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Kildare Library ServiceFREE STEAM EVENTS

FOR PRIMARYSCHOOLS 2020

KildareCountyLibraryService

kildarelibrary

kildarelibrary

www.kildare.ie/library

Comhairle Contae Chill DaraKildare County Council

Free Support & Services available to Teachers & Schools

There are many ways in which Kildare Library Service can support your school. There is no charge for library membership. This entitles your students to avail of our facilities free of charge. We are very happy to welcome children whether it’s for research, class visits or a special occa-sion like an author visit or a workshop.

Block Loans: This entitles teachers to borrow up to 40 books at a time. The lending period is 8 weeks. No fines are levied on block loans.

Class Visits: If you wish to bring a class to the library please book a time slot. The class can then borrow books and get to know the library.

Class Sets: We have a list of titles available as class sets. There are 35 books in each class set. They can be borrowed for 8 weeks on your block loan card. No fines are levied on class sets. If you have suggestions for titles you think would be suitable for inclusion in our collection please let us know.

Reading Series Material: We have an extensive collection of material suitable for Developing Readers, Newly Confident Readers, Confident Readers and Reluctant Readers.

Project Support: If you are planning a class project please let us know in advance. We can ensure that we have a useful selection of titles available to the class when they visit the library.

ELF Collection: Aimed at junior and senior infant classes we have the ELF Collection (Early Learning Fun) which is four sets of approximately 30 titles, grouped together under the four themes of the Aistear Curriculum Framework. The themes are: Communication, Well-being, Exploring and Thinking, and Identity and Belonging. The sets can be borrowed on a block loan card and used in the classroom as support when you are covering a theme.

Rua the Library Squirrel and Oíche the Library Owl: Rua and Oíche are our library mascots for young children and you can book them to visit your school. A staff member will accompany Rua or Oíche and read stories or talk to the children about the library and how much fun reading can be.

Throughout the year we run lots of exciting events for children: author visits, film screenings, story sessions, reading festivals, arts in libraries programmes, creative writing workshops, book clubs and much more.

We are always open to working with teachers to support new ideas for literacy or numeracy projects. If you have an idea for a project you would like to pilot during this school year please get in touch and we will be happy to work with you.

The STEAM programme aims to give children the opportunity to engage with and explore science, technology, engineering, arts and maths (STEAM) subjects in a fun

and stimulating environment.

Kildare Library Service is conscious that STEAM subjects are at the heart of a very wide variety of professions and will be the skills children today will need to take part

in building the world of our future. These events have been organised by Kildare Library Service with the support of other organisations such as the Irish Peatland Conservation Council (IPCC), the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI)

and the Irish Centre for Research in Applied Geosciences (iCRAG).

By encouraging parents and teachers to bring children to visit the library this programme raises an awareness of what the modern public library service has to

offer them. The library is seen as a fun and welcoming place to visit where young people can avail of the opportunity to try new things and get involved

in their local community.

These demonstrations and workshops are all free of charge. They take place during school hours and can be booked for primary schools by contacting your local library.

To be informed of these and other events at your local library, please check www.kildare.ie/library or contact library staff in your local branch.

Engineers Week

Be an Environmental or Electrical Engineer with Bricks4Kidz

Building with Brickxclub

Junior Infants – 2nd Class

60 Mins

Junior Infants– 6th Class60 Mins

Following the motto “We Learn, We Build, We Play with…LEGO bricks” these workshops provide students with a fun opportunity to develop important life skills such as problem-solving, communication and spatial intelligence.

Teachers can choose from either of the following workshops* –• Environmental Engineer – Build a Windmill / Wind Turbine• Electrical Engineer - Build an Electric Car

* Please inform the library of the age group and your choice of workshop at least 24 hours beforehand.

Kildare Library Tuesday 3rd March 9:30amAthy Library Tuesday 3rd March 12pmLeixlip Library Wednesday 4th March 9:30amMaynooth Library Wednesday 4th March 12pmNaas Library Thursday 5th March 9:30amNewbridge Library Thursday 5th March 12pm

At Brickxclub children exercise creativity and learn some of the fundamentals of engineering, building from their imagination while at the same time developing spatial reasoning and also learning about structural design.

