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Library NExT
Library NExT (Network of Education x Training) is a series of workshops for elementary, middle, and high school students on topics including circuits, Python programming language, virology, and 55+ other STEAM courses. Initially started as a pilot program at six San Diego libraries in 2017, it expanded to 24 locations in 2021, and to all City of San Diego library locations in 2022. This San Diego Public Library program is a collaboration with UC San Diego Extended Studies and Sally Ride Science.
For more information, contact us at LibraryNext@sandiego.gov.
Admit One: College Prep Academy
Free SAT/ACT test preparation classes.
Summer 2023 registration opens June 1.
Summer 2023 registration opens June 1.
Summer 2023 Library NExT Programs
June
Physics of Fidget Spinners
Thursday, June 1, 2023 | 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. | Register Here
Location: North University Community | Level: Middle School (Grades 6-8)
Fidget spinners are fun, but did you know you can learn from them? In this workshop, students will use these little devices to explore motion, tension, gravity and other concepts in physics. This is an in-person workshop.
Beginner's SketchUp: Designing 3-D Graphics
Thursday, June 1, 2023 | 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. | Register Here
Location: Carmel Mountain Ranch | Level: Elementary School (Grades 3-5)
With 3D modeling, you can design a house, a bridge, a monster – or anything else you can dream up! Learn to use SketchUp Make 3D Modeling to create all sorts of three-dimensional graphic models. This is an in-person workshop.
Craftronics
Saturday, June 3, 2023 | 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. | Register Here
Location: Logan Heights | Level: Middle School (Grades 6-8)
Learn about electronics and circuits while creating fun crafts projects! Previous projects have included a moving origami swan, light-up LED bracelet or robot bug. This is an in-person workshop.
Squid Dissection
Monday, June 5, 2023 | 3:30 - 5:30 p.m. | Register Here
Location: Allied Gardens/Benjamin | Level: Middle School (Grades 6-8)
Things might get a little inky as we work together to dissesct a real squid. Students will develop scientific research skills as they learn about squids and other ocean animals. This is an in-person workshop.
Virtual Animation and Video Game Design Using Scratch
Monday, June 5, 2023 | 4:30 - 6:00 p.m. | Register Here
Location: SDPL Virtual Branch | Level: Elementary School (Grades 3-5)
Make zombies, princesses and flying carpets come to life as you develop your own online game! Using Scratch software, students will learn about character and storyboard design as you use basic animation to design games. This is a virtual workshop.
Slimy Sea Creatures
Friday, June 9, 2023 | 3:30 - 5:30 p.m. | Register Here
Location: North Clairemont | Level: Elementary School (Grades 3-5)
How do octopuses change color and why do oysters make pearls? Students will investigate how slimy sea creatures live and thrive in their underwater homes, then create an artwork inspired by what they have learned. This is an in-person workshop.
Walking on Wind: Intelligence Beyond the Electronics
Saturday, June 10, 2023 | 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. | Register Here
Location: Rancho Peñasquitos | Level: Elementary School (Grades 3-5)
They walk on wind, they breathe, they hunker down in the wind, robots without batteries, chips, just a system of levers highly attuned to the environment they inhabit. This workshop explores the mechanics and philosophy behind Theo Jensen’s “Strandbeests” and other artistic creations that interact with the elements. With these concepts, students will work together to design and construct a moving creation. This is an in-person workshop.
Electric Vegetables
Saturday, June 10, 2023 | 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. | Register Here
Location: Rancho Bernardo | Level: Elementary School (Grades 3-5)
Ever wonder how to make batteries out of vegetables? In this workshop, students will work together in small groups to create their own vegetable batteries. After learning about how batteries work, students will use hands-on problem-solving techniques to figure out how to assemble components into a working battery and how to measure the voltage created. This is an in-person workshop.
Virtual Slimy Sea Creatures
Monday, June 12, 2023 | 4:00 - 5:30 p.m. | Register Here
Location: SDPL Virtual Branch | Level: Elementary School (Grades 3-5)
How do octopuses change color and why do oysters make pearls? Students will investigate how slimy sea creatures live and thrive in their underwater homes, then create an artwork inspired by what they have learned. This is a virtual workshop.
Space Out
Tuesday, June 13, 2023 | 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. | Register Here
Location: Valencia Park/Malcolm X | Level: Elementary School (Grades 3-5)
Buckle your seatbelt and get ready to blast off as you plan your own mission to space! Explore our Earth and then move on to other planets, solar systems and faraway galaxies. This is an in-person workshop.
