Junior engineers
There's no age limit on great inventions, and some innovative ideas have come from the youngest of minds. Saturday, some of those smart young minds will compete in the first of the Maryland Engineering Challenges at the Baltimore Museum of Industry. More than 250 elementary school students (roughly 70 teams) will contend for awards and prizes by creating safe model race cars with egg passengers, model theme park rides based on children's books, and paper airplanes, judged on flight, distance and accuracy. Professional engineers will inspect and judge the creations. The Maryland Engineering Challenges continue at the museum Feb. 24 with high school students competing in the Wood Bridge Challenge. The events are presented by the Baltimore Museum of Industry, the Engineering Society of Baltimore, the Technical Education Association of Maryland and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
The engineering challenge for elementary school students runs 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday at the Baltimore Museum of Industry, 1415 Key Highway. The Wood Bridge Challenge for high school students runs 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Feb. 24. Spectator admission: $3; $2 children. Call 410-727-4808, Ext. 111 or Ext. 106.
Black History Month stories at the Pratt
There's still plenty of time to catch some of the Black History Month events in the area. Lectures, films, exhibits and concerts abound. And an afternoon of song and storytelling is on the bill at the Enoch Pratt Central Library Sunday. If you go, you'll be treated to the lively tales of Queen Nur, Momma Sandi and Kala JoJo. Educational, inspirational and often humorous stories and songs will be shared, and audience participation is encouraged.
The event begins at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Enoch Pratt Central Library, 400 Cathedral St. Free. 410-396-5430.--