STEM Resource Library @ Monaghan County Libraries

STEM Library

@ Monaghan County Libraries Borrow a STEM activity for your Classroom today!

STEM Resources available for lending Monaghan County Libraries are always striving to develop our services to schools, so we are delighted to be able to extend our resources to include a range of STEM resources which we hope will enhance the wonderful work being done in the area of STEM. We have included a broad range of resources but would be happy to take suggestions for building & developing the STEM Library. Please email your suggestions to libraryactivities@monaghancoco.ie .

How to borrow: Please email requests to libraryactivities@monaghancoco.ie stating the following - Your Name - Your School & Class Group - The Item(s) you would like to borrow - The dates you require the items.

Lending Terms & Conditions - Materials are available for a standard 3 week loan.

The loan period may be extended if there are no other bookings for the items.

“All the world is a laboratory to the inquiring mind.”

MARTIN HENRY FISHER

- In the interest of hygiene we ask that you wipe down the items with antibacterial wipes before and after use.

- Any faults or missing parts should be recorded on the checklist sheet before items are returned.

- Children must be supervised at all times when using STEM resources. Monaghan County Libraries will not accept responsibility for any damage caused through misuse.

- All items must be returned in the boxes they are delivered in.

Lego Education

Coding Express

For more than 40 years Lego have been working with teachers and educational specialists like you to deliver playful learning experiences that bring subjects to life in the classroom and make learning fun and impactful.

We have chosen a range of Lego Education sets which we hope will give options to all Primary School Classes. (Multiple sets of each kit are available so children can work in small or large groups)

Make your train pause, stop, change direction, sound the horn, and more! Taking the familiarity of a train and combining it with the new action bricks, early learners will learn through play about sequencing, looping, conditional coding, and cause and effect by placing the new action bricks within the train’s...

STEAM Park

STEAM Park builds on every child’s natural curiosity and desire to create, explore, and investigate the world of early science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM) through creative play. The possibilities are endless, as you work with them to construct a STEAM Park full of dynamic moving rides, fun games,...

Spike

We-Do

Meet the newest LEGO Education STEAM learning solution for primary school students. SPIKE Essential will engage students in hands-on investigation of STEAM concepts using everyday themes. In addition to learning computer science and design engineering concepts, students will also develop their literacy, math, and social-emotional skills as they turn concepts into reality.

Designed for primary school classrooms, the WeDo 2.0 Core Set is a hands-on solution that enhances pupils' curiosity and skills in computing and science.

The set is delivered in a storage bin along with sorting trays, labels, a Smarthub, a Medium Motor, Motion Sensor, a Tilt Sensor, and enough building elements for two pupils.

Please note only ??? of these sets are available

SPIKE Essential curriculum units are designed around playful narrative-based problem-solving with relatable themes that can develop young students into independent STEAM thinkers.

A resource library of lesson plans and activities for Lego Spike is available at education.lego.com

Mindstorm LEGO® MINDSTORMS® Education EV3 Core Set is a hands-on, cross-curricular STEM solution that engages students by providing the resources to design, build and program their creations while helping them develop essential skills such as creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, and communication. A Core Set supports two students and comes with a getting-started guide, video tutorials, and standards-aligned lesson plans. An eLearning program is included for educators.

Please note only ??? of these sets available

Computer Programming

If you are familiar with Scratch coding, you may like to take it to the next level with the introduction of these 'block coding' based kits.

Makey Makey

The Makey Makey is an electronic invention kit for all ages! The Makey Makey allows you to take everyday objects and combine them with the internet. Using the alligator clips attached to any conductive material you can control the keyboard of your computer, such as the space bar, arrow keys and left click of the mouse. When you are ready the back of the Makey Makey allows you to key map even more keys!

Imagine the fun of making a Banana Keyboard....

Numerous Makey Makey tutorials & lesson plans are easily found online at makeymakey.com

Micro:Bit Using the micro:bit, your students will gain vital competencies and skills in critical thinking and collaboration, building their ability and confidence to have ideas, share them and make them real.

The simplicity of the micro:bit's design allows for immediate success, but also becomes a more sophisticated tool as your students' knowledge and understanding grows.

From its origins in the BBC UK Make It Digital project of 2016, the micro:bit is changing the ways young people think about and work with technology today and for the future.

Microbit.org contains all the tutorials and lesson plans you'll need to get started as a beginner or for more advanced activities.

