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Library hosts winter science experiments
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Neighbors | Natalie Scott.Librarian Kathe Orr (back) read a book about snowflakes to a group of children at the Austintown library's Winter Science event Jan. 8.
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Neighbors | Natalie Scott.A group of children stood in the front of the room to participate in an activity about the types of clothing that should be worn in the winter at the Austintown library Jan. 8.
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Neighbors | Natalie Scott.Librarian Kathe Orr (right) helped Gerrick Angel do an experiement to discover the purpose of blubber to animals that live in arctic areas at the Austintown library Jan. 8.
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Neighbors | Natalie Scott.Kylee (left) and Caitlin Mitchell wore ear muffs and a hat to participate in an activity at the Austintown library's Winter Science event Jan. 8.
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Neighbors | Natalie Scott.Olivia Puhalla waited for her turn to participate in an experiment at the Austintown library's Winter Science event Jan. 8.
By NATALIE SCOTT
The Austintown library hosted an event that explored various themes in winter and science Jan. 8.
Librarian Kathe Orr began the event by reading a book about snowflakes to the children and their parents. The book explained that every snowflake is different and that if you wear dark clothes to play in the snow during the winter, you can see the edges of the snowflakes much more clearly than you can on light clothes.
Next, Orr had the children stand in the front of the room and do an activity about the kinds of clothes that should be worn in the winter to prepare for the cold. Each child wore mittens, hats, scarves, gloves or boots. The activity included a participatory song that pointed to each article of clothing worn by the children.
Orr then read a story about a dog that was found floating down a river on a block of ice. The dog floated so far that he eventually found his way to the Baltic Sea and had to be rescued by a boat. Orr told the children that the story is based off a true event and showed everyone a video of the real dog that had this experience.
Orr also had different stations set up that had winter-themed science experiments on them. One of the stations involved having children put their hands into a bag which was surrounded by another bag with Crisco in it.
They placed their hands in a bucket full of ice to see if they could feel the cold. Orr used this experiment to show how blubber helps many animals that live in Arctic climates to stay warm.
Another experiment that Orr set up showed how effective different types of leaves are at keeping snow off animals below them.