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BRIDGEWATER, Va. (AP) — Children participating in a North River Library after-school program aren't just reading books — they're bringing the stories to life and learning valuable lessons in the process.
Cool After School at the Bridgewater branch of the Massanutten Regional Library system started simply as a book club, said Bly Brown, the branch's manager.
Brown developed it into a crafting and scholastic opportunity during the past academic year with the idea that students, even at a young age, can learn the scientific process and develop problem-solving skills as a byproduct of creative activities.
Brown said the program is aimed at students in kindergarten through fifth grade.
The skills they learn at Cool After School should come in handy when they tackle STEAM subjects — science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics — later in school, as well as when they take the state's Standards of Learning tests.
The program is held 4 to 5 p.m. the first Tuesday of every month and 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on a Saturday every other month.
While some of the crafts are based around holidays or current events, others connect with children's books.
Last Tuesday, one of the crafts was making "Oobleck," a fictional creation found in the Dr. Seuss book "Bartholomew and Oobleck."
The story, which is about magicians creating a sticky substance called Oobleck, teaches children that sometimes saying "I'm sorry, it was my fault" are the "magical words" that will solve a problem.
"Just seeing the children's excitement and challenge" is what Brown said she enjoys about the program. "I really love how children and parents work together."
North River Library offers other academic after-school activities every Tuesday that are held at all of the branches in the MRL system. They include "Dogs to Read to" and "Crafty Club."
The "LEGO Club" is 7-year-old Daniel Craver's favorite activity and is where he builds "war stuff" with "Star Wars" LEGOs.
His mother, Diana Craver, said she often takes Daniel and his 3-year-old sister, Rachel, to the after-school programs.
"I love how they can be out and about and do something with other kids, that they learn things and can do hands-on crafts," Craver said.
More information about after-school learning activities can be found at www.mrlib.org.
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Information from: Daily News-Record, http://www.dnronline.com
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