Envisioning a Sustainable City of the Future
Saturday, June 17, 2023 | 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. | Register Here
Location: University Heights | Level: Elementary School (Grades 3-5)
What will the city of the future look like? In this hands-on workshop, students will consider principles of urban design, user experience, climate and sustainability as they design and model a futuristic city. Dynamic, fast-paced activities will encourage students to generate solutions to real-world challenges through creative expression and brainstorming. This is an in-person workshop.
Virtual Introduction to Internet Programming: Web Design
Saturday, June 17, 2023 | 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. | Register Here
Location: SDPL Virtual Branch | Level: High School (Grades 9-12)
Ever wanted to design your own website? In this workshop, students will get famiiar with HTML and CSS as they use templates to build a website highlighting a topic of their choice. This is a virtual workshop.
Fire and Ice
Saturday, June 17, 2023 | 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. | Register Here
Location: Tierrasanta | Level: Middle School (Grades 6-8)
Learn fascinating and wacky facts, play silly games and become an Earth science genius! Students will get up close and personal with erupting volcanoes and frozen icebergs – all without burning or freezing themselves. This is an in-person workshop.
Inflatable Architecture
Saturday, June 24, 2023 | 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. | Register Here
Location: Paradise Hills | Level: Elementary School (Grades 3-5)
Engineering, art and nature intersect as students conduct amazing experiments with bubbles and learn how to turn simple bags into pillows and architectural structures! Together, students will turn ordinary materials into giant inflatable forts and construct an imaginative public art display. This is an in-person workshop.
Virtual Introduction to Internet Programming: Web Design
Tuesday, June 27, 2023 | 5:00 - 6:30 p.m. | Register Here
Location: SDPL Virtual Branch | Level: High School (Grades 9-12)
Ever wanted to design your own website? In this workshop, students will get famiiar with HTML and CSS as they use templates to build a website highlighting a topic of their choice. This is a virtual workshop.
July
Gorging on Geology
Saturday, July 8, 2023 | 2:30 p.m - 4:30 p.m. | Register Here
Location: Oak Park | Level: Middle School (Grades 6-8)
Desserts meet geology in this delicious scientific mash-up! Students will learn about rocks and minerals while making yummy treats (for instance, sugar crystals) inspired by Earth’s inner layers. If you love to cook and learn about Earth science, then this is the class for you. This is an in-person workshop. Note: Each student must have a food release form signed by a parent or guardian. Students who do not have an approved form cannot participate in the class.
Craftronics
Monday, July 10, 2023 | 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. | Register Here
Location: Carmel Mountain Ranch | Level: Elementary School (Grades 3-5)
Learn about electronics and circuits while creating a fun craft project! Previous projects include a moving origami swan, light-up LED bracelet or robot bug. This is an in-person workshop.
The Art of Mapmaking and GIS
Monday, July 10, 2023 | 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. | Register Here
Location: Allied Gardens/Benjamin | Level: Middle School (Grades 6-8)
Students will deepen their understanding of maps as they explore the history of mapping and learn how maps are created. Students will trace the evolution of maps from antiquity to cutting-edge technology and learn the basics of cartography by manually drawing maps. Student also will get an introduction to GIS (Geographic Information Systems), GPS (Global Positioning Systems) and digital map creation. They will use the maps they create in interactive games. This is an in-person workshop.
Earthquakes in your Backyard
Tuesday, July 11, 2023 | 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. | Register Here
Location: Skyline Hills | Level: Elementary School (Grades 3-5)
Students will discover the geologic activity happening all around them right now. We will examine Southern California’s fault systems and look at recent earthquake activity using online tools from the US Geological Survey. Students will learn how to interpret an earthquake’s magnitude, and they will conduct an experiment to help them understand the mechanics of earthquake faults. This is an in-person workshop.
Lego MindStorm Robotics
Wednesday, July 12, 2023 | 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. | Register Here
Location: Rancho Peñasquitos | Level: Elementary School (Grades 3-5)
In this workshop, students will learn the basics of robotics and build autonomous robots using the LEGO Mindstorms EV3 kit. Students will engage in both independent learning and group robotics competitions. No prior experience is required. This is an in-person workshop.
Inflatable Architecture
Saturday, July 15, 2023 | 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. | Register Here
Location: Central - Children's Library | Level: Elementary School (Grades 3-5)
Engineering, art and nature intersect as students conduct amazing experiments with bubbles and learn how to turn simple bags into pillows and architectural structures! Together, we will turn ordinary materials into giant inflatable forts and construct an imaginative public art display. This is an in-person workshop.
