February is Black History Month. Here is the link to PPLD programming going on in February: https://ppld.org/blackhistorymonth The Harriet Tubman Herself presentation looks really cool and is available all month!
Also, check out these additional resources:
Black Voices booklist for Kids
Storytime @ Home: Black Joy!
Take and Makes for this project will be available at area PPLD libraries starting Friday, Jan. 14, 2022. Watch this project (a favorite from last winter) at: https://youtu.be/1spsamOSMtg?list=PLMEg2Dd0dSFctLfDQxsL5SmuE8zkwQFmu/
Supplies:
- Plastic cups in 2 sizes
- Pipe cleaners
- Pompoms and other doodads or baubles or other items of your choice
- Battery operated tea light candle
- Tape
- Water
- Freezer
- Paper towel
- Additional baubles or doodads
- Weights, like rocks
Directions:
This is an engineering challenge! For more step-by-step pictures of project, open pdf link below.
- Twist your pipe cleaners up the inside of the larger cup.
- Slide the smaller cup inside with the pipe cleaners in between the large and small cups.
- Carefully push pompoms and/or other baubles or doodads between the 2 cups also.
- With the tops of the cups even, crisscross two pieces of tape across the top of the cups.
- Placing cups on a paper towel, gently fill the larger cup with water until it’s about 1 inch from the top. You do not want water to go into the smaller cup. You may need to add something to weigh down the smaller cup.
- Place in the freezer until it’s frozen solid. This could take about 5 hours.
- Observe your creation! You may notice that the smaller cup is higher as is the water/ice level. This is a great illustration of how water expands as it changes states from a liquid to a solid.
- Remove from freezer and let sit about 10 mins., carefully remove the smaller cup (and tape). Then remove the larger cup. You may need to cut the cups off.
- Turn on the battery operated candle and place it in the center of your lantern. Put your lantern outside to admire!
Based on https://www.steampoweredfamily.com/activities/engineering-ice-lantern-s…
Create a catapult using things from around the house. This project is only limited by your imagination and the things you find around the house!
Supplies:
- Cylindrical object (sturdy cardboard tube, soup or other can, sturdy plastic bottle, rolling pin)
- Stretchy hair elastic or rubber band
- Spoon (wooden, metal, or combination)
- Something to propel (ball, marshmallow, pompom, wad of paper, etc.)
Directions:
- Wrap the hair elastic or rubber band around your cylindrical object twice.
- Slide your spoon under the elastic where it meets in an X. It should be perpendicular to the cylindrical object.
- Load a projectile in the bowl of the spoon. Apply force to the opposite end of the spoon and watch it fly.
- Experiment with a variety of objects. What combination propels your object the farthest?