VELI-STEM
Vermont public libraries are busier than ever – with over 3 million visits last year, offering books, public WiFi and a wide variety of programs that foster personal enrichment and lifelong learning for all ages.
VELI-STEM will strengthen the ability of Vermont libraries to provide local opportunities for young children to explore and learn about science, technology, engineering and math. Not only is this important for children's own personal understanding of the world around them, but this kind of informal learning fosters curiosity and the excitement of discovery.
Vermont librarians will develop and implement new library practices and programs that promote science inquiry and STEM learning for children, their parents, and childcare providers.
Once again, Vermont is taking the lead! This project is designed as a national model for small and rural libraries and the grant includes funds for training librarians who will visit Vermont from 22 other states. Library leaders across the country recognize Vermont public libraries for their innovations in early literacy, maker spaces, and other STEM-related programs and VELI-STEM will reinforce that recognition.
Why Science for Young Children?
The National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) affirms that learning science and engineering practices in the early years fosters children’s curiosity and enjoyment in exploring the world around them and lays the foundation for a progression of science learning in K–12 settings and throughout their entire lives.
We know that young children:
• Have a natural fascination and wonder about the natural world in which they live
• Have the capacity to engage in scientific practices and develop understanding at a conceptual level
• Are active, self-motivated learners who learn best from personal experience rather than from decontextualized linguistic input
• Develop science skills and knowledge in both formal and informal settings by engaging in experiential (hands-on) learning
• Construct knowledge through participation with others in activities that foster experimentation, problem solving, and social interaction
• Need multiple and varied opportunities to engage in science exploration and discovery
Adults play a central and important role in helping young children learn science. As young children participate in ongoing science investigations they:
• Explore objects, materials, and events in new and different ways
• Learn and use vocabulary when they explore and talk together
• Cooperate and share while working with others
• Make models and drawings of what they’re doing
• Participate in focused discussion about what they observe
• Ask questions and solve problems: the more experiences they have, the more they can ask new questions
Vermont public libraries are busier than ever – with over 3 million visits last year, offering books, public WiFi and a wide variety of programs that foster personal enrichment and lifelong learning for all ages.
VELI-STEM will strengthen the ability of Vermont libraries to provide local opportunities for young children to explore and learn about science, technology, engineering and math. Not only is this important for children's own personal understanding of the world around them, but this kind of informal learning fosters curiosity and the excitement of discovery.
Vermont librarians will develop and implement new library practices and programs that promote science inquiry and STEM learning for children, their parents, and childcare providers.
Once again, Vermont is taking the lead! This project is designed as a national model for small and rural libraries and the grant includes funds for training librarians who will visit Vermont from 22 other states. Library leaders across the country recognize Vermont public libraries for their innovations in early literacy, maker spaces, and other STEM-related programs and VELI-STEM will reinforce that recognition.
Why Science for Young Children?
The National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) affirms that learning science and engineering practices in the early years fosters children’s curiosity and enjoyment in exploring the world around them and lays the foundation for a progression of science learning in K–12 settings and throughout their entire lives.
We know that young children:
• Have a natural fascination and wonder about the natural world in which they live
• Have the capacity to engage in scientific practices and develop understanding at a conceptual level
• Are active, self-motivated learners who learn best from personal experience rather than from decontextualized linguistic input
• Develop science skills and knowledge in both formal and informal settings by engaging in experiential (hands-on) learning
• Construct knowledge through participation with others in activities that foster experimentation, problem solving, and social interaction
• Need multiple and varied opportunities to engage in science exploration and discovery
Adults play a central and important role in helping young children learn science. As young children participate in ongoing science investigations they:
• Explore objects, materials, and events in new and different ways
• Learn and use vocabulary when they explore and talk together
• Cooperate and share while working with others
• Make models and drawings of what they’re doing
• Participate in focused discussion about what they observe
• Ask questions and solve problems: the more experiences they have, the more they can ask new questions