispies, and some leftover marshmallow cereal from a previous snack. Each child could pick their own cookie cutter and mold their mixture into the cookie cutter. Some opted to just eat the mixture before forming it, which was just fine.

  

Then we checked out our dissolving PEEPs. I let them touch a few of them.



We discussed how they changed from the previous day and predicted what would happen by Thursday, the last day of Library Camp.

Then, I divided the group into 2. One group worked on designing their own PEEP while the other group microwaved PEEPs. Then we switched. 

Then we watched a funny YouTube video where somebody microwaved a whole bunch of PEEPs at the same time for a long time. "Don't try it at home, kids!" Beforehand, we predicted what might happen, knowing what we know from our microwaving adventure. Most kids were pretty right on! You can see all photos at the bottom of today's post.

Then we taste tested PEEPs and marshmallows... cake, sour watermelon, pink lemonade, and regular flavors. I didn't tell them what they were getting, but I did give them options as to what flavors we had. Most kids guessed each flavor correctly! While I did NOT like the cake PEEP, almost all the kids loved each flavor and couldn't pick a favorite :)

Then we had free time: Battleship, Play-Doh, reading, etc.

Marshmallows!!

To promote April's Afterschool Library Club, we sent a picture home with each Fall Creek School District elementary student. They were asked to complete the picture and bring it back to the Public Library by March 20. Normally, I try not to have this type of competition, but every once in a while it can be fun and....

We had 31 entries!!!

And the winners are....

Congratulations to 1st graders Lydia Williams and Carson Ziegler, 3rd grader Megan Johnston, 2nd grader Maissy Nall, and 5th grader Isaiah Kaufman for winning a free book and king size candy bar! Their marshmallow pictures are highly creative and are leaving the Fall Creek Public Library staff hungry and excited for next month's Afterschool Library Camp!

Winners can pick up their book and candy bar this Thursday-Saturday.

Congratulations and well done, everyone, for creating such unique pictures!

Registration is now open for our April 7-10 Afterschool Library Camp for K-5th graders. Each child must be registered each day they will be participating. Please call or stop in to register! 715-877-3334. Space is limited!

Library Camp: Insect Week

We tried a new program in September: Library Camp. Children K-7th grade were invited and had to be pre-registered for each day they were going to attend. We had 4-9 kids attend Monday-Thursday. Unfortunately, we had to cancel Friday due to low registration.

Here is what we did each day.

MONDAY:

Snack: maggots and ants on a log

Completed snails

Playing "SLUG" (a version of SPUD but with hula hoops and frisbees instead of basketball)

Playing SLUG

Free play: Some chose to put on a puppet show!

Some children chose to make another snail or "create your own insect" during Free Play

Create your own insects and snails

We started Monday with expectations, two stories, and a get to know you game. Then we made snails out of paper scraps, google eyes, paper plates, glue, and tape. Then we had snack. We made maggots (yogurt covered raisins) and ants (raisins) on a log. Then we went outside to play SLUG, which is like basketball SPUD but with homemade frisbees and a hula hoop. Then we came back inside for Free Play. The children could choose to make their own insect, quiet reading, or a puppet show.

TUESDAY: 

Ladybug snack - apples, green cake frosting, craisins, peanut butter

Fingerprint insects

Library Scavenger Hunt

Learning about Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches with Toby Jacobson

Magnolia with a cockroach

On Tuesday, we again went through expectations and read two stories. Then we made our Ladybug snack. Then we made insect creatures with our fingerprints and went on a Library Scavenger Hunt. Then we learned about Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches and even got to hold and touch some! Then we had free play in the Library where children could choose a quiet activity to do alone or with a friend.

WEDNESDAY: 

Beaver Creek Reserve visited with their Dress a Butterfly program

Snack - build a spider web out of chips (the spider) string cheese (the web OR legs) and animal crackers (stuck in the web)

Wednesday started out with Dress a Butterfly with Beaver Creek Reserve. We learned all about monarchs, including an interactive walk through their life cycle. Then we made a spider web snack, which the kiddos REALLY enjoyed. They took quite a bit of time making their webs that we only had time for a story and then free play - no art activity that day!

THURSDAY:

Getting supplies together at Randall Park

Footbridge on the walking trail at Keller Park

Drawing and writing what is in his small circle at Randall Park

Investigating the ground on the walking trail at Keller Park

Keller Park 

drawing what she sees in her large circle at Keller Park

On Thursday, we walked to Randall Park and had a snack at the picnic table: graham crackers and granola bars. We spent about 20 minutes exploring the ground. Each child had paper, coloring pencils, a footlong string, and a 4 footlong string. First they made circles with their strings and examined everything they could find in those circles. They could draw pictures and/or write down what they saw. Then they could dig under the soil and move things around to see if they could find any evidence that insects had been there. Then, we walked the trail in Keller Park and did the same thing. I also had a few magnifying glasses they could use. When we got back to the Library, we shared and discussed what we found in our circles. We also discussed the differences between the parks and how the ground would look different during the different seasons.

What a great week!