Magformers Magformers magnetic construction sets can be used for a variety of Early Years/Foundation learning purposes. The magnetic pieces encourage younger children to identify and easily make different 2D and 3D shapes, like squares, triangles, cubes and pyramids. Workbooks or cards assist the study of geometric shape recognition, colour recognition and fine motor skills development.

Make simple 2D and 3D shapes and 3D nets; Recognise different shapes and colours; Develop fine motor skills through model building; Encourage interaction, sharing and social play; Explore magnets and forces; No mess, easy to clear away; Deliver active learning and development; Introduce maths, design and technology to younger children;

Microscope When it comes to STEM, hands on experience is the best experience! Our Educational grade Microscope will all children to explore everyday items at 1000x zoom. What would some sugar look like at that magnification? Or perhaps a hair strand or even a bug? A number of ready made slides will be provided with the microscope.

Magnets & Magnetisum Are you planning on exploring Magnets & Magnetic materials to Junior Classes? Our Magnets STEM box is exactly what you need.

In it you'll find the First Experiments Magnetism Kit which is the perfect set to develop magnetic investigation. Comes with a useful A4 background information booklet with 16 experiments linked to the QCA science curriculum for Key Stage 1. The Magnets STEM box and 2 x Magnet Field Pattern Windows. A transparent frame containing magnetic powder in a water based solution for showing magnetic field patterns. When a magnet is present the particles of iron inside become slightly magnetised, so they attract each other and cluster into the lines that show the magnetic field patterns.

Includes a pair of small ferrite block magnets and a pair of plastic cased bar magnets and teachers leaflet.

Nature Exploration Outdoor activities let kids explore the world around them all while practicing observation, investigation, and problem solving skills. With this in mind, we've put together a simple kit for Nature Exploration containing Bug Hunters, Bug Viewers, a Bug Barn and easy hold magnifiers.

Let's Experiment Primary Science Kits Written by Michael Browne NT, for the Irish Curriculum, these kits are widely used in primary schools throughout Ireland. Each kit consists of a box of materials (sufficient for a class of 30 pupils working in groups) plus a Teachers Book and a Pupils Book which can be photocopied.

The Teachers Book gives a brief introduction to the topic being introduced (e.g. magnetism), suggestions on classroom organisation, the scientific method and notes on each experiment.

The photocopiable Pupils Books consists of a series of cards (experiments) that are graded together with a record sheet for the pupils to fill in at the end of each experiment.

Each kit caters for all classes from infants to sixth class Each work-card introduces an experiment. All the information that you, as a teacher, will need for the various experiments is included in the teacher’s notes.

Every teacher will approach this kit in a different way and at a different pace.

Choose from the following topics: - Magnetism - Electricity - Sound - Light - Forces & Motion

Topics Available:

Human Torso Children will love learning about the Human Body with this half sized, 11 piece dissectable anatomical torso, consisting of realistically coloured and detailed body parts in the correct proportion and location.

Comes complete with a photocopiable key to parts, ideal for pupils to learn about the major organs and the physical relationship between them.

Measure Mate This versatile tool is the perfect way to introduce the concept of measurement to young learners in an outdoor setting. It is perfect for non-standard measuring or the introduction of standard units Young learners can have fun exploring and measuring the natural landscape using five different tools: Vertical measure – to measure freestanding objects Callipers – to measure internal and external dimensions of an object Trundle wheel – to measure distances (1 click = 1 m) Spirit level – to discover whether a surface is level (horizontal) or plumb (vertical) Measuring stick – to be used as a ruler Activity guide features fun ways children can use the Measure-Mate™ included.

Rocks, Minerals & Fossils Bring geology to life with this set of specimens that allow children to see real Sedimentary Rocks, Metamorphic Rocks, Igneous Rocks, Minerals, and Fossils up close.

Identification charts, labels, storage trays and activity guide are also included. This comprehensive collection has 5 individually packaged examples.

The mineral collections contain 12 samples, and the fossil set contains 9 specimens. Why not bury them in soil or sand for children to discover and become archaeologists on a dig? Compare and contrast. Get children to use magnifying glasses, or an Easi Scope for even closer inspection and produce detailed drawings or diagrams of their finds! Suitable for ages 8+.

Orbiter (Astronomy) The Edulab, Orbiter demonstrates how the Sun, Earth and Moon manually revolve around one another on this gear-driven model.

The Orbiter effectively demonstrates: - daylight - night, - seasons, - Phases of the Moon.