REGISTRATION POLICY

The summer program is for students entering grades 2-8 in September 2009 who have been accepted into our program. (Please see admission guidelines)
It is advisable to register early to avoid disappointment. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. As soon as a course is filled, it will be closed. We cannot guarantee placement in the summer program.
Students in grades 2 and 3 are assigned to a class, which remains together the entire day.
Students in grades 4 through 8 should select, in priority order, three course choices for each hour. All choices listed on the registration form will be considered commitments.
This registration packet contains the 5 forms necessary for registration. Please mail all forms directly to the Center for Gifted Youth office.

COURSE SELECTION GUIDELINES

The program provides students in grades 2-8 with the opportunity to take subjects that are not offered during the typical school year. We encourage all students in grades 4-8 to select courses from a variety of disciplines. We suggest that students and their parents develop a mutually agreeable schedule from the list of courses offered.

TUITION, DEPOSIT & FEES

Academic tuition for the summer program is $2,400.00. The lunch program is $200.00 for a total program cost of $2,600.00. A laboratory fee of $30.00 per course will also be charged for all students enrolled in science classes. The tuition includes a $1,000.00 non-refundable deposit to be paid when you register your child (registration materials are included). The balance of the program costs must be paid on or before April 1, 2009; otherwise, we will substitute a child who has been wait-listed.

SCHEDULE OF THE SUMMER PROGRAM
July 6-July 30, 2009

Grades 2-3

9:15 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. Computers: New Experiences
Introduction to the Plant & Animal Kingdom*

11:20 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Lunch & Outdoor Recreation

12:20 p.m. – 2:20 p.m. Math: Brain Games
Word Magic

2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Outdoor/Indoor Recreation

Grades 4-6

9:15 a.m. – 10:10 a.m. Exploring the Roaring 20’s Using the Internet NEW!
Inventions: How Things Work*
Law: Speech & Debate

10:20 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. Art & Artists: Beyond the Stroke of Genius NEW!
Chemical Detectives *
Computer Robotics*

11:20 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Lunch & Outdoor Recreation

12:20 p.m. –1:15 p.m. Oceanography: Undersea Adventures*
Law: Whose Fault is it Anyway
Writer’s Workshop: Short Stories

1:25 p.m. – 2:20 p.m. Law: Speech & Debate
Mathematical Problem Solving
Rocketry & Space Science *

2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Outdoor/Indoor Recreation

Grades 6-8

9:15 a.m. – 10:10 a.m. Advanced Computer Robotics*
Chemistry: New Research Topics I *

10:20 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. Inventions: How Things Work (Advanced)*
Law: Courtroom Drama

11:20 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Lunch & Outdoor Recreation

12:20 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. Advanced Rocketry & Space Science*
Mathematical Challenges

1:25 p.m. – 2:20 p.m. Advanced Oceanography: Undersea Adventures*
Writing: Heroes & Villains NEW!

2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Outdoor/Indoor Recreation

* A lab fee of $30 per science class will be charged for any student taking science classes.

SUMMER 2008 COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

Grades 2-3
Students in grades 2 and 3 will be assigned to the following four courses during each day:

COMPUTERS: NEW EXPERIENCES
Have fun while learning a valuable skill in the age of multimedia computers. Create your own original PowerPoint presentations incorporating text, sound, voice, graphics, and photos using an IBM platform. PowerPoint allows you to include a variety of special effects to give your presentation that professional look.

INTRODUCTION TO THE PLANT & ANIMAL KINGDOMS
In this course, students will study the biology of various plants and animals. Hands-on activities and role-playing games will be used to learn about these organisms. Students will begin with the study of simple organisms and progress to the more advanced, while learning how they all interrelate with each other.

MATH: BRAIN GAMES
This is an activity-based course designed to give students experiences solving various types of mathematical puzzles. The puzzles will provide students with an opportunity to improve their deductive reasoning and critical thinking skills. Activities will be designed to meet the needs, interests, and ability of each participant. Puzzles will include block patterns, number and letter sequences, logic, and tangrams.

WORD MAGIC
Explore the magical world of words in an exciting and creative manner. Learn to analyze body language and word origins. Try your hand at symbols, figurative language, similes, metaphors, idioms, imagery, and folk tales.

Grades 4-6
Students in grades 4-6 choose four courses during each day. Students in grade 6 may
choose courses for either grade levels 4-6 or 6-8 without being confined to either age group.

MATHEMATICS & COMPUTERS

COMPUTER ROBOTICS
Robotics is the future. Using gizmos and gadgets, students will develop and evaluate their own ideas in a project creation environment. Students learn not only the specifics of using machines to accomplish real tasks, but also the general practice of working in partnership with technology. The robotics course software is a collection of tools that build on the tradition of Logo and LogoWriter. This software enhances creativity, problem-solving and critical thinking skills. New learning experiences will be presented each semester.

