Alexandria Library received a $7,500 “Curiosity Creates” grant from the American Library Association’s Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) and Disney. Out of 400 applications, the library is the only Virginia library among the recipients. The grant is for creating programs that encourage creativity in children, particularly programs that reach low-income, immigrant, and underserved areas.
Beatley Central will be doing a series of 21 programs under the collective name “STEAMtivity” – a compound of STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) and creativity. These programs will be both low-tech and high-tech and encourage children to be creative, explore their own interests and ideas, collaborate, and have fun while learning in the STEAM areas. Programming began in November and will carry on through May 2016.
The grant money will be used to purchase laptop computers, iPad minis, MaKey MaKeys, Arduino kits, littleBits snap circuits, Lego Mindstorms Robot kits, and Strawbees building supplies. All materials will be kept by the library after the grant period is over and will be used for continued programming.
For more information on upcoming STEAMtivity-related programs, contact Diana Price at 703-746-1735.