Virtual Exploring the Science of Harry Potter
Monday, July 17, 2023 | 4:00 - 5:30 p.m. | Register Here
Location: SDPL Virtual Branch | Level: Elementary School (Grades 3-5)
Did you know a lot of the magic in the world of Harry Potter is rooted in real science? Explore how the Harry Potter books and movies reflect concepts in genetics, chemistry, herbology and more. This is a virtual workshop.
Tiny Houses
Saturday, July 22, 2023 | 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. | Register Here
Location: Clairemont | Level: Elementary School (Grades 3-5)
The tiny-house movement is sweeping the country! Get the inside scoop on how and why people are designing houses that take up about 15 percent of the space of a traditional home. Students will learn about tiny-house architecture, social responsibility and community. Then they will design and build their own tiny houses. This is an in-person workshop.
August
Virtual Lights, Camera, Acting
Tuesday, August 1, 2023 | 4:00 - 5:30 p.m. | Register Here
Location: SDPL Virtual Branch | Level: Middle School (Grades 6-8)
Bitten by the acting bug? Try out different styles of acting, from TV and films to musical theater and even a little Shakespeare. This is a virtual workshop.
Virtual Rocket Science
Wednesday, August 2, 2023 | 4:00 - 5:30 p.m. | Register Here
Location: SDPL Virtual Branch | Level: Middle School (Grades 6-8)
Calling all future rocket scientists! Explore rocket technology and design, and then build and launch your own paper rocket model. This is a virtual workshop.
Virtual Introduction to Python Programming
Saturday, August 5, 2023 | 3:30 - 5:00 p.m. | Register Here
Location: SDPL Virtual Branch | Level: Middle School (Grades 6-8)
This course will introduce students to Python programming and the basics of computer science. Students will learn how to program in the Python language, and they will become familiar with common computer science practices, such as variables, looping, and condition statements. Then student will have a chance to make their own versions of common games in Python, adding in features they like. This is a virtual workshop.
Virtual Rocket Science
Saturday, August 5, 2023 | 4:00 - 5:30 p.m. | Register Here
Location: SDPL Virtual Branch | Level: Elementary School (Grades 3-5)
Calling all future rocket scientists! Explore rocket technology and design, and then build and launch your own paper rocket model. This is a virtual workshop.
Squid Dissection
Tuesday, August 8, 2023 | 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. | Register Here
Location: La Jolla/Riford | Level: Middle School (Grades 6-8)
Things may get a little inky as students work together to dissect a real squid. Students will develop scientific research skills as they learn about squids and other animals that make their homes in ocean ecosystems. This is an in-person workshop.
Craftronics
Tuesday, August 8, 2023 | 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. | Register Here
Location: San Ysidro | Level: Middle School (Grades 6-8)
Learn about electronics and circuits while creating a fun craft project! Previous projects include a moving origami swan, light-up LED bracelet or robot bug. This is an in-person workshop.
Slime and Non-Newtonian Fluids
Tuesday, August 8, 2023 | 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. | Register Here
Location: Valencia Park/Malcolm X | Level: Elementary School (Grades 3-5)
It’s slime time! Just like slime, Earth’s glaciers, mudslides and quaking bogs are made of fluids that are neither liquid nor solid. We’ll use slime to investigate how things work in the natural world. This is an in-person workshop.
Virtual Marine Mammals of California
Wednesday, August 9, 2023 | 1:00 - 2:30 p.m. | Register Here
Location: SDPL Virtual Branch | Level: Elementary School (Grades 3-5)
Get to know the mammals that live off San Diego’s coast, from playful dolphins to majestic whales. Through a variety of activities, we’ll explore the amazing adaptations of these marine mammals. This is a virtual workshop.
Virtual Animation and Marketing Using Scratch
Thursday, August 10, 2023 | 2:00 - 3:30 p.m. | Register Here
Location: SDPL Virtual Branch | Level: Elementary School (Grades 3-5)
Calling young entrepreneurs: If you have ever wanted to sell your own product or idea, here's your chance to develop strong marketing skills using the computer program Scratch. Students will learn how to create eye-catching online animations that they can use to advertise a product or idea. No prior coding experience is required. This is a virtual workshop.
Squid Dissection
Thursday, August 10, 2023 | 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. | Register Here
Location: Ocean Beach | Level: Elementary School (Grades 3-5)
Things may get a little inky as students work together to dissect a real squid. Students will develop scientific research skills as they learn about squids and other animals that make their homes in ocean ecosystems. This is an in-person workshop.
