If you have STEAM programming at your library it can be difficult to do this remotely. At my library, we created STEAM kits that were mailed to homes in the summer of 2020 as part of our summer learning program. We planned a STEAM club this summer and we purchased a lot of supplies but since we cannot have in-person programs because of COVID 19, we put those supplies in our STEAM Kits.
Type: Self-directed
Age: Middle school
Optimal size: 11-20
Estimated cost: $51 - $100
Planning time: 5+ hours
Frequency: One-time
Learning outcomes
● Think flexibly ● Innovate ● Demonstrate an openness to risk-taking ● Experiment, prototype and test ideas ● Create original work or responsibly remix existing content to make something new ● Engage in personal expression
Instructions
We created two kits. During registration, participants were made aware that they were required to complete at least five projects before they could complete registration. Because we have limited supplies, we ask that teens make sure they have the time and the willingness to complete the projects.
Each kit contains three products but more than three projects can be completed within the kit. If teens took pictures of their completed projects and posted them to their own social media using a specific hashtag or DMed/emailed pictures, we would count that as one of the five projects that were required.
STEAM Kit 1:
- Paper circuit project:
- Two LEDs, copper tape, one coin cell battery, small binder clip
- Project instruction sheets fromSparkfun.com
- The project sheet has instructions on the back.
- Polymer Clay:
- Four small bricks of polymer clay
- Makedo:
- 20 Makedo screws
- Two Makedo screwdrivers
- An Insert which contains instructions and a QR code for teens to complete when they have finished five projects and registration for the next kit.
My co-worker made a video explaining the contents in the kit and how to use them and posted it on our Youtube account. The video makes clear that teens are free to be creative. The paper LED crafts contains one instructional sheet and a blank sheet so that when they understand how LEDs work, they can design their own card.
STEAM Kit #2
- Craft Stick Challenge
- 50 different types of crafts sticks, Tacky glue
- Wearable LED
- Two LEDs, Tacky glue, felt, coin cell battery
- Strawbees
- An Insert which contains instructions and a QR code for teens to complete when they have finished five projects and completion form to receive their completion prize.
- Once again, my co worker will make a Youtube video about the contents of the kit and how to use them. Once again, teens will be free to create whatever they want.
Evaluation
This section traditionally gives you tips and info based on what we learned from this program. Since we are in a new time in our country and remote programming is new, all of these programs are experiments and I don't have any tips at this moment.
I can tell you that in one week, we've mailed ten kits and have received pictures from two different teens-one was high school students and one middle school student. The high schooler said she was very proud of herself for making a LED card.
I've done kits before the quarantine and I can tell you that teens love receiving stuff especially when it's mailed to their homes with the name on it. If you get Birch Box or Owlcrate or something equivalent, multiply your excitement by three and you'll understand what a 13 year old feels!
If you have a limited budget, go through your craft closets, explore Pinterest, and see what you can come up with. Craft sticks and glue can provide infinite project ideas. There's tons to do with paper, chenille sticks, coffee filters, sticks, etc.