Summer STEM – Parachute Knight

by Lauren Abbott | Jun 29, 2020 | Blog, Craft Instructions Post, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 comments

Parachute Knight

Week 3 of Summer STEM from Your Library

Watch the Instruction Video



Experiment with air resistance by making parachutes!

You will need string, a straw, a sandwich bag and/or coffee filter, and a toy figure.

Pull one of the strings through the straw. Cut off the zipper portion of the bag.
Reach into the bag and pull both bottom corners in so they’re inside the bag.
Tie an end of the string to each bottom corner of the bag.
Pull the next string through the straw. Tie the ends to the knight.

Enter the Summer STEM drawing!

Enter to win STEM-themed prizes by sending us a photo of you doing one of these activities! Place the photo in the body of your email (no attachments) and send it to madisonlib.org@gmail.com. We’ll hold drawings at the end of the month!

May Kids ‘n’ Tween Programs

by Mary Kirkpatrick | April 28, 2025 | Blog, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 Comments

Books For Boys & Great Reads for GirlsMeet Princess Cimorene—a princess who refuses to be proper. She’s everything a princess shouldn’t be: headstrong, tomboyish, smart… And bored. So bored she runs away to live with Kazul, one of the most powerful dragons around!...

April Kids ‘n’ Tween Programs

by Mary Kirkpatrick | March 31, 2025 | Blog, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 Comments

Story TimeGet ready for April celebrations with our early literacy programs! Book Babies – Wednesdays at 9:30 AM* for babies not yet walking and their grown-ups. Enjoy songs, stories, baby sign language, movement, and sensory activities. Toddler Time – Mondays &...

March Programs for Kids ‘n’ Tweens

by Mary Kirkpatrick | February 28, 2025 | Blog, Book Babies, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Story Time, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 Comments

Story TimeGet ready for March magic with our early literacy programs! Book Babies – Wednesdays at 9:30 AM for babies not yet walking and their grown-ups. Enjoy songs, stories, baby sign language, movement, and sensory activities. Toddler Time – Mondays & Tuesdays...

Programs for Kids ‘n’ Tweens

by Mary Kirkpatrick | January 27, 2025 | Blog, Book Babies, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Story Time, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 Comments

Old School PoetryThis February, let love take center stage! Stop by our special collections area to type out a heartfelt poem on our vintage typewriter—whether it’s for a dear friend or your favorite pizza. Drop your masterpiece into the submission box nearby if you'd...

January Programs for Kids ‘n’ Tweens

by Mary Kirkpatrick | December 30, 2024 | Blog, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Story Time, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 Comments

Story TimeJanuary Story Time is serving up something soup-er! Book Babies (infants/babies not yet walking and their caregivers) meet Wednesdays at 9:30 AM with songs, stories, and sensory fun for our "Soup’s On!" theme. (Library Closed Jan. 1) Toddler Time (walking...

November Programs for Kids ‘n’ Tweens

by Mary Kirkpatrick | October 30, 2024 | Blog, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Story Time, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 Comments

Story TimeNovember Story Time is here, and our themes are “Duck, Duck, Goose!” for Book Babies and Toddler Time and the letter “G” for Story Time! Join us in the Community Room for songs, stories, and sensory activities perfect for each age group. Book Babies...

October Programs for Kids ‘n’ Tweens

by Mary Kirkpatrick | September 30, 2024 | Blog, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Story Time, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 Comments

Story TimeGallop into Story Time fun this October! Toddler Time (ages 10-23 months) on Mondays & Tuesdays at 9:30 AM and Book Babies (ages 0-9 months) on Wednesdays at 9:30 AM will both feature “Clippity-clop, on a horse and pony we’ll hop!” Note: there will be no...

September 2024 Activities for Kids ‘n’ Tweens

by Mary Kirkpatrick | August 29, 2024 | Blog, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Story Time, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 Comments

Story TimeJoin us for Story Time fun at Madison Library District! Book Babies (0-9 months) Wednesdays at 9:30 AM in the Community Room September theme: "Feelings... Big and Small!" Toddler Time (10-23 months) Mondays and Tuesdays at 9:30 AM September theme:...

July 2024 Kids & Tween Activities

by Mary Kirkpatrick | June 27, 2024 | Blog, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 Comments

Summer Reading 2024Adventure Begins at Your Library with Summer Reading 2024! This annual program is designed for all ages to read every day, participate in special Library programs, and keep smashing our reading goals! The second prizes for every level will be...

