Waimea Library Selected to Host NASA STEM Program

Photo: NASA@My Library, SSI

The Thelma Parker Memorial Public and School Library in Waimea is one of 75 public libraries nationwide chosen to participate in the NASA@My Library program. The national education program is an initiative to enhance STEM learning opportunities for public audiences through NASA exploration and discovery activities.

“We’re so excited that Thelma Parker Public Library has been chosen for this fantastic opportunity!” said State Librarian Stacey Aldrich. “NASA’s rich knowledge of exploration and discovery programs will provide Hawai‘i keiki with a great learning experience.”

Thelma Parker library will offer the following series of free NASA@My Library science programs for students and families:

• Jump to Jupiter, 10:30 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017

Children and their families will love the high-energy task of jumping from “planet” to “planet.” As the immense scale of the solar system is revealed, participants of all ages will experience unforgettable “aha” moments while learning about our solar system.

• Playing with Shadows, 10 a.m., Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017

Preschool children will explore shadows and learn how an object’s shadow changes size and shape as it moves closer to and from a light source; how objects have shadows that change in direction, size and shape; and how the sun changes position in the sky.

• Windstreamer, 10 a.m., Thursday, Jan. 18, 2018

Preschool children will create a weather tool and learn how the weather on Earth is always changing. Children also will learn how scientists—and children—can watch and use tools to observe different types of weather, wind direction, wind speed, temperature and precipitation.

Thelma Parker was the only library in the State of Hawai‘i chosen for the NASA@My Library program. The initiative is offered by the National Center for Interactive Learning at the Space Science Institute (SSI) in partnership with the American Library Association Public Programs Office, the Pacific Science Center, Cornerstones of Science and the Education Development Center, and the support of the NASA’s Science Mission Directorate through a cooperative agreement between NASA and SSI.

Thelma Parker Memorial Public Library is open from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and from 12:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday. For more information, call (808) 887-6067.