On Thursday, Feb. 10, the Eva K. Bowlby Public Library will hold its monthly STEM class at 5 p.m.
This will be the final monthly class held now that the library is transitioning the class time to every Thursday evening at 5 p.m. The change will start in March and extend until early May.
“We started STEM classes probably like four years ago,” Megan Ealy, Bowlby’s youth services director said. “We were doing coding classes with WQED “Scratch and Scratch Jr”., then we received a STEM grant from the PA Department of Libraries and a lot of robotic and different items that really prompted us to move more into the STEM stream method.”
“The classes are called ‘Stream into STEM’ and they are for school aged children to enhance their knowledge,” said Jayme McCauley, Bowlby’s children’s department aid, who is teaching the classes.
McCauley added that Bowlby is also offering their story classes for toddlers, school age and preschool students along with the STEM classes every Thursday in March; she is going to try to make the STEM lessons go hand and hand with the lessons learned in the story classes.
“I try to have the topic kind of coordinate with the story class topics so we will do a variety of science, technology, art, engineering and math just to kind of enhance the knowledge the kids here have,” McCauley said.
The classes will be free of charge, and all materials needed will be provided by the library.
The ideal age range for the STEM classes is around 6-12 years old.
“I like to make it fun and actually include some younger kids if they want. I have had students as young as four come in if they are mature enough to handle it,” McCauley said. “So it is a really fun class.”
As of now the turnout for the monthly STEM classes has been good, explained McCauley. They did face some time interference due to children in the area playing soccer, basketball and participating in other after school activities, though. The hope is for attendance and participation to stay strong.
McCauley explained that she is excited to teach this class since she is actually a scientist. She has worked in pharmaceuticals for 11 years and has a degree in forensic chemistry.
She eventually switched over to substitute teaching. Now, she runs the STEM classes for the Eva K. Bowlby Public Library.
“I always loved science, so I really love to teach it. I really love to see the kids really latch onto a topic,” McCauley said. “When I see the science interest spark in them I really enjoy that.”
To register a child for the STEM classes or the story classes, one can call the library at 724-627-9776. Registration can also be done through the Google Form. Any questions can be answered by calling the library or on their Facebook page.