June 2024 Kid & Tween Activities

by Mary Kirkpatrick | May 30, 2024 | Blog, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 Comments

Summer Reading 2024Adventure Begins at Your Library with Summer Reading 2024! This annual program is designed for all ages to read every day, participate in special Library programs, and stay active all summer long! Sign-ups begin on Monday, June 3rd, either online or...

Summer STEM – Coded Messages

by Lauren Abbott | Jun 22, 2020 | Blog, Craft Instructions Post, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 comments

Coded Messages

Week 2 of Summer STEM from Your Library

Watch the Video Instructions



Encode hidden messages with a crayon and water color paint!

Use the white crayon to write out your message on a blank piece of paper.
To reveal your message, paint over it with watercolors.

Pro tip: Encode your message before writing it in white to add another layer. Try a Caesar Cipher.

Enter the Summer STEM drawing!

May Kids ‘n’ Tween Programs

by Mary Kirkpatrick | April 28, 2025 | Blog, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 Comments

April Kids ‘n’ Tween Programs

by Mary Kirkpatrick | March 31, 2025 | Blog, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 Comments

March Programs for Kids ‘n’ Tweens

by Mary Kirkpatrick | February 28, 2025 | Blog, Book Babies, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Story Time, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 Comments

Programs for Kids ‘n’ Tweens

by Mary Kirkpatrick | January 27, 2025 | Blog, Book Babies, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Story Time, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 Comments

January Programs for Kids ‘n’ Tweens

by Mary Kirkpatrick | December 30, 2024 | Blog, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Story Time, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 Comments

November Programs for Kids ‘n’ Tweens

by Mary Kirkpatrick | October 30, 2024 | Blog, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Story Time, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 Comments

October Programs for Kids ‘n’ Tweens

by Mary Kirkpatrick | September 30, 2024 | Blog, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Story Time, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 Comments

September 2024 Activities for Kids ‘n’ Tweens

by Mary Kirkpatrick | August 29, 2024 | Blog, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Story Time, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 Comments

July 2024 Kids & Tween Activities

by Mary Kirkpatrick | June 27, 2024 | Blog, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 Comments

June 2024 Kid & Tween Activities

by Mary Kirkpatrick | May 30, 2024 | Blog, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 Comments

Summer Reading 2024Adventure Begins at Your Library with Summer Reading 2024! This annual program is designed for all ages to read every day, participate in special Library programs, and stay active all summer long! Sign-ups begin on Monday, June 3rd, either online or...

Summer STEM for Kids and Tweens

by Lauren Abbott | Jun 19, 2020 | Blog, Craft Instructions Post, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 comments

Summer STEM for Kids and Tweens

This summer, we’ll be doing video crafting focusing on STEM activities. Our Kids’ Corner and Tween Scene web pages will have links to videos with the instructions and demonstrations for each craft activity.

You can come by and pick up a Grab-n-Go craft bag with all supplies needed for the activity. These bags will be available on the first Monday of each week. We only have a limited number of these, so once they’re gone, they’re gone! We’ve included the lists of supplies for each craft in case you don’t get one of the Grab-n-Go bags. That way, you may use your own supplies and follow along with our videos.

Themes and Crafts for June:

June 16 Dragons- Charm the Dragon (Dragon Snake Charmer)
- tissue paper
- ball-point pen
- wool
- aluminum foil sheet
June 22 Royalty- Communicate with the princess in the Tower (Secret Codes)
- white crayon
- water color paint
June 29 Jack and the Beanstalk- Need a way down (Ziploc bag parachute)
- ziploc bag
- yarn or string
- knight toy
- big straw

Themes and Crafts for July:

July 6 Three Little Pigs- Scare the wolf (film canister rocket)
- plastic film canister
- antacid tablet
July 13 Goldilocks- Who dunnit? (DIY DNA)
- licorice twists
- 4 colors of jellybeans
- a handful of toothpicks
July 20 Cave of Wonders- Wishes in the lights (bubble lamp in a bag)
- Ziploc bag
- antacid tablet
- water
- oil
- UV light
- highlighter
- paper towel

Enter the Summer STEM drawing!

Summer STEM – Charm the Dragon

by Lauren Abbott | Jun 15, 2020 | Blog, Craft Instructions Post, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 comments

Charm the Dragon

Week 1 of Summer STEM from Your Library

Watch the Instruction Video



Experiment with static electricity and charm a tissue paper dragon!

Place your tissue paper over your dragon template. Trace the lines and cut out your dragon.
Place your dragon on the sheet of tin foil. Bend the head slightly towards you.
Rub your pen against the wool for at LEAST a minute.
Hold the pen near the head of your dragon and wave it. The head will rise to meet the pen.
Experiment with other ways you can build a static charge. Will a balloon work better?

