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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 has expanded to 24 locations in 2021 with plans to be offered at all City of San Diego library locations. This San Diego Public Library program is a collaboration with UC San Diego Extension and Sally Ride Science.
For more information, contact us at LibraryNext@sandiego.gov.
Admit One: College Prep Academy
Free SAT/ACT test preparation classes.
Registration for Fall 2022 now open.
Fall 2022 Library NExT Programs
October
Eclipse
Saturday, October 1, 2022 | 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. | Register Here
Location: Central - Children's Library | Level: Elementary School (3rd-5th Grade)
Much folklore surrounds eclipses, which occur when one celestial body passes through the shadow of another. In this workshop, students will explore the evolution of the science that led to the current view of the Earth-Moon-Sun system. From this foundation, we will learn how to predict and observe eclipses. Finally, students will build pinhole cameras that will allow them to observe an eclipse safely. This is an in-person workshop.
Virtual Exploring the Science of Harry Potter
Thursday, October 6, 2022 | 4:00 - 5:30 p.m. | Register Here
Location: SDPL Virtual Branch | Level: Middle School (6th-8th Grade)
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.
Virtual Space Out
Saturday, October 8, 2022 | 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. | Register Here
Location: SDPL Virtual Branch | Level: Elementary School (3rd-5th Grade)
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 a virtual workshop.
Beginner's SketchUp: Designing 3-D Graphics
Monday, October 10, 2022 | 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. | Register Here
Location: Oak Park | Level: Middle School (6th-8th Grade)
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.
Exploring the Science of Harry Potter
Monday, October 10, 2022 | 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. | Register Here
Location: North Clairemont | Level: Middle School (6th-8th Grade)
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 an in-person workshop.
Virtual Slimy Sea Creatures
Saturday, October 15, 2022 | 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. | Register Here
Location: SDPL Virtual Branch | Level: Elementary School (3rd-5th Grade)
How do octopuses change color and why do oysters make pearls? Investigate how slimy sea creatures live and thrive in their underwater homes. Then create an artwork inspired by what you have learned. This is a virtual workshop.
Game Development & Design
Monday, October 17, 2022 | 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. | Register Here
Location: Logan Heights | Level: Middle School (6th-8th Grade)
Take your first step in learning how to build a professional 3D game! Students will explore game engines, tools to make video games, and databases to get the resources that you need to build a video game. This class will also cover video game mechanics, the programming logic behind the mechanics, and how they work with your favorite games. This is a non-programming class. This is an in-person workshop.
Virtual Electric Vegetables
Thursday, October 20, 2022 | 3:30 - 5:00 p.m. | Register Here
Location: SDPL Virtual Branch | Level: Middle School (6th-8th Grade)
Create your own vegetable batteries! After learning 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 a virtual workshop.
Beginner's SketchUp: Designing 3-D Graphics
Saturday, October 22, 2022 | 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. | Register Here
Location: Rancho Peñasquitos | Level: Elementary School (3rd-5th Grade)
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.
Being Sherlock: The Art of the Mystery and the Science of Forensics
Saturday, October 22, 2022 | 3:00 - 6:00 p.m. | Register Here
Location: La Jolla/Riford | Level: Middle School (6th-8th Grade)
If you like reading mysteries and are intrigued by crime investigation, this class is for you! Explore the exciting world of forensics, including DNA evidence, fingerprints and handwriting analysis, then learn how mystery writers incorporate this science into their books. This is an in-person workshop.
Virtual Disney Style: Act, Sing, Stretch
Tuesday, October 25, 2022 | 5:00 - 6:30 p.m. | Register Here
Location: SDPL Virtual Branch | Level: Elementary School (3rd-5th Grade)
Want to learn how singers and actors get ready for the spotlight? You’ll discover how to use active vocal warm-ups, physical stretches and tongue twisters to loosen up before acting out familiar movie scenes and songs. This is a virtual workshop.
