Gilgandra Shire Library News (Jan 31, 2023)

Holiday Activities — LEGO® Club

We were all great movie directors at this week’s holiday DFYM (Designs From Your Mind) LEGO® Club; with our builders working together to create some wonderful stop-motion films. Plots were discussed, sets and props built, and mini-figures selected, to “act” in the production.

iPads were then used to take photos, with the mini-figures having to make small movements in every photo, to create the illusion of live action via the movie-making stop-motion technique. There were many great movies made in the sessions, featuring penguins, killer squid, spiders, tree-chopping, sword fights, and flying mini-figures!

Holiday Science

Water is amazing. Not only do we need it to survive, but it is one of the materials that can easily transform into all states of matter, solid, liquid and gas. At science at the library this week, our young “scientists” explored water molecules and the properties of water through various experiments.

Using a pipette, we measured out drops of water onto a 10c coin — we had guessed that we would fit no more than three drops on each piece but, one scientist managed more than 20. We found-out, that through the process of cohesion, water molecules are attracted to each other and cling to each other, allowing a large number of drops to be added to the coin. We followed-up this idea of cohesion and the high surface tension of water, by filling a cup full of water, and then using the pipette to add more drops.

The water bulged over the top of the rim, due to the water molecules clinging to each other, and creating a strong bond. We learnt that this high surface tension, allows insects to skate over the top of water and, to test this out, we attempted to float paper-clips on top of water. If we just dropped them in, they just sink. However, if we were very careful, we could float them on the surface with one scientist managing to float no less than six paper-clips on the surface. Further investigating cohesion, we wet a piece of string and held it over a cup, pouring water over the string into the cup without spilling any.

The water adhered to the string, preventing spilling. We also had a challenge to fill a cup with water, and then tip it upside down, keeping the water inside. Using a container lid, we were able to increase the air pressure within the cup to allow it to stick to the plate, but also keep the water inside! Finally, we experimented with various substances (sugar, salt, oil, M&M’s), to see if they would dissolve in the water. We learnt, that water is considered a universal solvent, because it dissolves more substances than any other liquid.

Summer Reading Club — one month to go

We were delighted to recently present certificates and rewards to some of Gilgandra’s great readers. With one month to go, there is still time for keen readers to join in the fun. To take part in the summer reading club, go to the library and pick-up a reading record bookmark.

Then borrow books and have a staff member stamp your bookmark. If you listen to or read 10 books, and you will receive a reward. Take another bookmark and keep reading, and you will also go into the draw for one of 20 Book Connection book vouchers, provided by the North-Western Library. The Summer Reading Club, is open to all young people from zero–18 years. Happy reading.

After-school activities return

Our popular after-school activities return this week. One activity, Designs From Your Mind LEGO® Club, is for children aged from five–12 years. Tech Club involves having fun with many different kinds of technology, and is for children aged eight years and up. Both activities are free of charge, but places are limited, so bookings are essential. Children younger than 10 years must, however, be accompanied by an adult. We can’t wait to get back into after-school fun!

Storytime returns

Storytime and baby rhyme-time will resume shortly. Storytime is for toddlers aged under five and their carers, and baby rhyme-time is for babies and their carers. Make friends, enjoy stories, rhymes and songs at these two clubs. It’s also a fun way to boost children’s confidence and reading-readiness skills.