The BLAST Program is a Literacy & STEM collaborative partnership between the public library and local elementary classrooms designed to enrich student learning through engaging, hands-on experiences. Through regular classroom visits, library staff provides themed read‑alouds, inquiry-based STEM activities, and creative extensions that support and enhance the core curriculum units taught throughout the school year.
BLAST aims to:
Foster a love of reading, storytelling, and rich discussion.
Introduce and reinforce foundational STEM concepts through play, exploration, and problem‑solving.
Strengthen connections between the library, schools, and the wider community.
Encourage curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking in young learners.
Build cultural and historical understanding through diverse stories and integrated learning experiences.
Each unit features a carefully selected book or story, a low‑cost hands-on STEM activity, developmentally appropriate learning objectives, and optional extensions to deepen understanding at home or in the library. Activities are inclusive, adaptable to different classroom needs, and designed to help students make meaningful connections across literacy and STEM content.
Together, we will build bridges between literature and science, between imagination and inquiry, empowering students to grow as confident readers, curious thinkers, and creative problem-solvers.
Participants will learn practical strategies for integrating literacy and STEM in youth programs aligned with school curriculum.
Attendees will understand how to build and sustain effective library–school partnerships that strengthen community engagement.
Participants will gain replicable, low-cost activity ideas and a flexible framework for designing cross-disciplinary outreach programs.
