Thanks to Jerissa Koenig for this guest post!
The Amery Area Public Library installed two new learning
spaces in the children’s room in January, 2017. The first is the Baby/Toddler Zone, which includes a
playful area rug, seating for adults, and a shelving unit that houses a
rotating collection of toys that are developmentally appropriate for children
between the ages of 0-3. Most of the items are made of natural and durable
materials and include shape and color sorters, sensory balls and blocks,
puzzles, and more. The materials will be swapped out every few weeks to keep
the space novel and valuable for patrons.
The second learning space is the
Exploration Lab which features a rotating collection of STEM
materials that encourage children to learn through playful exploration and
experimentation. Examples of items include an
engineer
a coaster kit,
science
viewers,
Magna-Tiles,
microscope
set,
acrylic-encased
specimens,
mirror
discovery cubes,
programmable
Bee-Bot, and more. These materials will be swapped out every few weeks to
offer new challenges for users. In the near future, I will introduce art
materials to make it a STEAM space because creative engagement with art is
valuable for literacy development, problem solving, critical thinking, and
more!
The Baby/Toddler Zone and Exploration Lab complement an
already established play area at the library called Bud’s Creative Learning
Center. The new spaces fill needs that are not met by Bud’s Creative Learning
Center by offering a distinct space with developmentally appropriate materials
for babies and toddlers and by offering ongoing opportunities for children to
engage in STEM activities.
Though these spaces have only recently been implemented, the
response has been enormously positive. I look forward to continuing to observe
how these spaces are utilized and make changes accordingly. Do you have a Baby/Toddler
learning space or a STE(A)M space in your library? I’d love to hear about it! Feel
free to contact me at jkoenig@amerylibrary.org
Labels: early literacy environments; STEAM; school age environments
