Rachel Glover

Proposed Class: Balloon Rocket Races!

Program Need: The theme for this year's summer reading is Spark a Reaction with a major focus on STEM. Balloon rocket races will get middle
schoolers thinking about Newton's Laws, energy, propulsion/thrust, pressure, and friction. These races will also get students excited to explore
scientific principles by participating in a race!
Howard County Library Mission Statement: We deliver high-quality public education for all ages. This program relates to the mission statement
because this class is not only a fun race for students, but is educational, as it includes the need to decide on materials used based on scientific
principles.
Potential Community Partners: There is no need for a community partner in this activity, although we could advertise in the schools when
promoting summer reading. Howard County School System is a HCLibrary partner in A+ classes but this is not one of those.
Event Set-up:
Materials needed: 40 party balloons, 40 long balloons, 4 10ft lengths of (thicker but still fits through straw) nylon string, thin cotton string, 40 straws
of three different lengths (short, medium, long), two solid fixed points to tape string (wall and chair, two chairs etc), tape, clips to hold air in
balloons, white board to make the brackets, prizes
One week before: Buy materials. Prepare materials ie. Cut 10 ft lengths (with a little extra to compensate for starting line and tape to wall) of 2 types
of string, tape a start line on one end of each string. cut straws into 3 lengths.
Day of: Set up room by taping 2 strings each to two areas of wall. Stretch out string lengths to chairs set 10ft away from wall. Set out various materials
for students to choose from. Set up blank brackets on white board. Instructions written on chalkboard/poster paper as a visual aid: Choose a long or
round balloon, choose a length of straw, decide which string you would like to use, decide how much air you would want to put in your balloon.
Evaluation: This program will be evaluated in two ways. One way will be a discussion before and after the class as to which materials might work
(or did work) best and why. Secondly, it will be evaluated by the result of the rocket races. The students will see which rockets were successful and
which were not.
The following would be printed in our SOURCE magazine

BALLOON ROCKET RACES!

Do you have a need for speed? Come build and race a balloon rocket in this bracket tournament. Choose the materials that you believe will help you
race to victory! Creatively apply scientific, mathematical, and practical knowledge to design, build, and test a balloon rocket. Just in case your parents
ask!

ELKRIDGE June 9 7p-8p
Additional promotions

Promote in schools during summer reading book promotions. (May)

Information desk: Sign advertising program one month in advance.

Howard County Library's website will post information when the summer edition of Source is available.

Social Media: Facebook and Twitter messages about the class to promote it one week in advance.