Gorging on Geology
Friday, August 11, 2023 | 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. | Register Here
Location: College-Rolando | Level: Middle School (Grades 6-8)
Desserts meet geology in this delicious scientific mash-up! Students will learn about rocks and minerals while making yummy treats (for instance, sugar crystals) inspired by Earth’s inner layers. If you love to cook and learn about Earth science, then this is the class for you. This is an in-person workshop. Note: Each student must have a food release form signed by a parent or guardian. Students who do not have an approved form cannot participate in the class.
Inflatable Architecture
Saturday, August 12, 2023 | 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. | Register Here
Location: Linda Vista | Level: Elementary School (Grades 3-5)
Engineering, art and nature intersect as students conduct amazing experiments with bubbles and learn how to turn simple bags into pillows and architectural structures! Together, we will turn ordinary materials into giant inflatable forts and construct an imaginative public art display. This is an in-person workshop.
Beginner's SketchUp: Designing 3-D Graphics
Monday, August 14, 2023 | 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. | Register Here
Location: Mira Mesa | Level: Elementary School (Grades 3-5)
Have you ever wanted to create imaginative computer-based 3-D graphics? Now’s your chance to design a bridge, a house, a monster or anything else you can dream up. With SketchUp Make 3D Modeling, students will use the familiar pencil-and-paper paradigm in a software context to create 3-dimensional graphic models. This is an in-person workshop.
Squid Dissection
Saturday, August 19, 2023 | 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. | Register Here
Location: Logan Heights | Level: Elementary School (Grades 3-5)
Things may get a little inky as students work together to dissect a real squid. Students will develop scientific research skills as they learn about squids and other animals that make their homes in ocean ecosystems. This is an in-person workshop.
Fire and Ice
Saturday, August 19, 2023 | 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. | Register Here
Location: Mission Hills-Hillcrest/Knox | Level: Elementary School (Grades 3-5)
Students will get up close and personal with erupting volcanoes and frozen icebergs – all without burning or freezing themselves. Learn fascinating and wacky facts, play silly games and become an Earth science genius! This is an in-person workshop.
Marine Mammals of California
Saturday, August 19, 2023 | 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. | Register Here
Location: Tierrasanta | Level: Elementary School (Grades 3-5)
Get to know the mammals that live off San Diego’s coast, from playful dolphins to majestic whales. Through a variety of activities, we’ll explore the amazing adaptations of these marine mammals. This is an in-person workshop.
Intro to Circuits Using Makey-Makey
Monday, August 21, 2023 | 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. | Register Here
Location: Mission Valley | Level: Elementary School (Grades 3-5)
Do electronics and bananas go together? Absolutely! Using Makey Makey circuit boards, students will create fun circuits that incorporate everyday items like bananas, gummy bears, aluminum foil or bouncy balls. Students will then use their new circuitry skills to make games, music or art. This is an in-person workshop.
Stop-Motion Movie Making
Wednesday, August 30, 2023 | 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. | Register Here
Location: North University Community | Level: Middle School (Grades 6-8)
Discover the basics of stop-motion animation! Students will use different materials to create subjects for their movies and will start by brainstorming ideas and creating storyboards. Then they will use the an app to create frames, add sound and produce a final movie. This is an in-person workshop.
Tiny Houses
Wednesday, August 30, 2023 | 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. | Register Here
Location: University Community | Level: Elementary School (Grades 3-5)
The tiny-house movement is sweeping the country! Get the inside scoop on how and why people are designing houses that take up about 15 percent of the space of a traditional home. Students will learn about tiny-house architecture, social responsibility and community. Then they will design and build their own tiny houses. This is an in-person workshop.
September
Physics of Fidget Spinners
Saturday, September 2, 2023 | 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. | Register Here
Location: Point Loma/Hervey | Level: Elementary School (Grades 3-5)
Ever wonder why some fidget spinners spin longer or hum louder than others? You will discover answers to these questions and much more as we learn about motion, tension, gravity and other fantastic phenomena related to fidget spinners and the world at large. This is an in-person workshop.
Electric Vegetables
Tuesday, September 5, 2023 | 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. | Register Here
Location: Serra Mesa-Kearney Mesa | Level: Middle School (Grades 6-8)
Create your own vegetable batteries! Students will learn how batteries work, then use hands-on problem-solving techniques to assemble a working battery and measure the voltage created. This is an in-person workshop.
Virtual Craftronics
Saturday, September 9, 2023 | 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. | Register Here
Location: SDPL Virtual Branch | Level: Middle School (Grades 6-8)
Learn about electronics and circuits while creating a fun craft project! Previous projects include a moving origami swan, light-up LED bracelet or robot bug. This is a virtual workshop.