Using bricks gives children the introduction to communicating ideas with physical objects, putting things together and taking them apart shows how things work - children are junior engineers!

Have fun trying challenges such as designing the longest bridge, the tallest tower, marble mazes and more.

Naas Library Tuesday 3rd March 9:30amNewbridge Library Tuesday 3rd March 12pmAthy Library Wednesday 4th March 9:30amKildare Library Wednesday 4th March 12pmCelbridge Library Thursday 5th March 9:30amMaynooth Library Thursday 5th March 12pm

Engineers Week

3rd - 6th

60 mins

Engineers Week

Junior Engineering with LearnIT

Early Engineers with LearnIT

Junior & Senior Robotics with LearnIT

1st – 2nd Class60 – 80 Mins

Junior & Senior Infants40 – 50 Mins

2nd – 6th Class90 Mins

Junior Engineers Workshops allow students to work in teams on problem-solving models that will enable them to investigate and understand the operation of simple and compound machines found in everyday life: gears, wheels and axles, levers and pulleys.

Naas Library Tuesday 10th March 9:30amCelbridge Library Tuesday 10th March 12:30pm

Using simple double-sided full-colour building instruction cards students can build a range of models that will enable them to discover gears, levers, pulleys, wheels and axles in a fun, hands-on and engaging manner. Students work in pairs to build their projects and perform a number of tests, just like real engineers!

Athy Library Wednesday 11th March 9:30amKildare Library Wednesday 11th March 11:45amNewbridge Library Wednesday 11th March 1:30pm

Working with LEGO Education WeDo kits, students will be introduced to the world of robotics by building and programming robots to complete various challenges. Students will design, construct and modify robots, developing technical skills that are much sought after across a range of engineering industries. They will also program their robots to carry out specific tasks, developing workflow skills, learning about logic, loops, switches, blocks and more. The workshops also promote teamwork, collaboration and peer-to-peer learning as students work in groups to complete challenges.

Leixlip Library Thursday 12th March 9:30amMaynooth Library Thursday 12th March 12:30pm

3rd - 6th Class

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Tech Week

3rd - 6th Class

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TechCards – Build a Pneumatic Crocodile / Bridge with TekCentral

3rd – 6th Class60 Mins

TechCard elements build into structures and mechanisms that perform in a way that is uniquely similar to those in the real world making learning more relevant and more easily applied to the world around us.

In this workshop students build a pneumatic system in the form of a crocodile jaw or a moveable bridge which opens and closes. Pneumatics is a branch of engineering that makes use of gas or pressurized air. Pneumatic systems used in industry are commonly powered by compressed air or compressed inert gases.

Athy Library Tuesday 24th March 9:30amKildare Library Tuesday 24th March 12pmNaas Library Wednesday 1st April 9:30amNewbridge Library Wednesday 1st April 12pm

Digital Fabrication & STEAM Taster with TechCreate

4th – 6th Class60 Mins

In this session students are introduced to the concepts of digital fabrication including prototyping and product design. They also look at coding and software development and how they all fit together.The workshop will include the following:• Product prototyping using 3D printing technology. Demonstration of 3D design software. • Digitizing real world objects, demonstration of 3D scanning.• The 3D printing process – demonstration of 3D printer.• Other tools for digital fabrication – video of laser cutting engraving machine.• Discussion and demonstration of design in the world around us.

Maynooth Library Thursday 26th March 9:30amCelbridge Library Thursday 26th March 12pmNaas Library Tuesday 31st March 9:30amNewbridge Library Tuesday 31st March 12pmAthy Library Wednesday 1st April 9:30amKildare Library Wednesday 1st April 12pmClocha Rince Library Thursday 2nd April 9:30amLeixlip Library Thursday 2nd April 12pm

3rd - 6th Class

th

3rd - 6th Class

th

Tech Week

3rd - 6th Class

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Ozobot – The Tiny Robot That Packs a Punch with TekCentral

3rd – 6th Class*60 Mins

A great non-screen option for younger students to introduce them to robotics and the concept of coding. Ozobot Bit gets young people coding and loving robots with the stroke of a marker. Code Ozobot with colour code commands on paper.

