Tag Archives: STEAM

Steam Stations: Biology Day

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Earlier in March, the Teen Advisory Board (TAB), along with other teen volunteers, hosted the final Steam Station out of three. What are STEAM Stations? These Stations have been a series of STEAM based events that the library’s youth team have helped to develop. We based all of our activities on the acronym, STEAM which stands for: Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics. After first hosting Coding Day  and then Engineering Day, we hosted the final event: Biology Day! Biology Day was a fantastic end to the series with various fun activities.

Like our previous events, there were three different stations:

The first station was our fingerprint lab! Participants would be able to use ink pads to cover their fingers which they would then press onto a balloon. In order to magnify their fingerprint, they would blow the balloon up and by using identification sheets, participants could identify which kind of fingerprint they have (Loop, arch, whorl, etc).

At the second station, participants could go and make art with their own fingerprints. Using a variety of colored ink, they would cover their fingers with them just as they did in the last station to press them onto paper to create their own art! 

Finally, participants were given owl pellets, tools, and an identification sheet so they could dissect real owl pellets. As they picked apart the pellets, they could extract small bones and identify what bones they found by using the identification sheet. Both children and adults had a good time extracting bones together, making a fun bonding experience.  

I say this final STEAM Station was a success, just like our previous two Stations. Participants had a lot of fun making their own art and especially discovering bones. It was also nice to go into the community and hold this event at the Potocki Center of the Arts nearby the library; the outside space was warm and sunny, allowing our event-goers to experience a great day in nature which was perfect for Biology Day. 

Everyone had a great time out in nature jumping around to each different station. Some stations took longer than others, especially the owl pellet activity, which allowed participants to jump around to different stations in the meantime. It was wonderful to see everyone have fun with their fingerprint balloons and share their fingerprint artwork with each other. It was especially great to see individuals working together to find and identify bones as they dug through owl pellets. All in all, these stations were a fun learning opportunity for everyone. 

This concludes our three STEAM Stations! It was wonderful to host these events and to see new and familiar faces from the library and community who were able to attend and experience these STEAM Stations. I hope that in the future if we ever host these again, that both familiar and new people come to enjoy what we have in store. 

Please look forward to future library events!

-Nicole R.

STEAM Stations: Engineering Day

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At the beginning of February, the youth team of the library hosted our 2nd STEAM Stations event! What are STEAM Stations? For those who don’t know, STEAM Stations is the monthly library youth event that the Teen Advisory Board organizes that focuses on various aspects of STEAM (Science, Technology, Art, Mathematics). Last month, we focused on binary coding which was a super fun experience. This month, we focused on engineering which was very exciting!

For those who missed it, we had three different stations that focused on simple aspects of engineering:

Our first station was our spaghetti and marshmallow towers. Participants would use their spaghetti sticks and mini marshmallows in order to build a tower as tall as they can. Once they had their tower built, their challenge was to balance one large marshmallow on top. They were all able to test their structures and building skills with a super fun activity.

The second station was our pom-pom catapults. Another activity focused on building but also trajectory! Participants would follow the directions using popsicle sticks, rubber bands, and a plastic spoon in order to create their own catapult that they could test out with fun, colorful pom-poms. It was an entertaining activity that tested more of their building skills and challenged them to launch their pom-poms the farthest they could with their craft. 

Finally, we had our paper-airplane station. A nice, simple station that allowed participants to test what kind of design created the best working paper airplane. Participants could create their own design or follow given directions to try and create the best paper airplane that would be able to soar as far as possible. 

Our February STEAM Stations was another success! It was super popular with people of all ages coming around combined with a mix of returners and newcomers. We had people who knew the event was happening and people who had no idea what STEAM Stations were come to participate. Our participants had a lot of fun experimenting the best ways to build their spaghetti towers, some even working together to build one giant one. They also had a great time launching pom-poms into the air and throwing paper airplanes around the Children’s Center. All of our stations focused on an aspect of building and required everyone to really think about how to create the most efficient design and model while also having fun.

Our third and final STEAM Stations event will be held on March 8 at the Potocki Center for the Arts and will be centered around Biology! We will have even more fun and creative activities ready for everyone who wants to attend. We hope to see you all there!

-Nicole R.

STEAM Stations: Coding Day

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Previously in January, the library held their first STEAM Station to begin the new year. What is STEAM Stations? STEAM Stations is a library program that the Teen Advisory Board organizes that prioritize different aspects of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math). The library’s first STEAM Station was Coding Day; a station concentrated around coding.

For those who missed it, Coding Day had three mini stations all centralized around binary code:

The first station was our name activity. Essentially, it taught all participants how to write their name in binary code in a fun, artistic way. The activity was an art based project where participants would choose two colors (one to represent 1s and one to represent 0s)  so they could create their name in binary code. By coloring in specific squares to fill in the ones and zeroes, they were able to create their own, unique binary block that spelled out their name.