Enter the Summer STEM drawing!

May Kids ‘n’ Tween Programs

by Mary Kirkpatrick | April 28, 2025 | Blog, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 Comments

April Kids ‘n’ Tween Programs

by Mary Kirkpatrick | March 31, 2025 | Blog, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 Comments

March Programs for Kids ‘n’ Tweens

by Mary Kirkpatrick | February 28, 2025 | Blog, Book Babies, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Story Time, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 Comments

Programs for Kids ‘n’ Tweens

by Mary Kirkpatrick | January 27, 2025 | Blog, Book Babies, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Story Time, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 Comments

January Programs for Kids ‘n’ Tweens

by Mary Kirkpatrick | December 30, 2024 | Blog, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Story Time, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 Comments

November Programs for Kids ‘n’ Tweens

by Mary Kirkpatrick | October 30, 2024 | Blog, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Story Time, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 Comments

October Programs for Kids ‘n’ Tweens

by Mary Kirkpatrick | September 30, 2024 | Blog, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Story Time, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 Comments

September 2024 Activities for Kids ‘n’ Tweens

by Mary Kirkpatrick | August 29, 2024 | Blog, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Story Time, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 Comments

July 2024 Kids & Tween Activities

by Mary Kirkpatrick | June 27, 2024 | Blog, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 Comments

June 2024 Kid & Tween Activities

by Mary Kirkpatrick | May 30, 2024 | Blog, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 Comments

Summer Reading 2024Adventure Begins at Your Library with Summer Reading 2024! This annual program is designed for all ages to read every day, participate in special Library programs, and stay active all summer long! Sign-ups begin on Monday, June 3rd, either online or...

March Kids and Tweens Make and Take Crafts – CANCELLED

by Patty Abel | Feb 27, 2020 | Blog, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 comments

Make and Take Crafts

2nd and 4th Thursday’s at 4:00-4:30 pm in the Community Room

March 12th: Pirates!

March 26th: Crocs -n- Clocks (Play Minute to Win It w/ water clock timer). – THIS EVENT CANCELLED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

For ages 6 to 11.

All supplies provided.

February Kids and Tweens Make and Take Crafts

by Patty Abel | Jan 22, 2020 | Blog, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 comments

Make and Take Crafts

2nd and 4th Thursday’s at 4:00-4:30 pm in the Community Room

February 13th: Shadow puppet theater and drawing

February 27th: Pet Rocks & Pudding Puppies

On the Same Page 2020 – Island Escape

by Rebekka Hanson | Jan 15, 2020 | Adult Arena, Blog, Kid's Corner, On the Same Page, Teen Zone, Tween Scene | 0 comments

On the Same Page 2020 – Island Escape

A Tropical Paradise

Friday, February 28, starting at 7:00 pm in the Community Room

Join us as we finish our On the Same Page celebration of Peter Pan and dispel the winter gloom!

Never say goodbye because goodbye means going away and going away means forgetting.

A Host of Activities

We’ve got fun activities for all ages. Spend an evening on the beach enjoying the waves. Be sure to wear your Hawaiian shirt! We’ll have all the tropical sounds, food and fun that you could wish for, including drinks with umbrellas.

Besides having a great time while ignoring the outside snow, participating will give you a chance at the night’s drawing for ultimate relaxation, a massage from Urban Massage. (Must be present and an adult to win, though there will be a drawing prize for the youngsters as well.)

Jane is now a common grown-up, with a daughter called Margaret; and every spring cleaning time, except when he forgets, Peter comes for Margaret and takes her to the Neverland, where she tells him stories about himself, to which he listens eagerly. When Margaret grows up she will have a daughter, who is to be Peter’s mother in turn; and thus it will go on, so long as children are gay and innocent and heartless.

On the Same Page 2020 – Open Book Discussion

by Rebekka Hanson | Jan 15, 2020 | Adult Arena, Blog, Kid's Corner, On the Same Page, Teen Zone, Tween Scene | 0 comments

On the Same Page 2020 – Open Book Discussion

As Part of the Library Book Club

Wednesday, February 26, at 1:30 pm in the Entry Foyer
and
Thursday, February 27, at 6:00 pm in the Entry Foyer

Children, Tweens, Teens and Adults are welcome to join this On the Same Page discussion about Peter Pan, the mischievous boy who refuses to grow up.

