Kids & Parents
Discover DPPL’s New Collection of Circulating STEM Kits for Families
In 2016, the Youth Services Department received a grant from IEEE, Chicago Section to create a new collection of circulating STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) materials.
We are excited to announce our new Discovery Kits are now available to DPPL cardholders!
Use your Des Plaines Public Library Card to check out a kit today, and empower your child see themselves as a scientist, inventor, and creator!
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Discovery kits. Women in engineering: Goldie Blox and the dunk tank.
Use this kit to help Goldie and her friends build a dunk tank, and learn more about basic engineering. Includes 1 GoldieBlox and the Dunk Tank, 1 Accordion Book, 54 Pieces Total, 1 User Guide, 2 Wheels, 12 Blocks, 18 Long Purple Axles, 9 Short Purple Axles, 10 Spacers, 2 Targets, 1 Ball, 1 Dog, Girls Think of Everything by Catherine Thimmesh.
Discovery kits. Anatomy and biology: human torso.
Includes 1 Human Torso, Body Base on Stand, 8 Dissectible Parts, 1 Guide to Human Anatomy, Utterly Amazing Human Body by Robert Winston and Discovery Guide.
Discovery kits. Inventions: littlebits
Use littleBits to start designing and prototyping your own inventions. Includes 1 littleBits Premium Kit, 1 Battery, 1 Cable, 1 Box, 2 Inserts, 1 Power Module, 1 Slide Dimmer, 1 Pulse, 1 Pressure Sensor, 1 Sound Trigger, 1 Roller Switch, 1 Branch, 2 Wire, 1 Vibration Motor, 2 Long LED, 1 Fan, 1 Servo Moto, 4 Servo Arms, in Plastic Bag, 3 Screws, in Plastic Bag with Servo Arms, 2 Screwdrivers, 1 User Guide, littleBits by Amber Lovett , 1 Discovery Guide.
Discovery kits. Architecture and engineering: KEVA Contraptions.
Use KEVA Contraptions to build action-packed structures. Includes 1 KEVA Contraptions , 50 Pine Planks, 2 KEVA Balls, 1 KEVA Contraptions Guide Book Book, Three Little Pigs an Architectural Tale by Steven Guarnaccia.
Discovery kits. Mathematics: basic math
Includes Free Range Fractions, 1 Blue Egg Carton, 1 Green Egg Carton, 24 Two Toned Eggs, 1 Cover Card, 44 Playing Cards, 54 Denominator Rings, 1 Free Range Fractions Instruction Guide, (1) Math Dice® Jr, 5 Large 6 Sided Dice , 1 Scoring Dice, Scoring Track, 6 Game Tokens, 1 Math Dice Jr. Instruction Guide, 1 G is for Googol by David M. Schwartz
Discovery kits. Anatomy and biology: microscope
Use this microscope to magnify and explore the world around you. Includes My First Lab Duo-Scope, 1 Microscope, 1 Double well slide, 5 Blank slides, in case, 4 Prepared slides, in case, Petri dish, Forceps, Cover glass, 8, in petri dish, 3 AA batteries, Pipette, 1 Red stain, 1 Blue stain, Lens paper, 1 User Manual, 12 additional slides.
Discovery kits. Inventions: Makey Makey
Use Makey Makey® to turn everyday objects into touchpads and combine them with the internet for endless fun. Includes Makey Makey®, 6 White Wires, 7 Alligator Cables, 1 USB Cord, Makey Makey® Board, in Red Ziplock Bag, Instructions, Makey Makey Book by Sandy Ng
Discovery kits. Computer physics: Simple machines and force and motion
Includes 1 Simple Machines, 1 Force and Motion, 20 Experiment cards (10 Simple Machines, 10 Force and Motion), 2 Tracks (1 Blue, 1 Purple), 2 Cars (1 Orange, 1 Blue), 4 Blocks (2 Green, 2 Purple), 1 Pendulum Ball, 6 Green Ladder Pieces , 1 Yellow Ladder Base, 2 Activity Guides (Simple Machines and Force and Motion), 1 Lever Board, 1 Wedge, 4 Barrel Weights (2 Purple, 2 Yellow), 1 Pulley, 1 Rope and Hook, 1 Archimedes Screw, 1 Clear Enclosure for Archimedes Screw, 1 Cart with Removable Wheels, 1 Simple Machines: Wheels, Levers, Pulleys by David Adler
Discovery kits. Women in engineering: Goldie Blox and the spinning machine.
Use this kit to help Goldie and her friends build a spinning machine, and learn more about basic engineering. Includes 10 Short Purple Axles, 5 Blocks, 1 Ribbon, 1 Peg Board, 5 Wheels, 1 Crank, 5 Washers, 5 Plastic Animals, 1 Book, 1 Rosie Revere, Engineer by Andrea Beaty
Discovery kits. Computer coding and robotics: Cubelets Six.
Includes Cubelets Six, 6 Cubelet Robotics Blocks, 6 Getting Started Cards, 2 Yellow Adapter Blocks, 1 Charging Cord, Boy and Bot by Ame Dyckman
Discovery kits. Physics: Stomp Rocket.
Includes 1 Stomp Rocket, 1 Base, 5 large Foam Rockets, 2 Squeeze Rocket Bulbs, 10 Small Foam Rockets, 3 Yellow Launch Base Legs, Physics by Jane Gardner
Discovery kits. Computer coding and robotics: Bee Bot
1 Bee Bot, 1 Bee-Bot, 1 Charging Cord, 1 Cardboard Box, 1 Users Guide, Everything Robotics by Jennifer Swanson
Discovery kits. Circuitry: Snap Circuits Jr
Includes Snap Circuits Junior, 1 Base Grid, 3 1-Snap Wires, 6 2-Snap Wires, 3 3-Snap Wires, 1 4 Snap Wires, 1 5-Snap Wire, 1 6-Snap Wire, 1 Whistle Chip, 1 Slide Switch, 1 Press Switch, 1 Photoresistor, 1 Red Light Emitting Diode (LED), 1 2.5V Lamp, 1 Battery Holder, 1 Speaker, 1 Music Integrated Circuit, 1 Alarm Integrated Circuit, 1 Space War Integrated Circuit, 1 Motor, 1 Fan, 1 Resistor, 1 Jumper Wire (Black), 1 Jumper Wire (Red), Oscar and the Bird a Book about Electricity by Geoff Waring
Discovery kits. Architecture and engineering: Magna Tiles
Includes 1 Magna Tiles, 1 Set of 32 colored pieces, 1 Guide, 1 Iggy Peck Architect by Andrea Beaty
Discovery kits. Snap Circuits alternative energy green
Includes 1 Snap Circuits Green, 1 Base Grid, 2 1-Snap Wires, 3 2-Snap Wires, 3 3-Snap Wires, 1 4 Snap Wires, 1 5-Snap Wire, 1 Jumper Wire (Black), 1 Jumper Wire (Red), 1 Rechargeable Battery, 1 Solar Cell, 1 Battery Eliminator for FM Radio, 1 Capacitor, 1 Red LED, 1 Yellow LED, 3 Copper Electrodes , 1 Copper Electrode with Snap, 3 Zinc Electrode, 1 Zinc Electrode with Snap, 1 Hand Crank, 1 Liquid Holder, 1 Motor, 1 Wind Fan, 1 Water Wheel, 1 Meter, 1 Pivot Stand Base, 1 Pivot Post , 1 Pivot Top, 1 FM Radio, 1 Press, 1 Slide, 1 Clock, 1 Horn, 3 Screw 8-32 Phillips, 3 Nut 8-32, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba