Seattle Public Library’s annual Summer of Learning for kids and teens is underway through Sept. 4. This year’s program features the theme “Make a Splash! Adventures with Water” and encourages reading and activities around science, technology, engineering, arts and math. All programs are free and open to all.
See the Summer of Learning webpage for information on every program at every library branch.
Children and teens can learn to program robots, build helicopters, create vlogs on YouTube, play a ukulele, take photos, make paper quilling beads, write a song, design sound effects and more. Some classes require registration, which will open up online two weeks before the first class begins at each Library location.
Children who take part in Summer of Learning will receive a free Action Guide packed with fun water-related learning activities. For every 10 activities finished, participants will receive a prize.
Teens who take part in Summer of Learning will receive a free Teen Book Bingo card. Participants who get a bingo are entered in a grand prize drawing, and blackout bingos receive a second chance to win. Examples of Book Bingo squares include: book you judged by its cover, turned into a movie, read it outdoors, and a comic or graphic novel.
Families with young children ages birth to 5 years old can pick up a fun Action Guide filled with reading and learning activities to do together with babies, toddlers and preschoolers. For every activity completed, kids will get a special sticker from the Library. The Early Learner Action Guide will be printed in English, and a printable versions will be available online in Amharic, Chinese (simplified), English, Oromo, Somali, Spanish, Tigrinya and Vietnamese.
The Library also has partnered with the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture to offer free family admission, for up to two adults and four children, from July 1 to Oct. 31. Just clip and bring in the pass from a Summer Action Guide or Teen Book Bingo card.
At the Greenwood Library, 8016 Greenwood Ave. N., Summer of Learning programs include:
- African Beats Workshop from 2-3 p.m. Saturday, July 7
- Foley: Create Sound FX for Audio and Movies from 1-2:30 p.m. Sunday, July 29. Register online.
- Explorers: EV3 Rovers from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 2. Learn how to program robotic LEGO EV3. Register online.
- “Thumbelina” by Oregon Shadow Theater from 3-4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 18.
At the Broadview Library, 12755 Greenwood Ave. N.:
-
- Wadng Pool Water Science at Bitter Lake Community Center from 2:30-3:30 p.m. every Thursday from June 28 through Aug. 9.
- Coast Salish Stories, Art and Design from 12-1 p.m. Saturday, June 30.
- Robot Garage: Battle Bots from 2:30-4 p.m. Thursday, July 19. Learn about the science of history and robots and build your own rover. Register online.
- World’s Slowest Computer from 1-3 p.m. Wednesday, July 25. “Build a computer that processes information at “human speed,” using sponges and sticky notes. This exercise helps you understand the basic principles of computing through a fun, competitive activity.”
