My students live in a rural community with a population of approximately 1,005. The nearest public libraries are more than 10 miles away and are not available to most of my students' families without them paying an annual usage fee. My K-6th grade and 7-12th-grade school libraries are a way for me to "fill the information gap" for my students.
As the K-12 school librarian, I want my students to be curious - curious to explore their own interests further, curious to seek out the truth by asking questions and by being informed and curious to generate possible solutions to any problems they encounter, now and in the future.
I am blessed to impact the lives of my students throughout their entire public education career! I strive to ensure that each student reaches their full potential and has a desire to continue learning throughout the rest of their life.
My Project
My district has made an effort to integrate STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) concepts throughout the curriculum. While the focus on problem-solving, critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration is essential to best prepare our students for post-graduate jobs in the 21st century, the cost of STEAM resources often exceeds our school budget. The items that previous projects have helped fund are used by my students in the library, as well as in their classrooms (through collaborative efforts with other teachers).
One of my students favorite centers in the library's STEAM MakerSpace deals with electricity; unfortunately the only resource I currently have in that station are SnapCircuits.
This project will allow my students additional experiences with circuitry through building with conductive and insulating materials. The Squishy Circuit group kit will provide students with buzzers, motors and fan blades, switches, and lights. When paired with conductive and insulating play dough, these materials will soon become another STEAM Makerspace student favorite.
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