LASER Kits (Learning About Society, Environment, and Resources)

For information on borrowing the kits, please call Karen Coletti at the Providence Public Library at 455-8132, or email at kcoletti@provlib.org.

Native Americans
Often children have a misconception that Native Americans exist only in the past. This kit bridges the gap in children’s minds and shows them how modern day Native Americans live. Children will work in teams to make a Native American timeline, get their hands dirty as they clean up a polluted river, and take a closer look at how shoes can tie cultures together. They’ll even get to see a Native American powwow, and experiment with some dancing of their own!

Presidents
So, you want to be president? Find out how with this LASER that focuses on five great presidents who affected change in our nation: Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, Roosevelt, and Kennedy. Children will complete an Internet scavenger hunt on Washington, examine the qualities of a leader, redesign the penny, engage in a political debate, and more. As a bonus, this kit contains 20 copies of the story Love from Your Friend, Hannah by Mindy Warshaw Skolsky¬, excellent for reading in the classroom.

Rhode Island History
Are you ready for a Rhode trip? Pack your bags and journey back in time to when Rhode Island was just a colony. Discover the answers to puzzling questions such as “what is the official state drink?” and “what is the real name of the Big Blue Bug?” Children will bring history to life as they perform the play “Finding Providence,” and learn how Roger Williams planted the seeds of freedom. They’ll take pride in our state as they learn about the Black Regiment of RI, Gaspee Days, and Slater Mill. As a bonus, this kit contains 20 copies of the story Something Upstairs by Avi, excellent for reading in the classroom.

Immigration
America has often been called the melting pot. Whether your family came to America 10 years ago or 100 years ago, most people can be considered immigrants. Experience the hardships and struggles, joys and laughter of immigrants today and yesterday. Did you know early immigrants from Russia had never seen bananas before they arrived in America? At first they ate the peel and threw away the inside. Children will work in teams to put together an Immigration History timeline, express themselves through poems and stories, and make their own name stamps. As a bonus, this kit contains a History Channel interactive lesson plan CD-ROM, and DVD showcasing personal stories from people who passed through Ellis Island.

Transportation through Time
Who was the first woman to drive across the country? Who was first person to fly across the Atlantic? Find out the answers to these questions and more in this kit that shows how the invention of a simple wheel paved the way for modern day travel. Children will create a timeline of transportation history, go on the web to help Lewis and Clark journey across the Oregon Trail, make paper airplanes, design a time machine wheel, and more. This kit includes the History Channel DVD America on the Move 1876-2000, From Horse to Horsepower: An Epic History of Transportation.

For information on borrowing the kits, please call Karen Coletti at the Providence Public Library at 455-8132, or email at kcoletti@provlib.org.