Spark! - Science Discovery @

the Library

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The Big Bang Science Club started in 2011

Aimed at 8 to 12 year olds

A year of monthly Science Workshops

We formed a relationship with The Children‟s

Discovery Museum

The Big Bang Science Club

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The Museum received grant funding for a pilot

program for pre-school science which became

“Little Spark”

The Big Bang Science Club

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A four-week science discovery club for

preschool aged children and their carers

Collecting & Classifying Objects

Weighing & Measuring

Experimenting

Science Fair & Graduation Ceremony

The Little Spark! Discovery Club

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The Little Spark! Discovery Club

Aims

Engage children and carers in an active learning relationship with each

other.

Introduce early science and discovery concepts through play based

learning.

Present science concepts in an open, non-threatening and fun environment

using household objects, toys and simple language.

Extend science education beyond the borders of the museum and the

classroom.

Provide extra support and information to allow carers and children to extend

their learning experience to the home.

Promote the library‟s collection of preschool science and discovery books.

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The Little Spark! Discovery Club

Brightly branded materials….

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The Little Spark! Discovery Club

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The Little Spark! Discovery Club

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The Little Spark! Discovery Club

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The Little Spark! Discovery Club

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Little Spark! Discovery Box

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Graduation certificate

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The Little Spark! Discovery Club

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The Little Spark! Discovery Club

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The Little Spark! Discovery Club

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The Little Spark! Discovery Club

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The Little Spark! Discovery Club

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Spark! Science Clubs

Little Spark Discovery Club for pre-school

Spark! Adventurers Club for years K-2

Spark! Explorers Club for years 3-6

Workshops provided by science educators

including CSIRO, Fizzics & Children‟s Discovery

Museum.

Volunteers from Young Scientist Australia attend

as „Spark! Scientists in Residence‟.

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Spark! Science Clubs

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Spark! Discovery Boxes

A collaboration between Children‟s Discovery

Museum and Randwick City Library Service.

A collection of themed science discovery boxes

for 8-12 year olds.

Mini Beasts, Treasures of the Earth, The Human

Body, Amazing Animals, Weather Watchers,

Backyard Botanist, Microscope, Magnetism, The

Science of Sound and Awesome Astronomy.

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Spark! Discovery Boxes

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Spark! Discovery Boxes

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Spark! Discovery Boxes

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Spark! Discovery Boxes

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Spark! for the Future

Launch Little Spark! Discovery Box collection.

Form partnerships with local primary schools

and offer science support resources.

Continue to expand programmes to keep up

with demand.

Launch The Spark Science Fair featuring the

Regina Chan Spark Science Award28

Collaboration

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Collaboration

Our collaboration with the Children‟s Discovery

Museum has given us access to:

A wealth of specialised knowledge

Dynamic science educators

Resources supplied by external funding

Unique programmes and collections

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Collaboration

In return, Randwick City Library Service has been

able to offer:

reaching a wider audience through an established

community of children and carers .

A range of science and discovery books to support the

programmes.

Connections to reach out to a large public library

network and extend programmes beyond Randwick City.

Specialised library and collections knowledge and

graphic design support to facilitate programmes and

collections.31

Collaboration

This partnership is proof of the success that can

be achieved by extending educational models

beyond the boundaries of the classroom and

museum into public libraries where they can

complement and enrich children‟s formal

learning journeys.

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