Then advance to the screen using OzoBlockly programming language. Ozoblocklygames teach you how to program – it’s a great way to learn how to control Ozobot and begin coding.

*Workshop can be adjusted to suit 1st – 2nd class. Please inform the library of the age group and your choice of workshop at least 24 hours beforehand.

Maynooth Library Wednesday 25th March 10amCelbridge Library Friday 3rd April 9:30amLeixlip Library Friday 3rd April 12pm

Tech Week

Earth Week

Environmental Workshop with Envirokids 1st – 6th Class60 Mins

Interactive workshop with video, photos, handouts and a fun quiz. The workshop covers environmental issues such as: • Garbage islands • Carbon footprint • Deforestation • Single-use plasticsIt also features discussion about biodiversity and our local community, tidy towns and recycling.

Athy Library Tuesday 21st April 9:30amKildare Library Tuesday 21st April 11:30amLeixlip Library Thursday 23rd April 9:30amCelbridge Library Thursday 23rd April 11:15amMaynooth Library Thursday 23rd April 1pmNewbridge Library Friday 24th April 9:30amNaas Library Friday 24th April 11:30am

3rd - 6th Class

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Bog Workshop with the Irish Peatland Conservation Council (IPCC)

Introduction to Common Irish Garden Birds with Patrick Hunt

Junior Infants – 6th Class

60 Mins

3rd – 6th Class60 Mins

Kildare is home to some of the most eastern raised bogs in Ireland. Peatlands are wet and wild wonderlands that are home to unique biodiversity. These workshops offer students an opportunity to trace the formation of bogs over the past 10,000 years by making a classroom ‘bog in a bottle’. Students will discover a variety of bogland plants as well as bogland animals and a hands-on live freshwater minibeasts ID activity will bring the workshop alive for students.

Celbridge Library Monday 11th May 9:30am/10:45am/12pm/1:15pmMaynooth Library Wednesday 13th May 9:30am/10:45am/12pm/1:15pmNewbridge Library Friday 15th May 9:30am/10:45am/12pm/1:15pmKildare Library Tuesday 19th May 9:30am/10:45am/12pm/1:15pmNaas Library Thursday 21st May 9:30am/10:45am/12pm/1:15pmLeixlip Library Wednesday 27th May 9:30am/10:45am/12pm/1:15pmAthy Library Friday 29th May 9:30am/10:45am/12pm/1:15pm

This talk will introduce the pupils to common Irish garden birds – what they look like, eat and how they survive in our gardens. It looks at ways to encourage them into your school and home garden through planting and feeding stations. Using realistic singing bird models, photographs, binoculars, telescopes and stories about birds, the pupils will gain an appreciation for these wonderful creatures.

Celbridge Library Wednesday 13th May 9:30amLeixlip Library Wednesday 13th May 12:30pmAthy Library Monday 18th May 9:30amKildare Library Monday 18th May 12:30pmNewbridge Library Wednesday 20th May 9:30amNaas Library Wednesday 20th May 12:30pm

Biodiversity Week

3rd - 6th Class

th

3rd - 6th Class

th

Biodiversity Week

Biodiversity and the Climatewith Nikita Coulter

3rd – 6th Class80 Mins

This workshop will take children gently through the two most topical issues of the present day – Biodiversity and the Climate. This will be done through a range of activities including a quiz, presentation, discussion, a “Web of Life” game and finally a demonstration on how to plant seeds, and to make weather reading instruments to monitor changes in weather and the climate.

