The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Little engineers
Kids learn engineering skills at library program
Avon Lake Public Library, 32649 Electric Blvd., hosted a hands-on engineering lesson for children Aug. 29 in its DiscoveryWorks section.
“We have different programs for kids to get their minds going and provided some challenges for them to solve,” said Linda Janesz, manager of the DiscoveryWorks, which is a unique, hands-on learning environment with a variety of multi-sensory experiences that supports varied learning styles for children.
“This program is called Wee STEM (science, technology, engineering and math), and it’s something we have on either the last Thursday of the month or the second to last Thursday.
“It’s a half hour of kids, ages 3 to 5, learning how to solve problems and having fun at the same time.”
Janesz said this event focused on Hexbugs.
“They are these small robots that move on a battery,” she said. “The idea was for kids to use blocks to kind of command where the bug will travel.
“The bugs have a tendency to move around all over the place, so the first challenge was for them to make it go straight. They were then tasked with getting them to travel around a corner, then through a tunnel, and the last challenge was to get them up a ramp.”
Janesz said the goal was to learn how to use different materials to solve problems.
“It has a lot of engineering-based skills and situations,” she said. “They have to solve through trial and error and learn how to adapt.
“It teaches them there is no wrong answer; you just keep trying things until something works. They may find a way to solve the problem that I didn’t even think of.
“You read about how a lot of the great inventions were accidents, so it really helps teach them the process.”
Christine Spaetzel of Avon Lake brought Charlie Beeler, 5, of Westlake, the child whom she nannies, to the event.
“I love the library,” Spaetzel said. “I’m a lifelong resident of Avon Lake, the library is a great resource for the community; it has been great to see how it has grown over the years.”
Laurann Collins of Avon Lake was at the Avon Lake Library with her 4-year-old daughter, Grace.
“The library always has great programming,” Collins said. “It’s a great place to bring your child and the staff is always very friendly.”
“We have different programs for kids to get their minds going and provided some challenges for them to solve.”
—Linda Janesz, manager of the Discovery Works