By EMILY SPARACINO / Staff Writer

NORTH SHELBY – Several children exclaimed, “Bubbles!” as they watched a foamy mixture of baking soda and vinegar erupt from their apple volcanoes at the North Shelby Library.

The library’s first Kitchen Science program Feb. 21 engaged preschoolers in a hands-on experiment highlighting STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) concepts using household items, following the library’s regular storytime.

“The library thinks you can incorporate literature with science and technology,” NSL Children’s Librarian Savannah Kitchens said. “They’re not separate. The earlier you start, the better.”

Kitchens led children, who ranged in age from 2 to 4 years, through the experiment with step-by-step instructions on how to scoop baking soda into their hollow apples and then pour vinegar in to create an overflow reminiscent of a volcano.

The experiment introduced children to the chemical reaction between baking soda and vinegar.

“This is all stuff you can do at home in your own kitchen,” she said to the group. “You’re reinforcing simple concepts.”

Such concepts include fruits and vegetables grown from plants, weather words (rain, sun, wind and snow) and counting. The program also cultivates critical thinking skills and scientific method concepts like questioning, experimenting and assessing.

Although younger children might not understand every concept, they can form a solid foundation through active learning, Kitchens said.

“It’s always fun when they (children) can get their hands dirty and create something themselves,” Kitchens said.

Nancy Richard brought her 2-year-old granddaughter Jordan Ray to the program.

“We come to storytime on Monday,” Richard said. “All the people that work here do a great job, and she (Jordan) loves it, and the kids just love coming.”

Richard said she has brought her other grandchildren to storytime at the North Shelby Library over the years.

“We’re just so thrilled to have this opportunity,” Richard said. “They’ve had a great time.”

Kitchens said three more sessions of the preschool Kitchen Science program will be held at the library. More information can be found at Northshelbylibrary.org.

“We have a weekly storytime, but we have never done anything like this,” Kitchens said. “We’re kind of experimenting with this.”