At the second station, participants created a binary code bracelet. Using binary code, they could match the numbers to the three colors of their choosing to create a beaded bracelet with their initials. Each color would represent one letter of their initial which they would then thread through colorful pipe cleaners that could tie around the participant’s wrist. Not only was it fun, but it provided another opportunity to try spelling using binary code. 

Finally, at the third station, participants created a paper binary calculator that could create the binary code for numbers all the way from 0 to 31. While the other two activities focused solely on spelling and creating letters with binary code, the binary calculator focused on creating numbers instead. It was a fun but easy math challenge that got participants thinking and learning numbers in binary code. 

Coding Day was a great success and had a very good turnout. While the event welcomed everyone 6 years old and up, plenty of young kids came and had a fun time creating art while also learning about how create numbers and letters using binary code. I had a fun time seeing their beautiful bracelets and unique binary names as I quizzed them with math problems using the binary calculator. While the event had many young kids, it was open for all ages to enjoy. All the crafts and activities are simple enough for everyone to try out but still fun to do and you get to leave with your own creations. 

While Coding Day was only a one day event, if you are interested in coding, check out the coding program at the Mission Viejo Library for availability. It is open for everyone so do not hesitate to try it out! Furthermore, there are two more STEAM Stations coming up. On February 8th, there will be Engineering Day and our final one on March 8th will be Biology Day. Each will be solely focused on their individual topics with fun and interactive stations for everyone to enjoy. It’s a fun experience that I hope more people come and check it out! Hope to see you all there!

-Nicole R.

Game Review: El Hijo – A Wild West Tale

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El Hijo is a top-down stealth game, following a small boy as he explores his western town. Players will go through each level getting past different obstacles and enemies, such as bandits, wild animals, etc. I really enjoyed play El Hijo, the graphics were clean, the gameplay was smooth and exciting, and it kept me entertained for a long time. 

I really want to talk about the graphics in his game. With a clean and minimalist approach, the game felt fresh and exciting. It was very calming, and the relaxing music and nature sounds were a great touch. Here is a preview of the game:

I also liked the different character designs that helped add spice to the game’s look. For example, the main character has bright colored t-shirts and jeans, which allows him to pop out in the darker areas. As for the bandits, they wear all black, which allows them to blend into the darkness and surprise players at any moment.

The gameplay of El Hijo was exciting at certain points, and calming at others. The game started off peacefully, as you explored the church the boy lived in. Later on, you are being hunted and chased by bandits. I enjoyed both parts of the game, and I thought that this mix was really well done. The game kept me intrigued for a long time, and each mission had a different feeling to it. 

I usually run into small issues in most of the games I play, whether it is the controls are weird, the game does not run well, etc, etc. But El Hijo did not have any mistakes. The game ran beautifully on my computer, the controls were super easy to learn, and there were no glitches or bugs.

With both thrilling and relaxing gameplay, beautiful graphics, and 0 bugs or glitches, El Hijo was an amazing game. I really think this stealth game is underrated, and I would love to see the game grow. I think adding more missions and dlcs to this game would be a great idea, and I can not wait to see what the developers add. I rate El Hijo a solid nine out of ten.

-Daniel C.

Warhammer Underworlds: Online Review

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When I launched my copy of Warhammer Underworlds: Online, I was surprised to find myself playing a tabletop card game, on my computer. This ambitious, strategy game made and produced by Steel Sky Productions gave me the need to pull out an old board game and play it with my friends. Using cards, characters, dice, magic items, etc. Warhammer Underworlds: Online represents the iconic tabletop RPG game.  The concept is quite simple, use magical characters and powerups to your advantage to get the upper hand on your opponent. But, there are multiple factors that can easily turn the tide of the battle, such as objectives, special moves, and the overall skill of the player.

The first thing that I noticed when I launched the game was the wide variety of warriors you could unlock. There were a large number of factions and warriors. There are three starter decks, each from a different faction. The humans, otherwise known as Steelheart’s champions. The monsters, known as Magore’s fiends. And finally, the skeletons, or the sepulchral guard. Each faction had a certain amount of warriors that did a certain amount of damage. Each faction had its own set of skills and objectives the player needed to complete. The player can also make their own army and faction, depending on what the player unlocks. You can also assign different skills and objectives to each of your armies.

As for gameplay, the producers really pulled it off. The graphics are quite good, and the animations of each character are very well done. The player can move around the board and change the camera angle, and it feels likey you are playing star wars hologram chess. The attacks are based on dice, and depending on which player roles a higher number,  the attack will either be successful or not. In each match, the player is trying to capture and complete objectives, which will give them objective points. Whoever has the most points at the end of the game is the winner. In between each attack, players from both sides can use power-up cards that can aid them in battle. Some examples are boosts in damage, speed, etc. This is a great addition, due to it letting each side a fair chance of winning.