Craftronics
Saturday, October 29, 2022 | 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. | Register Here
Location: University Heights | Level: Middle School (6th-8th Grade)
Learn about electronics and circuits while creating a fun craft project! Previous projects have included a moving origami swan, light-up LED bracelet or robot bug. This is an in-person workshop.
Virtual Lights, Camera, Acting
Saturday, October 29, 2022 | 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. | Register Here
Location: SDPL Virtual Branch | Level: Elementary School (3rd-5th Grade)
Bitten by the acting bug? Try out different styles of acting, from TV and films to musical theater and even a little Shakespeare in this interactive workshop. This is a virtual workshop.
Marine Mammals of California
Saturday, October 29, 2022 | 2:00 - 5:00 p.m. | Register Here
Location: North Park | Level: Elementary School (3rd-5th Grade)
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.
November
Electric Vegetables
Tuesday, November 1, 2022 | 3:00 - 6:00 p.m. | Register Here
Location: Carmel Mountain Ranch | Level: Elementary School (3rd-5th Grade)
Create your own vegetable batteries! After learning 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.
Messy Science
Saturday, November 5, 2022 | 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. | Register Here
Location: Mission Hills-Hillcrest/Knox | Level: Middle School (6th-8th Grade)
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 an in-person workshop.
Slimy Sea Creatures
Saturday, November 5, 2022 | 2:00 - 5:00 p.m. | Register Here
Location: Clairemont | Level: Elementary School (3rd-5th Grade)
How do octopuses change color and why do oysters make pearls? Investigate how slimy sea creatures live and thrive in their underwater homes. Then create an artwork inspired by what you have learned. This is an in-person workshop.
The Making of a Super Hero: Fiction, Fantasy, and the Real World
Tuesday, November 8, 2022 | 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. | Register Here
Location: Central - Teen Center | Level: High School (9th-12th Grade)
Explore the hero’s journey in literature and the real world. Participants will learn about the concept of the hero’s journey as described by mythologist Joseph Campbell, then will look at heroes in literature, TV shows, graphic novels and movies. They will learn the attributes of a hero, identify their own “super powers,” and explore how science, technology, psychology and medicine contribute to today’s heroes. This is an in-person workshop.
Tiny Houses
Saturday, November 12, 2022 | 2:00 - 5:00 p.m. | Register Here
Location: Paradise Hills | Level: Elementary School (3rd-5th Grade)
More and more people are making the move to small, sustainable dwellings. Learn about the Tiny House Movement and then build a model of your own tiny-house design. This is an in-person workshop.
Beginner's SketchUp: Designing 3-D Graphics
Monday, November 14, 2022 | 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. | Register Here
Location: Rancho Bernardo | Level: Elementary School (3rd-5th Grade)
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.
Beginner's SketchUp: Designing 3-D Graphics
Tuesday, November 15, 2022 | 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. | Register Here
Location: Skyline Hills | Level: Elementary School (3rd-5th Grade)
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.
Marine Mammals of California
Saturday, November 19, 2022 | 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. | Register Here
Location: Valencia Park/Malcolm X | Level: Elementary School (3rd-5th Grade)
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.
Walking On Wind: Intelligence Beyond the Electronic
Saturday, November 19, 2022 | 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. | Register Here
Location: Linda Vista | Level: Elementary School (3rd-5th Grade)
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 course explores the mechanics and philosophy behind Theo Jensen’s “Strandbeests” and other artistic creations that interact with the elements. Far from just a show and tell this course offers materials, knowledge, and space to support design and construction of these creations. This is an in-person workshop.
Virtual Rocket Science
Saturday, November 19, 2022 | 10:00 AM - 11:30 a.m. | Register Here
Location: SDPL Virtual Branch | Level: Elementary School (3rd-5th Grade)
Calling all future rocket scientists! Explore rocket technology and design, and then build and launch your own paper rocket model. This is a virutal workshop.
Internet Programming and Web Design
Tuesday, November 29, 2022 | 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. | Register Here
Location:College-Rolando | Level: High School (9th-12th Grade)
Ever wanted to design your own website? You will get familiar with HTML and CSS as you use templates to build a website highlighting a topic of your choice. This is an in-person workshop.
