BETHEL — Bethel Library and Maine Mineral & Gem Museum collaborate to bring the community a STEAM Summer Program of activities. There will be six sessions every first and third Tuesday of June, July, and August from 1 to 2 p.m. at the Bethel Library.

Each Session will contain a read-aloud Earth Science book or a slideshow, a STE(A)M art activity, and rock samples to investigate. These activities are aimed at children from 1st to 5th grade but all are welcome.

The following is a summary of the upcoming activities:
June 4 – The Big Bang
Starting at the beginning with a read-aloud about space dust and then marveling at Hubble space telescope images that are truly out of this world. You will use your creativity and space “dust” for a take-home STEAM (A =Art) project.

June 18  – Crashing Plates
Bringing things back to earth with a focus on the hot, hot hot inner core and moving continents. Read aloud is a “Hands On Science” Geology book to learn about the formation of different types of rocks and finish with a quick squishy demonstration of mountain formation.

July 2 DINO – Bones are Missing
Meet the woman who found the first dinosaur fossil but who stole Maine’s dinosaur fossils?. Bring a “fossil” home and discover Pertica. And who is Hairy-It?

July 16 – Maine Granite & Building Bridges
Can you identify granite? Learn why famous Maine Quarries are now swimming holes and discover who is buried in Grant’s tomb. Your engineering skills will be challenged with some sweet building blocks that may (or may not) form an arch.

August 6 – Make a Wish
The Perseids will be here soon. Look towards the night sky and learn the difference between a meteor and a meteorite. There will be cool facts, word puzzles, a video of a Bethel shooting star, and a meet a real (small) meteor.

August 20 – Sparkly Ending
We will read about a young rockhound discovering the amazing crystals that can be found close to home. What is the Maine State gem? Let's look at some of Maine’s famous crystals and experiment with making crystals at home.