Parents and children in grades K-6 will work together on several hands-on challenges: design a method for propelling a cotton ball; create a critter using a variety of simple mechanisms that will make it move; design a traffic intersection to make it safer for kids; and brainstorm uses of assorted "engineered" household items.

These activities develop a curiosity about, and the ability to solve, engineering challenges, as well as an opportunity for parents and their children to have fun while learning together and making scientific and engineering connections to everyday life.

The theme of the event is "Science and engineering are fun! We can all be scientists and engineers!"

The program is sponsored by the Western UP Center for Science, Math and Environmental Education and the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, with funding from the National Science Foundation.

Library programs are free and everyone is invited. For more information, call the library at 482-4570 or visit www.pldl.org .