HANCEVILLE, Ala. – The Shirley Burden Public Library invited Cullman County 4-H Extension Agent Kerri Roberts and Agent Assistant Daphne Gilmore to discuss and demonstrate solar power with young readers on July 15. Part of the library’s summer programming, the learning event focused on different aspects of the sun, like the distance from Earth, the time it takes for light to reach the Earth, size, temperature, classification and more.
Roberts and Gilmore demonstrated the power of the sun with solar-powered cars and UV paper and objects, along with UV beads covered in sunscreen, which showed the kids how important it is to protect your skin even on cloudy days.
The solar-powered cars taught the young audience in real time how renewable energy from the sun works, with more discussion about converting solar power into energy to run homes and businesses with rooftop panels and solar farms.
Roberts and Gilmore also made homemade ovens with reflective panels to focus sunlight into an insulated box. These were taken outside to cook s’mores.
While those were outside cooking, they gave the children 10 UV beads to make bracelets. Roberts then applied sunscreen to hers to show how the strength of SPF will delay color change of the beads.
The UV paper stared out white and changed to a blue coloring when it was exposed to sunlight, allowing participants to experiment with different objects and get interesting results outside.
Roberts and Gilmore said they hope to have a summer solar day camp for older children next year. “We hope to go into more details with the older children,” said Roberts. “We’ve already got that planned and in the works.”
The Hanceville library’s summer program theme this year is “Unearth a Story.” Previous lessons have included dinosaurs, birds and bats. Upcoming events include:
- Wednesday, July 22, 10 a.m. “Lasting Impressions- Fossils-artifacts” by Chris & Jake, Department of Archives & History
- Wednesday, July 29, 10 a.m. “Quest to the Core” McWane Science Center
- Wednesday, Aug. 5, 10 a.m. Children’s author Ernie Swindle (bringing Matilda the Donkey for petting, located in the back parking lot)
The Shirley Burden Public Library is located at 201 Commercial St. Follow Facebook/Hanceville Public Library for event details.
Daphne Gilmore (left) and Kerri Roberts (right) (Emily McMunn/The Cullman Tribune)
