Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
7th graders at Preston Hall look at the visiting exhibits, including speciman jars with Alaska pollock, herring, and other fish
Science teacher Charissa Hodges points out features of one of the specimens to her middle school students.
The exhibit displayed in Mr. Kiefel's high school science classes.
WAITSBURG - The Weller Public Library has received an exhibit box from the Burke Museum at the University of Washington in Seattle. The museum loans Burke Boxes to libraries, classrooms, and families and contains museum-quality items highlighting the natural world and Washington's cultural heritage.
The Waitsburg library has received the Burke Box on fish from the museum's life sciences collection. The box contains 15 specimen jars with fish, fish models, skeletons, scales, bones, and other exhibits. The library will have the box on offer until October 15.
The Burke Museum provides books and lesson plans as part of the program. Shipping for the program is covered by grants and support from the Friends of the Weller Library. This school year is the Weller Public Library's third to include these traveling exhibits in its programming.
The library staff bring the exhibits to Waitsburg Elementary School, Preston Hall Middle School, and Waitsburg High School science classrooms between October 3 and 10.
Science teacher Charissa Hodges points out features of one of the specimens to her middle school students.
The younger students will learn the five characteristics that define a fish. There are also some classes learning about the ecosystems and habitats of different types of fish. The district's oldest students participated in an activity featuring the life cycle of salmon.
The Burke Box includes detailed exhibits, including a partially dissected fish showing its anatomy, a traditional fish trap and net needle, fish fossils, and three sets of 3D printed scales showing how they function. Students and library patrons can gently handle the exhibits.
The exhibit displayed in Mr. Kiefel's high school science classes.
"We love featuring exhibits that provide a fresh take on science classes and emphasize local natural history. The Burke traveling exhibits allow kids here in Waitsburg to get up close to specimens that they might not normally have a chance to see," said Library Manager Sarah Roberts.
These exhibits are available for viewing during regular library hours, Wed. and Thurs., between 1 and 6 p.m., and Fri. and Sat. from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. through the following weekend.
"Our Storytime and art event this weekend on Saturday at 10 a.m. will give participants a chance to paint a fish," said Roberts.
This year, the upcoming exhibits from the Burke Museum will be Fossils in November and Bats in late February through early March
The public library has many events and activities planned this year. A book club for middle school-age readers begins on October 9. The library will introduce TableTop Role Playing Games (TTRPG) on Thursday, October 10, and Book Trivia Battles on October 24. The first battle will have a Harry Potter theme. There will be Storytimes with coloring sheets on Fridays and with art projects on two Saturdays a month.
Keep up to date on all the events by picking up an event calendar at the library and wellerpubliclibrary.com and on the library's Facebook and Instagram pages.
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