Kildare Library Wednesday 13th May 9:30amNewbridge Library Wednesday 13th May 12pmMaynooth Library Thursday 14th May 9:30amLeixlip Library Thursday 14th May 12pmNaas Library Monday 18th May 9:30amCelbridge Library Monday 18th May 12pm

3rd - 6th Class

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Space and Rockets with Rediscovery Centre

3rd – 6th Class90 Mins

This workshop covers the topic of space, investigating the universe, origins of the solar system, the planets and moons of our solar system and looking at space exploration. The workshop features a range of hands-on activities around the space theme, including investigating meteor impacts, exploring stored energy and making rockets.

Leixlip Library Tuesday 6th October 9:30amMaynooth Library Tuesday 6th October 12:30pmAthy Library Wednesday 7th October 9:30amKildare Library Wednesday 7th October 12:30pmNaas Library Thursday 8th October 9:30amNewbridge Library Thursday 8th October 12:30pm

Space Week

Make an Astronaut’s Dinner with Anyone4Science

1st – 6th Class60 Mins

In this workshop the students will learn about the issues that arise with regard to providing food for astronauts and for eating and drinking in a zero or low-gravity environment. They will think about what it must be like to plan a trip to space and then make an astronaut’s dinner using a range of dried foods.

Athy Library Tuesday 6th October 9:30amKildare Library Tuesday 6th October 11:30amNaas Library Wednesday 7th October 9:30amLeixlip Library Wednesday 7th October 11:30amMaynooth Library Thursday 8th October 9:30amCelbridge Library Thursday 8th October 11:30am

3rd - 6th Class

th

3rd - 6th Class

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Space Flight with Go Fly Your Kite 2nd – 5th Class90 Mins

This workshop looks at space travel and the lunar landing in July 1969. It considers the science, flight and luck that made the expedition the success that it was. Video clips are shown of the mission and a discussion will follow on the reasons why aeronautics were so important to the success of this mission.The workshop finishes with each pupil designing, constructing and learning how to fly their own kite.

Athy Library Thursday 8th October 9:30amKildare Library Thursday 8th October 12:00pmMaynooth Library Friday 9th October 9:30amCelbridge Library Friday 9th October 12:00pm

Space Week

Maths Week

Maths Detectives with Rediscovery Centre

Mad Maths with Really Grand Events

3rd – 6th Class90 Mins

1st – 6th Class60 Mins

The Maths Detectives Workshop presents the five curriculum strands (numbers, algebra, shapes and space, measures and data) to students in a fun and interactive way while practising math skills to solve mysteries, puzzles, and crime! The activities are linked to the primary maths curriculum.

Naas Library Tuesday 13th October 9:30amNewbridge Library Tuesday 13th October 12:30pmAthy Library Wednesday 14th October 9:30amKildare Library Wednesday 14th October 12:30pmMaynooth Library Thursday 15th October 9:30amCelbridge Library Thursday 15th October 12:30pm

Educational and fun experiments that will have students laughing, entertained and learning for 60 minutes. These workshops will spark the imagination with mad and educational programs and activities. They explain the facts and involve as many of the children as possible over the course of the workshop.

Leixlip Library Tuesday 13th October 9:30amCelbridge Library Tuesday 13th October 12:00pmNaas Library Wednesday 14th October 9:30amNewbridge Library Wednesday 14th October 12:00pmAthy Library Thursday 15th October 9:30am

Maths Week

Maths Workshops with the Adapt Research Centre, DCU

Teachers can choose from the following 2 workshops*:*Please inform the library of the age group and your choice of workshop at least 24 hours beforehand.

Seven Spells and the Art of Number Fighting!

Once Upon a Maths Workshop

Seven Spells is a card game stimulating mathematical skills and strategic thinking. It can cover more than 50 learning outcomes from the Irish maths curriculum including arithmetic operations, numeric tables, fractions, decimals, measures, unit conversions and more! It can be played versus a human player or the computer, in single or tournament mode.

