1. Spark! - Science Discovery @
the Library
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2.  The Big Bang Science Club started in 2011
 Aimed at 8 to 12 year olds
 A year of monthly Science Workshops
 We formed a relationship with The Children‟s
Discovery Museum
The Big Bang Science Club
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4.  The Museum received grant funding for a pilot
program for pre-school science which became
“Little Spark”
The Big Bang Science Club
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5. A four-week science discovery club for
preschool aged children and their carers
 Collecting & Classifying Objects
 Weighing & Measuring
 Experimenting
 Science Fair & Graduation Ceremony
The Little Spark! Discovery Club
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6. The Little Spark! Discovery Club
Aims
Engage children and carers in an active learning relationship with each
other.
Introduce early science and discovery concepts through play based
learning.
Present science concepts in an open, non-threatening and fun environment
using household objects, toys and simple language.
Extend science education beyond the borders of the museum and the
classroom.
Provide extra support and information to allow carers and children to extend
their learning experience to the home.
Promote the library‟s collection of preschool science and discovery books.
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7. The Little Spark! Discovery Club
Brightly branded materials….
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8. The Little Spark! Discovery Club
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9. The Little Spark! Discovery Club
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10. The Little Spark! Discovery Club
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11. The Little Spark! Discovery Club
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13. Little Spark! Discovery Box
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14. Graduation certificate
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15. The Little Spark! Discovery Club
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16. The Little Spark! Discovery Club
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17. The Little Spark! Discovery Club
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18. The Little Spark! Discovery Club
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19. The Little Spark! Discovery Club
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21. Spark! Science Clubs
 Little Spark Discovery Club for pre-school
 Spark! Adventurers Club for years K-2
 Spark! Explorers Club for years 3-6
 Workshops provided by science educators
including CSIRO, Fizzics & Children‟s Discovery
Museum.
 Volunteers from Young Scientist Australia attend
as „Spark! Scientists in Residence‟.
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22. Spark! Science Clubs
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23. Spark! Discovery Boxes
 A collaboration between Children‟s Discovery
Museum and Randwick City Library Service.
 A collection of themed science discovery boxes
for 8-12 year olds.
 Mini Beasts, Treasures of the Earth, The Human
Body, Amazing Animals, Weather Watchers,
Backyard Botanist, Microscope, Magnetism, The
Science of Sound and Awesome Astronomy.
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24. Spark! Discovery Boxes
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25. Spark! Discovery Boxes
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26. Spark! Discovery Boxes
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27. Spark! Discovery Boxes
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28. Spark! for the Future
 Launch Little Spark! Discovery Box collection.
 Form partnerships with local primary schools
and offer science support resources.
 Continue to expand programmes to keep up
with demand.
 Launch The Spark Science Fair featuring the
Regina Chan Spark Science Award
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29. Collaboration
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30. Collaboration
Our collaboration with the Children‟s Discovery
Museum has given us access to:
 A wealth of specialised knowledge
 Dynamic science educators
 Resources supplied by external funding
 Unique programmes and collections
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31. Collaboration
In return, Randwick City Library Service has been
able to offer:
 reaching a wider audience through an established
community of children and carers .
 A range of science and discovery books to support the
programmes.
 Connections to reach out to a large public library
network and extend programmes beyond Randwick City.
 Specialised library and collections knowledge and
graphic design support to facilitate programmes and
collections.
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32. Collaboration
This partnership is proof of the success that can
be achieved by extending educational models
beyond the boundaries of the classroom and
museum into public libraries where they can
complement and enrich children‟s formal
learning journeys.
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