On June 18, 2024, children were encouraged to take flight at a signature Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM) program at the Somerset County Library System of New Jersey’s (SCLSNJ) Watchung branch.
“Children entering grades K-5 explored flight by designing their own airplane at our recent airplane glider STEAM program,” said Youth Services Librarian Katie Salerno. “After decorating their plane, they added different wings to the body, and a rubber band to launch the plane. Attendees learned how lift, drag, weight, and balance impact the flight of a glider, and incorporated that into the design as they used a trial and error process to learn best how flight worked.”
SCLSNJ offers many avenues for discovering STEAM topics like flight, such as:
- “Flight” by Andrew Nahum
- “Flying Machines: How the Wright Brothers Soared” by Benjamin A. Wilgus
- “Folding Paper Airplanes with STEM: For Beginners to Experts” by Marie Buckingham
- “How Airplanes Get from Here…to There” by Jordan Brown
- “Make: Planes, Gliders and Paper Rockets” by Rick Schertle
The branch will be hosting their next STEAM program exploring ice cream science on July 23, 2024 at 4:30 p.m. To learn more or register for this educational (and tasty!) program, visit https://sclsnj.libnet.info/event/10231148.
While their Library building is under renovation, Watchung’s temporary branch is located at 20 Stirling Road in Watchung. The temporary branch hours are as follows:
- Mondays: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
- Tuesdays through Thursdays: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m.
- Saturdays: 10 – 2 p.m.