Fifth graders build catapults

The battle of the sexes is open and fully blazing among 10 to 12-year-olds all over the globe.

This competition is ageless and not likely to cool off anytime soon.

Thursday the Harrisburg Public Library unwittingly armed fifth-graders and a skirmish in this ongoing war erupted. Pairs of students from each side completed building a catapult from pencils, rubber bands, a paper cupcake cup and a shoebox.

One pair of girls finished first and immediately opened fire on the nearest pair of boys.

Taking heavy hits from tiny marshmallows the boys quickly finished their construction and returned fire. Soon, the community room in the basement of the building was the scene of a full fledged battle as more and more catapults were completed and each pair joined in the fray.

It was all in good fun, under the direction of two brave librarians Krys Gully and Emily Drone.

It is part of Project Next Generation and Harrisburg Public Library focused its attention on fifth graders.

The project is funded by a grant from the Illinois State Library, a department of the Illinois Secretary of State using funds provided by the U.S. Institute of Museums and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act.

Classes are held 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays and are open to fifth graders.

The purpose is to help the students learn about computers, technology and having fun. Anyone wishing to sign up should email Krystal Gulley at kgulley@harrisburglibrary.org. Sessions will run until Feb. 26.

Upcoming projects are a solar powered car and a snap circuit rover. There will be wide-screen movies and Wii and video games.