Once Upon a Maths is an exciting adventure video game with a narrative based on the history of mathematics. During the game, the player interacts with characters who participated in the development of mathematics and is challenged to use this knowledge to solve real-life problems. This learning process helps to give meaning to mathematics and leads the player to reflect upon the importance and beauty of it.

Athy Library Tuesday 13th October 9am & 12pmMaynooth Library Wednesday 14th October 9amCelbridge Library Wednesday 14th October 12pmLeixlip Library Thursday 15th October 9am & 12pmKildare Library Friday 16th October 9amNewbridge Library Friday 16th October 12pmNaas Library Tuesday 20th October 9am & 12pm

4th – 6th Class90 Mins

1st - 2nd Class90 Mins

Science Week

Rock Detectives Workshop with Dr Anthea Lacchia & iCRAG

Pedal Power Lab with Paul Finch

4th - 6th Class60 Mins

2nd - 6th Class60 mins

Join Dr. Anthea Lacchia and geoscientists from the Irish Centre for Research in Applied Geosciences in University College Dublin to learn about Ireland’s fabulous rocks and the creatures that lived on our planet millions of years ago. We will try to solve a geological mystery together!

Athy Library Thursday 5th November 9:30amKildare Library Thursday 5th November 12pmNewbridge Library Friday 6th November 9:30amNaas Library Friday 6th November 12pmCelbridge Library Tuesday 10th November 9:30amLeixlip Library Tuesday 10th November 12pmClocha Rince Library Thursday 19th November 9:30amMaynooth Library Thursday 19th November 12pm

Using machines made from recycled parts this workshop will run demonstrations and spectacles, looking at the laws of physics and science, with particular focus on our need for energy. An environmental theme runs throughout the workshop.

Athy Library Tuesday 10th November 9:30amKildare Library Tuesday 10th November 12pmNaas Library Wednesday 11th November 9:30amNewbridge Library Wednesday 11th November 12pmMaynooth Library Thursday 12th November 9:30amCelbridge Library Thursday 12th November 12pm

Fun-Believable Science Show with Brilliant Events

Doctor Brain performs an engaging science show that appeals to children of all ages. A show with a “wow” factor that will have your students buzzing. The show helps inspire students to research science and is interactive and fun.

Leixlip Library Monday 16th November 10amAthy Library Tuesday 17th November 10amKildare Library Tuesday 17th November 12pmNaas Library Wednesday 18th November 10amNewbridge Library Wednesday 18th November 12pm

1st - 6th Class60 mins

SEAI Energy Workshops

Explore energy with your students by taking part in an SEAI workshop. Students will learn simple energy-saving tips that can both help our environment and save money.

The junior workshop focuses on where your students get their energy from, how electricity is made and new alternative ways to make electricity.

The senior workshop complements the junior workshop but expands on the themes. Students taking part will also get to play a giant energy board game and take part in some fun science experiments.

Athy Library Please contact library to check availabilityCelbridge Library Please contact library to check availabilityClocha Rince Library Please contact library to check availabilityKildare Library Please contact library to check availabilityLeixlip Library Please contact library to check availabilityMaynooth Library Please contact library to check availabilityNaas Library Please contact library to check availabilityNewbridge Library Please contact library to check availability

Junior Infants- 6th Class

45 mins

Science Week

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www.kildare.ie/library

ATHY LIBRARYTel: 045 980 555 Email: athylib@kildarecoco.ie

CELBRIDGE LIBRARYTel: 01 6272207 Email: celbridgelib@kildarecoco.ie

KILDARE TOWN LIBRARYTel: 045 520235 Email: kildarelib@kildarecoco.ie

LEIXLIP LIBRARYTel: 01 6060050 Email: leixliplib@kildarecoco.ie

MAYNOOTH LIBRARYTel: 01 6285530 Email: maynoothlib@kildarecoco.ie

NAAS LIBRARYTel: 045 879111 Email: naaslib@kildarecoco.ie

NEWBRIDGE LIBRARYTel: 045 906130 Email: newbridgelib@kildarecoco.ie

Kildare Libraries Contact Details