I did have some problems with the game. When I first launched Warhammer Underworlds: Online, there was no tutorial or instructions on how to play. I had to find the tutorial options, which was not hard but still was slightly confusing. I realize this game is still in early access, but there was no sound at all. At first, I thought my PC was acting up, but other games had sound. I then went into settings and realized the soundbar was turned down low, so I put it to max volume. The game still did not have sound, and I think this is a major problem since music and sound effects add a lot to a game. As for multiplayer, I could not find an online game, but I am sure that is because it is in early access, and online game issues s will not be a thing. Other than that, I found Warhammer Underworlds: Online to be a really enjoyable strategy game. I think playing with friends and challenging each other to a duel could be really exciting, and I can not wait to see where this game goes.

-Daniel C.

Wrath: Aeon of Ruin Game Review

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When I first started Wrath: Aeon of Ruin made by KillPixel, I immediately got 90’s run and gun vibes. The game is very similar to Doom, Quake, etc. A reason for this is due to the fact that Wrath is a modified and upgraded version of the Quake engine ( a certain gaming engine that powered the game Quake.) The game itself is quite simple and there are only two main goals, killing monsters and making it to the end checkpoint alive. Throughout different missions, the player will encounter a wide variety of enemies, weapons, consumables, items, and maps.

As for enemies, there is a huge variety ranging from slow-moving weak units named Fallen, to quick flying enemies that fire blue orbs of energy known as Afflicted, and many more. This variety of enemies keeps each new level exciting and challenging. Players do not know what enemies they will be facing and must adapt and evolve based on certain enemies.

At the beginning of the game, your character only starts off with a small wrist knife. As your character goes through upgrades and progressions, so does your arsenal. Throughout the different missions, players can scourge the map and unlock new and improved weapons. At the time of the early access, there were five weapons in total that could be used. Each of these weapons had their own strengths and weaknesses. The shotgun was great at up close and personal encounters but lacked in range. The fang spitter had an insanely fast firing speed but was very weak against tougher enemies. This leads to players using a wide variety of weapons in each level.

In most video games, there is usually a large number of items or consumables the player can use. Wrath: Aeon of Ruin is no exception. There is a huge variety of these items that the player can use to give themselves a certain advantage in the game. Some examples are the vials of life that give players health, shotgun shells, as well as fangs that can be used as ammunition for your character’s weapons. These consumables can either be found randomly on the ground or off of the bodies of fallen foes. The game also uses a unique respawning system based off of a certain item players pickup called Soul Tethers. These items allow players to place down a marker surrounded by a white aura. If the player were to die, they would have the choice to respawn at the beacon. The player would then be teleported back to the exact time they placed down the tether. This concept was confusing at first, especially since there was no explanation, but most players could get the hang of it eventually.

As for maps, there are three total realms with several missions in each realm. This variety gives the game a good amount of locations, but it does not have enough to confuse the players. This wide variety of maps gives the players the feeling of freedom and allows players to free roam.

Overall, I feel that Wrath: Aeon of Ruin is a simple throwback shooter. The game may lack an actual story, but it makes up for it in action. If you are looking for an easy and fun shooter, Wrath: Aeon of Ruin is a great choice.

Rating:8/10

-Daniel C.

Apparently, I Can’t Ride a Boat

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On Saturday, August 12, from 3:30-6pm, my friends and I built a cardboard boat, and attempted to race it across the Sierra Recreation and Fitness Center Pool.

We were given two large, cardboard boxes, a roll of silver duct tape, and a new X-acto knife (in the package!). We had 60 minutes to mess around and figure out how on earth to get 16-year-old-me across a lap pool against kids a third of my size.

We decided a canoe shape would stand out aerodynamically and also look cool. We used a red pen to trace the outline of one cardboard box and had great ideas while listening to Hamilton. We made flaps to keep the edges together and coated it in duct tape.

Soon families began to cart their boats to the pool. Their boats looked very different from ours! We wondered if this was a good or bad thing. We looked back on our hard work and realized in our strategic placing of cardboard and duct tape, we had forgotten to include the other cardboard box! We hastily taped together supporting poles from the other box and hobbled the odd raft to the pool as an employee insisted we’d be disqualified in seconds.

We waited for our team name, Wrong Direction, to be called, and lined up on the bright poolside. I was the smallest, so I had been nominated to maneuver the raft. I was given a plastic, green shovel to navigate the treacherous water. How I was going to get in, I did not know. My friend etched the boat over the pool’s peak, and when he megaphone blared “GO!” I nervously put one foot in the boat and it instantly collapsed under my weight.

Laughing, I sunk into the chlorinated water and held onto the soggy, floating cardboard to try and recompose myself. The failure of our creation was magical and hilarious. It took me a while to stop giggling and not-so-gracefully heave myself out of the water. Wrong Direction did not care at all that our hard work and been reduced to mush because creating it and watching me sink (mainly watching me sink) was an as good as a reward as any.

We had so much fun, and will definitely be staying updated with the Sierra Recreation and Fitness Center’s activities, as I recommend you do as well.

-Jessica F.