Contributed photo
Beckett Honebrink, Jack Mills and Blake Nelson construct a large magna tile set in the display case near the library and preschool rooms.

By Chad Koenen

Publisher

A group of third grade students at Henning School has transformed a tub of magna tiles into a piece of art to greet those who visit the Henning School Library and elementary school.

Beckett Honebrink, Blake Nelson and Jack Mills took school librarian Pam Wiese up on a challenge during a recent after school STEAM event in the library. While a number of students were creating an art project, Wiese challenged the trio of third graders into designing something unique out of the massive box of magna tiles the library has purchased through a STEAM grant.

“I gave them a challenge. I asked them, instead of doing what the other kids are doing, would you want to do something with the magna tiles,” she asked the students. “But I told them you have to use every magna tile.”

About 90 minutes, some unique creativity and careful building later, the three students connected all 660 magna tiles pieces together inside one of the showcases outside of the library and preschool rooms. The project was so large that the students have magna tiles touching the walls left to right and even the ceiling inside the showcase.

Contributed photo
Beckett Honebrink, Blake Nelson and Jack Mills stand next to the elaborate magna tile creation they made from the tiles purchased by the library as part of a STEAM grant. The creation is located just outside of the library in one of the display cases.

“They just wanted to make sure to get to the top,” said Wiese with a laugh. “They gave it a lot of thought.”

The after school STEAM program every Wednesday at the library is part of an expanded lineup of activities for students and community members at school this year. The library received several grants to expand its STEAM program and provide after school and Saturday morning offerings for the general public.

Among the additional activities this year includes: a sewing club, STEAM activities, story time and more.

Wiese said there are typically 16 kids who regularly attend after school activities in the library every day and one of the recent activities was creating homemade play dough.

“It’s full every time,” said Wiese.

The library is open to the community to visit and check out books from on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 3:30-5:30 p.m., on Wednesday from 3:30-7 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.