December
Physics of Fidget Spinners
Saturday, December 3, 2022 | 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. | Register Here
Location: Pacific Beach/Taylor | Level: Middle School (6th-8th Grade)
Fidget spinners are fun, but did you know you can learn from them? We’ll use these little devices to explore motion, tension, gravity and other concepts in physics. This is an in-person workshop.
Virtual Exploring the Science of Harry Potter
Monday, December 5, 2022 | 5:00 - 6:30 p.m. | Register Here
Location: SDPL Virtual Branch | Level: Elementary School (3rd-5th Grade)
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.
Squid Dissection
Tuesday, December 6, 2022 | 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. | Register Here
Location: University Community | Level: Middle School (6th-8th Grade)
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.
The Art of Mapmaking and GIS
Tuesday, December 6, 2022 | 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. | Register Here
Location: Serra Mesa-Kearney Mesa | Level: Elementary School (3rd-5th Grade)
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.
Messy Science
Saturday, December 10, 2022 |1:00 - 4:00 p.m. | Register Here
Location: Allied Gardens/Benjamin | Level: Elementary School (3rd-5th Grade)
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 an in-person workshop.
Craftronics
Saturday, December 10, 2022 | 2:00 - 5:00 p.m. | Register Here
Location: Tierrasanta | Level: Middle School (6th-8th Grade)
Learn about electronics and circuits while creating a fun craft project! Previous projects have included a moving origami swan, light-up LED bracelet or robot bug. This is an in-person workshop.
Tiny Houses
Saturday, December 10, 2022 | 2:30 - 5:30 p.m. | Register Here
Location: Point Loma/Hervey | Level: Elementary School (3rd-5th Grade)
More and more people are making the move to small, sustainable dwellings. Learn about the Tiny House Movement and then build a model of your own tiny-house design. This is an in-person workshop.
Virtual Making of a Super Hero: Fiction, Fantasy, and the Real World
Saturday, December 10, 2022 | 3:00 - 4:30 p.m. | Register Here
Location: SDPL Virtual Branch | Level: Elementary School (3rd-5th Grade)
Explore the hero’s journey in literature and the real world. Participants will learn about the concept of the hero’s journey as described by mythologist Joseph Campbell, then will look at heroes in literature, TV shows, graphic novels and movies. They will learn the attributes of a hero, identify their own “super powers,” and explore how science, technology, psychology and medicine contribute to today’s heroes. This is a virtual workshop.
Peering into the Profession of Pharmacy and the People Who Help Community Stay Healthy
Monday, December 12, 2022 | 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. | Register Here
Location: Otay Mesa-Nestor | Level: High School (9th-12th Grade)
Explore one of the most accessible professions in the healthcare system: the fascinating and impactful profession of pharmacy! Students will explore several foundational topics, including what pharmacists do, the numerous pharmacy career pathways, and the healthcare professionals who work with pharmacists. This is an in-person workshop.
Virtual Reality Programming
Monday, December 12, 2022 | 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. | Register Here
Location: San Ysidro | Level: Middle School (6th-8th Grade)
Join the virtual reality technology movement! Students will simulate real-life experiences (like riding a roller coaster) using simple virtual reality viewers. Students will work together to create their own virtual reality interactive tools and games as they learn the basic concepts of stereoscopy. This is an in-person workshop.
Virtual Space Out
Tuesday, December 13, 2022 | 4:00 - 5:30 p.m. | Register Here
Location: SDPL Virtual Branch | Level: Middle School (6th-8th Grade)
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 a virtual workshop.
Virtual Game Development & Design
Tuesday, December 20, 2022 | 5:00 - 6:30 p.m. | Register Here
Location: SDPL Virtual Branch | Level: Middle School (6th-8th Grade)
Take your first step in learning how to build a professional 3D game! Students will explore game engines, tools to make video games, and databases to get the resources that you need to build a video game. This class will also cover video game mechanics, the programming logic behind the mechanics, and how they work with your favorite games. This is a non-programming class. This is a virtual 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.
