The Solar Science Kits were created by STARNet:

“The STAR Library Network (STAR Net) is a hands-on learning network for libraries and their communities across the country. STAR Net focuses on helping library professionals build their STEM skills by providing “science-technology activities and resources” (STAR) and training to use those resources.”

Starnet has kindly provided the Colorado State Library with copies of their Solar Science Kits, which include two types of kit. The Multi-generational Programming Kits include a Coronado Personal Solar Telescope and mount, sunoculars, and accompanying literature.

The Younger Audience Kits include activities, sunoculars, accompanying literature and a Sunspotter: also known as “The Safer Solar Telescope.” According to Starlab, “This wooden, folded-path Keplerian telescope provides a much safer and convenient way to view the brilliant light of the sun than other more common methods. By using a series of mirrors, the device projects a bright 3.25-inch solar image onto a 5-inch white viewing screen through a powerful 62mm diameter objective lens.”

This archaeology kit contains many replicas of real Colorado artifacts that kids and adults can hold and experience. Pottery shards and stone tools from different periods of Colorado history engage patrons with the tools that Native Americans used in their everyday lives. A replica spear thrower and modern day toy that operates on the same physics principles demonstrate technology changes and teach STEM lessons. Fire making materials round out the kit with more STEM principals. Background materials and an extensive teacher’s guide will help you present this kit to patrons of all ages.

Download ‘Excavate Your Own Archaeology Site’ Activity

Replica artifacts:

1. Atlatl (spear thrower)
2. Chuck-it (modern-day toy similar to an atlatl)
3. Stone hand hold
4. Tinder
5. Hearths (2)
6. Bow drill
7. Clovis Point
8. Folsom Point
9. Calf Creek Point
10. Tanged Point
11. Pueblo Knife
12. Side-Notched Point
13. One pottery vessel
14. 9 potsherds (3 painted, 3 corrugated, 3 grey ware)

3D printed items:

• Bone awl
• Bone needle
• Side-notched projectile point

Ancient Colorado: An Archaeological Perspective / David Grant Noble

Intrigue of the Past: A Teacher’s Activity Guide for Fourth through Seventh Grades / Shelley J. Smith, Jeanne M. Moe, Kelly A. Letts and Danielle M. Paterson

Intrigue of the past: discovering archeology in Colorado (3 ring binder and CDROM)

1 DVD, Ancient technologies: fire starting, corn grinding, flint knapping, atlatl / Erin Baxter

Time line poster (laminated 36 cm x 29 cm)

8 laminated sheets of the time periods of the Pueblo culture

How to start a fire using the bow drill (4 sheets of printed instructions and illustrations)

Wallace ruin (1 laminated sheet)

10 hand lenses

10 rulers

This hands-on kit will engage patrons of all ages with real Colorado fossils that they can hold. From leaves and teeth to dinosaur bones and tracks, there are many STEM principals represented in this kit. Background materials and an extensive teacher’s guide will help you present this kit to patrons of all ages.

Download ‘Make a Fossil’ activity

Fossils/fossil casts (16):

1. Coprolite (fossilized feces)
2. Trilobite
3. Bivalve
4. Dinosaur bone
5. Cast of horse tooth
6. Petrified wood
7. Graptolite
8. Fish
9. Smooth Margin leaf
10. Jagged Margin leaf
11. Fern
12. Shark tooth
13. Unaltered bone (non-fossil)
14. Unaltered shell (non-fossil)
15. Cast of bear tooth
16. Cast of Spinosaurus tooth

Fossil tracks/trackways (4):

17. Cast of Theropod track
18. Cast of Synapsid track

• Drawing of Synapsid trackway
• Drawing of Theropod trackway

3D printed items:

• Fox skull
• Shark tooth

1 Fossils in the Classroom Teacher Guide with CDROM

1 Places to See Fossils in Colorado poster

1 set of geologic timelines (overview, Paleozoic, Mesozoic, Cenozoic)

1 set of fossil labels (18)

1 set of fossil leaf cards (24)

10 hand lenses

10 rulers

How to borrow a kit
To borrow a kit, you will need to be enrolled in the CSL Resource Kit Borrowing Program. Your “Kit account” is the same as your CSL Book Club account if you participate in that program. If you already have a CSL Book Club user number and password, skip to step 4 below.

1. Go to https://cslkits.cvlsites.org/enroll/
2. Complete and submit the enrollment form.
3. You will receive an email with a user number and password for your library within a short time.
4. Go to our online resource catalog at https://csl.catalog.aspencat.info/
5. Login into your CSL account using the “Login” button at the top right of the screen.
6. Use the Search bar, or browse for “Resource Kit”, to find the Kit you want to borrow.
7. Place a Hold on the desired kit.
8. The checkout period is 2 months. If the kit is available, it will be sent to you the next business day via the Courier. If it is checked out to another library, your hold will remain in place until the item is available or you cancel the hold.
9. Please remember to submit feedback either on the paper form included on the clipboard in the kit or online at – https://forms.gle/41mgkhh6cPRB3VdBA

The kits are not available for loan to out-of-state libraries, or organizations other than libraries, at this time. Kits cannot be reserved for a specific date in the future. Contact  Kit Support (303-866-6900) with questions.

