The Milan News-Leader
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Library launches new program
Milan library partners with Museum of Natural History
By Brian Cox, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: January 18, 2007
The half-dozen elementary school students and their parents gather in a corner of the Milan Public Library around a man hugging a large inflated globe.
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"CO2 gases are like a blanket," explains Jeff Murray of the University of Michigan Exhibit Museum of Natural History.
Six-year-old Brianna Maziarz yawns and rests her head on her mother's shoulder. It's 10 a.m. Saturday and some of the kids are not quite awake.
Yet.
Their interest and attention is more engaged when Murray has them shoulder around two glowing red heating lamps.
"Let's see if we can test the greenhouse effect," he says.
He puts a thermometer in a clear plastic container and snaps down the lid. He puts another thermometer in an identical container, but leaves the lid off.
"We'll come back to check the temperatures later," he says and leads the kids to two other stations. One is about the water cycle; the other uses straws, crystals and clay to demonstrate CO2 levels in layers of ice.
This free hourlong workshop is the first in a three-part science program hosted by the Milan Public Library over the next two months. The theme is "Wild Weather, Changing Climate," and they involve hands-on activities for families with children ages 5 through 11.
"We were specifically looking for something for elementary kids," said Jennifer Perryman, who coordinated bringing the program to the Milan Public Library. "And bringing the parents in with the kids really appealed to us."
The package of three workshops cost the library about $150, but patrons get to participate for free.
Perryman said the first workshop last Saturday seemed to be well received.
"I had several of the kids come up to me and say they enjoyed," she said.
The science workshops are put on in conjunction with the library's Family Reading program, in which the library encourages families to read together.
But the books do not have to be about science, assured Perryman.
"For the reading piece, we're encouraging families to read anything together," she said. "It doesn't have to be related to weather."
The next workshop, "Stormy Surprises: When Weather Goes Wild," is Feb. 10. The workshop will answer such questions as, "Can the same air you breathe really take the roof off of your house? Why does thunder happen after lightning? Just what does the middle of a hurricane feel like?" The kids will make their own wind-testers and create a storm cloud with lightning to take home.
The workshop March 10 is titled "Backyard Meteorology: Forecasting the Future." Children will learn how meteorologists predict the weather and why it is difficult to do. They will explore real weather equipment and make some of their own equipment to forecast weather in their neighborhood.
Registration is required. Families may register for one or both of the upcoming workshops by calling 439-1240 or stopping by the library.
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