Summer reading program brings moon rocks and adventures
Last Friday, May 31, Century area children and adults got to experiment too see how the surface of the moon was made and see real moon rocks and meteorite samples and explore lunar science and cosmic impacts at Century Library thanks to West Florida Public Library's (WFPL) Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics (STEAM) event, "NASA Moon Rocks".
Funded through the Escambia County Board of County Commissioners and West Florida Public Library system, "A Universe of Stories" is the summer reading program hosted by library employees, including several who actually went to Cape Canaveral last year to be trained as moon rock handlers.
"We have 31 performances of the show," said STEAM Librarian and host Kimberly Ball. "NASA lends these rocks out for a two-week period and my director wanted us to have them out as often as we can in the community. It's part of my job as a STEAM librarian."
Friday, participants got to make their own moon surface by dropping rocks (meteorites) onto crackers (moon surface) from different heights. The 'moon dust' created was like the moon's surface.
Next, participants got to drop different-sized rocks into cocoa powder and flour (moon dust) to see the size and depth of craters left.
Then using magnifying glasses supplied, everyone got to hold a meteorite and look at samples of space rock up close. There were also small containers of real moon dust brought back by NASA to see up close.
The WFPL group will return to the Century library for a program wrap-up party at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, July 31, that will close out the summer reading program, according to Ball.
Other events going on at Century library include a variety of performances at 11 a.m. on Wednesdays through July 31, which are: Atlantic Coast Theater on June 5; Pint Size Polka on June 12; The Moogician on June 19; Maks Annaev on June 26; Animal Tales on July 10; Didgeridoo Down Under on July 17; Mashed Potato Players on July 24 and Wrap-up Party on July 31.
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