Returning the kit
As you prepare to return the kit, please verify that it is complete using the Kit contents checklist taped to the top of the box. Be sure to include your completed Feedback Form so that we can improve the experience for everyone.

STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics.  Educator Anna Feldman writes, “Rather than focus on rote memorization or mastery of separate topics, STEAM uses project-based students’ skills in creativity, design thinking, tech literacy, collaboration, and problem solving” (STEAM Rising” Slate.com 6/16/2015)

The book folding program is a great way to introduce a low-cost STEAM program into your library. Repeated use of a skill leads to mastery and ability to use it across applications better than rote memorization. Book folding requires the creator to use a ruler repeatedly to mark metric measurements on the page that, when folded at those marks on a 90-degree angle, creates a design.

Contents:

• 1” red resource kit binder containing:
  • Programming outline
  • 1 red key-shaped USB flash drive containing printable documents
• 1¼” white Embellishment Samples resource kit binder
• 1½” white Patterns and Activities binder
• 5 resource books:
  • The Repurposed Library, Lisa Occhipinti – 9781584799092
  • Folded Book Art, Clare Youngs – 9781782494157
  • Book Folding Pattern Book: Volume 9, DebbiMoore Designs – no ISBN
  • Mastering the World of Measuring with the Master Ruler – 9780972006915
  • Mastering the World of Angles with the Master Angle – 841971110899
• 2 CDs
  • The Ruler Game, standard English and metric games
  • Book Folding Pattern CD Rom: Volume 5, Debbie Moore Designs
• 15 tool-bags, containing
  • 1, 12” English/metric ruler
  • 1, 11” 30/60° triangle
  • 1, 8” 45/90° triangle
  • 1, 4¾” paper creaser (plastic bone folder)
  • 1, 8⅛” paper creaser (plastic bone folder)
• 15 x-acto knives in a single bubble bag
• 1 Sample Folded Book, Basic HEART Pattern
• 1 clipboard with evaluation

Audience:

The kit is designed to be used by library staff seeking an activity to introduce measuring metric distance and the geometric concept of angles. The activity will create a piece of art, which can be kept, given as a gift, or used for fundraising. Staff could partner with a teacher, tutor, and/or artist in their community for additional support, but the contents of this kit will enable implementation of the book folding program with no math expertise, for under $100, and with 10 or fewer staff preparation hours.
The kit is meant to host a program for 15 teens through adults, with the following requirements:
Dexterity to fold paper on a straight edge.
Ability to count and learn to use metric measurements.
Ability to read and mark measurements on a ruler.

The egg drop challenge is a classic science experiment. Through it, children and young adults can experience abstract scientific concepts such as prototyping, motion and forces, energy transfer, the properties of materials, and the scientific method.
Families or groups can have fun working together to create prototypes!

Contents:

• Sample RAFT Colorado egg drop kit
• Yellow stopwatch
• Kitchen scale
• Laser tape measure
• 12 safety scissors
• Black camera case containing:
  • GoPro Hero (2018) camera (dark gray), in removable protective frame
    C3321124804987, SKU#CHDHB-501
  • Micro SD card (8GB, inside GoPro)
  • Black charging cable
  • Black screw-in base
• Yellow hand grip with screw-in base for GoPro

Audience:

These activities and programs can be scaled for all ages and group sizes. Participants can go solo or form teams.

Anyone with an interest in art or math will enjoy learning about the magic of fractals! Even the non-mathematical will have fun with the beautiful imagery and the fascinating, mind-bending concepts and patterns (which require next to no math to understand).

Contents:

