Summertime Science

Second and third-graders acted out the roles of atoms Monday afternoon as part of GlaxoSmithKline's Science in the Summer program.

Bill Vosburgh, a volunteer teacher of the program, which is offered this week at , broke the 15-member class into groups of three to illustrate the role that neutrons, protons and the ever-moving electrons play in atoms. 

"Atoms make up everything," Vosburgh said. 

Kids, who donned fluorescent goggles during much of the 45-minute science exploration, also learned about "special rocks" - magnets - that are attracted to metal objects such as paper clips.

The 25th annual Science in the Summer program is offered in 100 libraries throughout Montgomery, Bucks, Delaware, Chester and Philadelphia counties, according to spokeswoman Nicole Galvin.

Ellyn Benner, Horsham's children's librarian, said 32 kids registered for this year's program, which is broken into two classes - one for kids entering second- and third-grade and one for kids entering fourth- through sixth-grade. 

Since the library began offering the program seven years ago, Benner said kids sometimes have to be turned away.

"We always get a good number of families that sign up for it," Benner said. 

The Science in the Summer program will come to the July 11-14.