'Amazeum Science' is at library's summer reading program

July 2, 2014 at 5:00 a.m.

by Susan Holland

Photo by Susan Holland Several youngsters were busy building structures with Kevlar planks at last Thursday’s “Amazeum Science” summer reading program session at the Gravette Public Library. Jonathon Mills, of Springdale, standing at right, is an Amazeum program volunteer. He supervised the construction of towers, bridges and buildings and measured them as “knee height,” “waist height,” “shoulder height” and “head height.” Mills cheered the builders on and encouraged their efforts until the structures toppled to the floor.
Photo by Susan Holland Several youngsters were busy building structures with Kevlar planks at last Thursday’s “Amazeum Science” summer reading program session at the Gravette Public Library. Jonathon Mills, of Springdale, standing at right, is an Amazeum program volunteer. He supervised the construction of towers, bridges and buildings and measured them as “knee height,” “waist height,” “shoulder height” and “head height.” Mills cheered the builders on and encouraged their efforts until the structures toppled to the floor.

GRAVETTE -- About 50 youngsters showed up last Thursday for "Amazeum Science," the second session of the Gravette Public Library's summer reading program.

The children and some of their parents enjoyed several activities designed to give a "sneak peak" at the new Amazeum children's museum in Bentonville. Groundbreaking was held in April for the building, now under construction at J Street and Museum Way near Crystal Bridges, according to Mindy Porter, director of education for the Amazeum.

Projects that kept the children happily involved included building structures with Keva planks, drawing pictures on a cycloid and designing filmstrips for the zoetrope, an elementary slide show.

A plank was taken from the fence at the front of the Amazeum property, painted white and brought to the library. As the children left Thursday's program, they signed their names on the plank. It will be returned to Bentonville and reinstalled so the children's names will be on display there.

Seven more sessions are scheduled in the "Fizz, Boom, Read" summer reading program. A session allowing participants to do melted crayon art will be held July 3 at 1 p.m. for ages 12 and up. The next two sessions, a forensic science workshop where youngsters may visit a crime scene and find evidence and a "Grossology and Germatology 101" class, promise to provide fun and enrichment for learners of all ages. They will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 8, and 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 15.

Community on 07/02/2014