• 12 jumbo magnifiers
• 1 book: Mysterious Fractals (ISBN 9781620916278)
• 28 white mandala dot painting stencils
• 2 sets of Dazazzle Mandala Dotting Tools, which include:
  • 2 plastic paint trays
  • 2 Charcoal White #558 pencils
  • 10 acrylic & steel ball stylus tools, various colors and sizes
  • 16 acrylic rods, various colors and sizes
• 24 Tessellations animal stencils, assorted designs
• 2 wooden tile sets containing 352 pieces:
  • Penrose set #1 (in cloth drawstring Wooden Giraffe bag):
    • 108 kites with half -circle patterns
    • 68 dartes with half -circle patterns
  • Penrose set #2 (in cloth drawstring Wooden Giraffe bag):
    • 8 decagons
    • 12 elongated hexagons
    • 12 bowties
    • 12 pentagons
    • 16 darts
    • 20 kites
    • 22 elongated rhombuses
    • 32 diamonds (parallelograms)
    • 22 obtuse triangles
    • 14 medium isosceles triangles
    • 12 small isosceles triangles
    • 2 tiny isosceles triangles
• Super Spirograph 75-Piece Jumbo Kit (50th Anniversary Edition) containing:
  • 31 Spiro-Tracks
  • 21 wheels
  • 2 rings
  • 2 racks
  • .31oz (9g) of reusable putty
  • 3 pens
  • 1 gold die-cast wheel
• 1 bin of Puzzellations “In the Garden,” 231 foam tiles
• 1 bin of Puzzellations “Kites & Darts,” 105 magnet-backed foam tiles
• 3 rubber stamps:
  • 1 Mandelbrot stamp
  • 1 Sierpinski triangle stamp
  • Koch snowflake stamp

Audience

Recommended for ages 6 and up

This kit was designed for small and rural libraries who want to host a fun and educational math program without the expense of buying equipment or the resources to create lessons. With this kit you will be able to create delicious hot chocolate beverages which can be consumed, given as a gift, or used for fundraising.

Contents:

• 1, 1” red resource kit binder containing:
  • Programming outline
  • 1 red key-shaped USB drive containing printable documents
  • 4 Laminated recipe sheets: Hot Cocoa Mix, Peanut Butter Brownie Mix, Chocolate Chunk Cookie Mix, and Coffee Cake Mix
  • Paper copies of Hot Cocoa Mix (please take as needed)
  • Kettle manual
• 3 resource books:
  • Hot Cocoa Comfort : 50 recipes for comforting cups of chocolate – 9781510739963 (two copies)
  • Hot Chocolate : Rich and indulgent winter drinks – 9781849756594 (two copies)
    Gifts in a Jar : cocoas, cappuccinos, coffees, and teas : recipes to make your own gifts – 9781563831348 (one copy)
• 12 Hands-free baggy openers
• 7 piece magnetic measuring spoons (10 sets)
• 6 piece magnetic measuring spoons (5 sets)
• 7 piece measuring cups (5 sets)
• 7 piece liquid measuring beakers (5 sets)
• 10 piece rainbow bowls (3 sets)
• 10 small metal bowls
• 16 medium metal bowls
• 2 electric kettles
• 1 clipboard with evaluation form to complete (we really want your feedback)

Audience

The kit is designed to be used by library staff seeking an activity to introduce key math skills like measuring and conversion as well as important developmental concepts like problem solving and following instructions. The kit is meant to host a program for up to 15 people, teens through adults.

Music programs are a great way to introduce low-cost STEAM programs into your library.  Many libraries engage their communities through unorthodox, hands-on programming that teaches STEAM principals.  Music education obviously taps into the Arts, but there are also mathematical principals that underline all instruments and composition.  Music is used every day for self-expression, entertainment, religion, therapy, forging personal connections and inspiring every kind of emotion.  Music teaches us to listen carefully.  It’s also an activity that builds community in a way that can appeal to diverse groups of people.

Contents:

Audience:

This kit is designed to be used by library staff who may know next to nothing about music themselves.  Staff can use their preparation time to learn the basics, or find a musician in their community to teach a program.

The materials in this kit are primarily for aspiring musicians, ages 9 and up.  Adults and children who want to learn to play an instrument will be able to dip their feet into the world of music and have fun making noise in the library.

How to borrow a kit
To borrow a kit, you will need to be enrolled in the CSL Resource Kit Borrowing Program. Your “Kit account” is the same as your CSL Book Club account if you participate in that program. If you already have a CSL Book Club user number and password, skip to step 4 below.

1. Go to https://cslkits.cvlsites.org/enroll/
2. Complete and submit the enrollment form.
3. You will receive an email with a user number and password for your library within a short time.
4. Go to our online resource catalog at https://csl.catalog.aspencat.info/
5. Login into your CSL account using the “Login” button at the top right of the screen.
6. Use the Search bar, or browse for “Resource Kit”, to find the Kit you want to borrow.
7. Place a Hold on the desired kit.
8. The checkout period is 2 months. If the kit is available, it will be sent to you the next business day via the Courier. If it is checked out to another library, your hold will remain in place until the item is available or you cancel the hold.
9. Please remember to submit feedback either on the paper form included on the clipboard in the kit or online at – https://forms.gle/41mgkhh6cPRB3VdBA

The kits are not available for loan to out-of-state libraries, or organizations other than libraries, at this time. Kits cannot be reserved for a specific date in the future. Contact  Kit Support (303-866-6900) with questions.

Returning the kit
As you prepare to return the kit, please verify that it is complete using the Kit contents checklist taped to the top of the box. Be sure to include your completed Feedback Form so that we can improve the experience for everyone.