Pop-up STEAM lab draws 20 kids to Eston Library

By Joan Janzen

ESTON – The Eston Library was filled with the chatter of twenty children who streamed through the doors after school on Thursday, October 15. Librarian Veronica Ryland and her assistant Ethan Strierner had prepared three interactive activities for their STEAM Lab (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math). The Eston Library was one of the Wheatland Regional Library branches selected to organize a pop-up lab.

This youngster had fun trying out his newly created marble maze at the Eston Library on Thursday afternoon. PHOTO BY JOAN JANZEN

Librarian Veronica Ryland helped twenty children paint with invisible ink and create marble mazes at the Eston Library on Thursday afternoon. PHOTO BY JOAN JANZEN

Kids love searching for tiny fish in the fish tank at the Eston Library. PHOTO BY JOAN JANZEN

A boy identifies animal tracks while participating in a scavenger hunt at the Eston Library on Thursday afternoon. PHOTO BY JOAN JANZEN

The children began by participating in a scavenger hunt, searching for, identifying and re-creating all kinds of animal tracks posted throughout the library. Once they completed their hunt, they painted a design with invisible ink made from baking soda and water. After it had dried, Veronica gave them a magic mixture of turmeric and rubbing alcohol, which transformed their invisible design into a bold yellow and red image.

They also constructed marble mazes out of colourful mounds of clay. Once they had finished the activities, they enjoyed snacks and searched for tiny fish in the library’s fish tank.