The Art of Mapmaking and GIS
Saturday, September 9, 2023 | 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. | Register Here
Location: North Clairemont | Level: Middle School (Grades 6-8)
Students will deepen their understanding of maps as they explore the history of mapping and learn how maps are created. Students will trace the evolution of maps from antiquity to cutting-edge technology and learn the basics of cartography by manually drawing maps. Student also will get an introduction to GIS (Geographic Information Systems), GPS (Global Positioning Systems) and digital map creation. They will use the maps they create in interactive games. This is an in-person workshop.
Natural Wonders of San Diego
Saturday, September 9, 2023 | 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. | Register Here
Location: Pacific Beach/Taylor | Level: Elementary School (Grades 3-5)
The geology of San Diego is as global as it is local. Did you know of the major faults run right through downtown San Diego? Over the course of this class, we will tour various canyons, coastlines, and mountains within the region investigating in real time the clues our rock record leaves about how things came to be. In parallel students will simulate some of the processes that shape the world around them, developing a greater model for their place in the natural world. This is an in-person workshop.
Craftronics
Monday, September 11, 2023 | 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. | Register Here
Location: Otay Mesa-Nestor | Level: Middle School (Grades 6-8)
Learn about electronics and circuits while creating a fun craft project! Previous projects include a moving origami swan, light-up LED bracelet or robot bug. This is an in-person workshop.
Virtual Messy Science
Tuesday, September 12, 2023 | 5:00 - 6:30 p.m. | Register Here
Location: SDPL Virtual Branch | Level: Elementary School (Grades 3-5)
Ready to get messy in the name of science? We’ll conduct noisy and colorful experiments as we explore the science of volcanoes, rain clouds, glaciers and more. This is a virtual workshop.
Electronic Breadboard Design Project
Saturday, September 16, 2023 | 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. | Register Here
Location: Rancho Bernardo | Level: Elementary School (Grades 3-5)
Put electric circuits to use as you build a light-sensitive nightlight, sound-effects board or pocket flashlight. You will learn how to interpret circuit drawings and how to use capacitors and transistors in fun projects. This is an in-person workshop.
Envisioning a Sustainable City of the Future
Saturday, September 16, 2023 | 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. | Register Here
Location: Paradise Hills | Level: Elementary School (Grades 3-5)
Want to help build a more sustainable future? Use Google Earth to survey sites around the world where people have settled through history. Then create a design for a sustainable home in a place of your choice. This is an in-person workshop.
The Art of Mapmaking and GIS
Tuesday, September 26, 2023 | 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. | Register Here
Location: University Heights | Level: Elementary School (Grades 3-5)
Students will deepen their understanding of maps as they explore the history of mapping and learn how maps are created. Students will trace the evolution of maps from antiquity to cutting-edge technology and learn the basics of cartography by manually drawing maps. Student also will get an introduction to GIS (Geographic Information Systems), GPS (Global Positioning Systems) and digital map creation. They will use the maps they create in interactive games. This is an in-person workshop.
STEAM Videos
The San Diego Public Library is excited to present a series of videos for our Library NExT STEAM programs! These fun videos will inspire and engage students of all ages to keep up on their STEAM studies while experiencing STEAM subjects and entertaining exploration!
For more Library NExT videos click here!
The Great Geography Clues Game
Do you have what it takes to earn the crown of The Great Geography Clues Game? You will be exploring the world, while given several clues along the way in order to guess the famous place or city in question. Take the quiz and then challenge your family and friends to beat your score. Good luck!
Glowies: Crafting with Instamorph
Learn about plastic casting and electronics with Instamorph - a safe, non-toxic, low temperature thermoplastic. Similar to hot glue but you can mold it, or shape it by hand. When it cools, it turns hard again. Put an LED in it while it's soft and attach a coin cell battery to make a "Glowie". The molds are also easy to make, from 100% silicone and cornstarch.
Craftronics: Popsicle Stick Flashlight
Learn how to create a simple circuit flashlight project using the items around the house like popsicle sticks, binder clips and aluminum foil.
Introduction to Python Programming
Get a jump start into python programming. This video covers the installation of python with Anaconda, print statements, and variables. After viewing the video, you have a chance to study python programming with a free textbook provided in the links below.
SketchUp
SketchUp is a free 3D modeling computer program for a wide range of drawing applications such as architecture, furniture design, 3D printing, interior design, landscape architecture, civil and mechanical engineering, film and video game design. In this short video, you will learn how to build a simple 3D object using basic commands and tools which will allow you to turn all your ideas into 3 dimensions.
Partners
This project is funded in whole or in part by the Library Foundation SD.