“Listen, then,” said Wendy, settling down to her story, with Michael at her feet and seven boys in the bed. “There was once a gentleman—”

A Story for the Ages

Our story starts as Peter Pan lands in the Darling’s proper middle-class home to look for his shadow. He befriends Wendy, John and Michael and teaches them to fly over the rooftops of London (with a little help from fairy dust). He and Tinker Bell whisk them off to Never-land, the island where lost boys play, mermaids splash and fairies make mischief. But a villainous-looking gang of pirates lurk in the docks, led by the terrifying Captain James Hook. Magic and excitement are in the air, but if Captain Hook has his way, before long, someone will be walking the plank and swimming with the crocodiles…

“It’s awfully sad,” the first twin said cheerfully.
“I don’t see how it can have a happy ending,” said the second twin. “Do you, Nibs?”
“I’m frightfully anxious.”
“If you knew how great is a mother’s love,” Wendy told them triumphantly, “you would have no fear.”

On the Same Page 2020 – An Awfully Big Adventure

by Rebekka Hanson | Jan 15, 2020 | Adult Arena, Blog, Kid's Corner, On the Same Page, Teen Zone, Tween Scene | 0 comments

On the Same Page 2020 – An Awfully Big Adventure

The Illustrations of J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan

Wednesday, February 12, starting at 7:00 PM IN THE COMMUNITY ROOM

For this On the Same Page event, we’re pleased to have guest speaker and BYU-Idaho English Professor, Jacqueline Harris, who will present a fascinating discussion.

“Would you like an adventure now,” Peter said casually to John, “or would you like to have your tea first?”

Capturing Barrie’s Neverland

2nd and 4th Thursday’s at 4:00-4:30 pm in the Community Room

Professor Harris will share how famous artists and illustrators have been captivated by Barrie’s Neverland and the boy who wouldn’t grow up. The artwork discussion will feature the pen-and-ink illustrations of F.D. Bedford, the full-page color renditions by Mabel Lucie Attwell, and the fairy watercolors prints by Arthur Rackham.

(And in the spirit of let’s not go home empty handed, there may be a small token given at the end of the evening to offset library forgetfulness, if you know what I mean. .)

F. D. Bedford

Mabel Lucie Attwell

Arthur Rackham

[Peter Pan] became a bestseller, and rightly so, as it was to be thumbed to loving death in nurseries, generation after generation. In her role as an illustrator for children it is the most successful of her books, as it touched most enjoyably on the areas of that marvelous story in a way that children can understand and remember forever.

Chris Beetles about Mabel Lucie Atwell’s illustrated version of Peter Pan

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Parachute Knight

Experiment with air resistance by making parachutes!

You will need string, a straw, a sandwich bag and/or coffee filter, and a toy figure.

Enter the Summer STEM drawing!

Coded Messages

Encode hidden messages with a crayon and water color paint!

Enter the Summer STEM drawing!

Summer STEM for Kids and Tweens

Themes and Crafts for June:

Themes and Crafts for July:

Enter the Summer STEM drawing!

Charm the Dragon

Experiment with static electricity and charm a tissue paper dragon!

Place your tissue paper over your dragon template. Trace the lines and cut out your dragon.

Place your dragon on the sheet of tin foil. Bend the head slightly towards you.

Rub your pen against the wool for at LEAST a minute.

Hold the pen near the head of your dragon and wave it. The head will rise to meet the pen.

Experiment with other ways you can build a static charge. Will a balloon work better?

Enter the Summer STEM drawing!

Make and Take Crafts

2nd and 4th Thursday’s at 4:00-4:30 pm in the Community Room

March 12th: Pirates!

March 26th: Crocs -n- Clocks (Play Minute to Win It w/ water clock timer). – THIS EVENT CANCELLED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

For ages 6 to 11.

All supplies provided.

Make and Take Crafts

2nd and 4th Thursday’s at 4:00-4:30 pm in the Community Room

February 13th: Shadow puppet theater and drawing

February 27th: Pet Rocks & Pudding Puppies

On the Same Page 2020 – Island Escape

A Tropical Paradise

Friday, February 28, starting at 7:00 pm in the Community Room

A Host of Activities

On the Same Page 2020 – Open Book Discussion

As Part of the Library Book Club

Wednesday, February 26, at 1:30 pm in the Entry FoyerandThursday, February 27, at 6:00 pm in the Entry Foyer

A Story for the Ages

On the Same Page 2020 – An Awfully Big Adventure

The Illustrations of J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan

Wednesday, February 12, starting at 7:00 PM IN THE COMMUNITY ROOM

Capturing Barrie’s Neverland

2nd and 4th Thursday’s at 4:00-4:30 pm in the Community Room

Wednesday, February 26, at 1:30 pm in the Entry Foyer
and
Thursday, February 27, at 6:00 pm in the Entry Foyer