What's New!

Pikes Peak Library District is collecting stories about the COVID-19 pandemic. Residents of the Pikes Peak Region are invited to share their stories and experiences. People can submit written stories, photographs, or videos depicting their response to the pandemic and its impact on their lives.

Any observations are welcome. Submissions can include dealing with illness, quarantine, sheltering in-home, social distancing, employment, working from home, working in health care, schooling, travel, and other general observations.

Click here to submit your story.

Learn more about using the Library remotely.

Supplies:

• 2 clear containers, either plastic or glass, one large and one small. The small container should fit in the large container.
• Water
• One small weight or rock to place in the smaller container if it is too light
• Food coloring
• Long spoon or stick

Directions:

1. Fill large container with cold water halfway.
2. Fill the small container with hot water. (Need adult to help with hot water.)
3. Add any color food coloring to hot water and stir.
4. Place the small container, upright, into the large container of cold water.
5. Observe what happens to the hot water. Hot water will float to the top because it's lighter than the denser cold water.
6. Just like a volcano, hot lava rises up because it's lighter.

Watch this project at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujpr_NvUEkw

Supplies:

• Papers of any kind; they can be construction papers, copy paper, or scrapbooking papers, and smaller scraps are fine.
• Scissors
• Pens or pencils for tracing and writing
• A large, clean, clear glass jar like a Mason jar, pickle jar, or spaghetti sauce jar. Prepare your jar ahead of time by soaking off the label.

Optional supplies:
Buttons, pom-poms, ribbon, sequins, beads, stickers, or anything you happen to have on hand to decorate your jar, and some glue.

Directions:

1. Cut out some hearts – at least a dozen. You can make a template for tracing or just cut them freehand. They should be able to fit inside the opening of your jar.
2. On each heart, write a question that you would like to ask your family. They can be serious questions or silly questions. Here are some examples to get you started:
   • IF YOU COULD TRADE PLACES WITH ANYONE FOR ONE DAY, WHO WOULD IT BE?
   • WHAT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU THINK KIDS UNDERSTAND BUT ADULTS DO NOT?
   • WHAT IS THE STINKIEST THING YOU’VE EVER SMELLED?
   • WHAT IS THE HARDEST THING ABOUT BEING THE AGE YOU ARE NOW?
   • WHAT HAS BEEN THE HAPPIEST DAY OF YOUR LIFE SO FAR?
   • IF YOU COULD BE A CHARACTER IN A BOOK, WHO WOULD YOU BE?
   • DESCRIBE YOUR PERFECT COOKIE
   • WHAT IS SOMETHING EVERYONE LOOKS STUPID DOING?
   • WHAT KIND OF SECRET CLUB WOULD YOU LIKE TO START?
3. Fill your jar with your “Conversation Hearts” and pick one at dinnertime every day. It’ a great way to get to know your family, to laugh, and to always have something interesting to talk about!
4. If you want, decorate your jar with anything you happen to have on hand.

Watch this project at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCOBSA6lVuY