Subscribe Love

Library events combine science and reading

by | Jun 20, 2019 | Education

Reading and science, typically treated as separate worlds, were joined together for high-energy entertainment.

As part of their summer reading clubs, Smith and Sachse Public Libraries each held science shows Thursday, June 13.

Jack McAfee of ScienceTellers led the entertainment at Smith.

He taught using a storytelling format. In his tale, two kids discovered a UFO containing aliens on the run from space scientists. McAfee immersed his audience in the adventure by using a leaf-blower and mist bottle to create wind and rain.

Afterwards, he led science experiments centering around his story. Volunteers helped create goo, a potato gun and alien’s hand.

At Sachse Public Library, Professor Brainius taught kids about “Wacky Science.”

The professor, known as Scott Logan in real life, picked several volunteers to demonstrate gravity, air pressure and chemical reactions using ordinary objects.

He and the kids launched confetti out of a potato gun, dropped a basketball and tennis ball to learn basic physics and mixed liquids together to create a new substance.

Near the end of his program, Logan led the kids in a pledge to never stop learning.

Both libraries have “A Universe of Stories” as their summer reading themes. Despite the fact that they were teaching science, McAfee and Logan made sure to emphasize the importance of all subjects, especially reading.

 

For the full story, see the June 20 issue or subscribe online.

 

By Morgan Howard • [email protected]

0 Comments

Public Notice - Subscribe

Related News

Plano may buy PISD school sites

Plano may buy PISD school sites

Armstrong Middle School is one of three surplus school sites which the city of Plano could purchase for Plano ISD. Courtesy PISD The Plano ISD Board of Trustees has approved an agreement under which the city of Plano could purchase three surplus school sites:...

read more
District approves land purchase

District approves land purchase

Wylie ISD trustees approved the purchase of a small parcel of land during its meeting on Monday, Oct. 28. The purchase should improve traffic flow for the upcoming intermediate and junior high campuses set to open in two years. The board sanctioned the acquisition of...

read more
Witches!? In Wylie ?!

Witches!? In Wylie ?!

The cast and crew are putting the final touches on the play “Witches? In Salem?” Performances will be at Wylie High School Oct. 11 -12. A Wylie Theatre witch hunt is in the works for the program’s fall show. The students will perform “Witches!? In Salem?!” Friday,...

read more
School accountability grades still blocked

School accountability grades still blocked

An Austin judge has continued the court order blocking the Texas Education Agency (TEA) from releasing its A-F accountability ratings for public schools. Travis County Judge Daniella DeSeta Lyttle scheduled a trial in February on the suit filed by five independent...

read more
Trustee election for WISD cancelled

Trustee election for WISD cancelled

Howard, Reising, Kennon to fill seats The bi-annual trustee election originally scheduled for Nov. 5 for Wylie Independent School District was officially cancelled last week. Since each of the places up for election did not have two or more candidates, the district...

read more
B.I.G. Feed fights food insecurity in schools

B.I.G. Feed fights food insecurity in schools

Volunteers pack up weekend food for students at Amazing Grace Food Pantry as part of the B.I.G. Feed program. Courtesy photo Driven by the urgent need to address students’ weekend hunger, the B.I.G. Feed initiative at Wylie United Methodist Church has been quietly...

read more
WISD adopts tax rate for 2024-25

WISD adopts tax rate for 2024-25

With no meeting in July, Wylie ISD trustees took care of some required business and heard educational updates, including the current status of STAAR scores. Items on the Monday, Aug. 19, agenda included adopting a tax rate for maintenance and operations (M&O), as...

read more
Public Notice - Subscribe