MATHEMATICAL PROBLEM SOLVING
Students will participate in activities that will help them develop and enhance their problem solving abilities. They will learn to analyze and solve non-routine mathematical problems, identify key words, and use diagrams and tables. They will also identify patterns and develop estimation and deductive reasoning skills. Daily activities include short presentations on key techniques followed by small group and individual practice sets designed to challenge students and improve their critical thinking skills. Computer generated questions are utilized in this course. New problems are selected for the summer semester. Special attention will be provided to meet the needs, interests, experience and ability of each student.

SCIENCE

CHEMICAL DETECTIVES
Is the crown fool’s gold or real gold? What is the nature of a mysterious white powder? What causes the color in both food products and fibers? How and why do fireworks demonstrate different colors? Are all aspirins created equal? The answers to these and other intriguing problems will be explored in this laboratory course. Students will use forensic analysis to determine the nature of many common household products. Chemical and physical principles will be explained, so students can develop a true sense of investigative analysis.

INVENTIONS: HOW THINGS WORK
When Albert Einstein was 5 years old, his father gave him a compass. Young Albert became fascinated with the invisible forces that enabled the compass needle to find its way back to the magnetic north no matter which way he turned. This simple toy was, perhaps, the spark that triggered Einstein’s lifelong inquiry into the “something behind things, something deeply hidden” that ultimately led to his incredible insight into the workings of our universe. In this course, we will explore the simple beginnings of invention that have since blossomed into the technological wonders we often take for granted. The primary focus of this course will be to foster informed curiosity, creativity, the joy of tinkering, and perhaps even a sense of direction in the minds of our future scientists.

OCEANOGRAPHY: UNDERSEA ADVENTURES
The most important habitats in the world are in the oceans, which cover over 70 percent of the earth’s surface. Oceans give us oxygen, food, weather, energy, and important minerals. Therefore, it is important that we protect these valuable resources. In this class, students will learn about the biological, chemical, and physical aspects of oceans. Topics to be discussed include conservation, organisms of the oceans, marine ecosystems, basic chemical oceanography, geology, and sedimentology.

ROCKETRY & SPACE SCIENCE
From hot air balloons to the outer edge of space, we will investigate the pathway that led us from our dreams of flight to our first lunar steps. Students will design, build, and launch lighter-than-air vessels. The principles of aerodynamics and rocketry will be explored, as they design, build, and launch their own rockets. Safety procedures will be stressed throughout the program.

HUMANITIES

ART & ARTISTS : BEYOND THE STROKE OF GENIUS NEW!
Experience the wonder of Vincent Van Gogh’s Starry Night, the playfulness of Monet’s beach scenes, the intriguing contrasts of Seurat’s Sunday on the Grande Jatte, the mysteries of Picasso’s Blue Period, and many other astonishing works of art from the 1900’s to today. Students will explore the life and work of some of the greatest artists of the past two centuries. After careful exploration of these artists and their work, students will complete their own works of art inspired by the style and techniques of each unique period in history.

EXPLORING THE ROARING 20’s USING THE INTERNET NEW!
Lindberg’s transatlantic flight, flappers, World War I, the Great Depression, Art Deco, and the Harlem Renaissance… These are just a few of the cultural, literary, political, and economic events and trends of the 1920’s that students will explore through an interdisciplinary study using quality internet based sources. Students will use their knowledge of this fascinating era to create a mulit-media presentation.

LAW: SPEECH & DEBATE
What you say and how you say it can make a major difference in your life. Students in this course will learn important techniques to communicate their ideas as they practice how to construct and deliver a speech with poise, confidence, and even humor.

LAW: WHOSE FAULT IS IT ANYWAY?
Students enrolled in this course will be introduced to the world of civil law. Basic cases involving negligence law will be the main content of the course. A manual will be supplied to each student for the purpose of instruction. Students will role-play as attorneys and witnesses in interesting and challenging trials. New cases are chosen each semester based upon the age and maturity level of the class.

WRITER’S WORKSHOP: SHORT STORIES
Starting with the first short stories (fables and fairy tales) we will study the basic elements of short story writing: character, conflict, point of view, setting, descriptive detail, climax, resolution, and theme. Model short stories - modern or classic, funny or serious, fantastic or realistic - will inspire our own.

Grades 6-8
Students in grades 6-8 choose four courses during each day. Students in grade 6 may
choose courses for either grade levels 4-6 or 6-8 without being confined to either age group.

MATHEMATICS & COMPUTERS

ADVANCED COMPUTER ROBOTICS
The paradigm for robotics, and robots, is sensing, thinking, and acting. Advanced computer robotics emphasizes all three aspects. For example, that means learning how to use and control sensors, how to program, and how to analyze a robot’s design in performing tasks in the real world. Advanced computer robotics is a hands-on, project-based class, with a concurrent goal of identifying related scientific concepts.

MATHEMATICAL CHALLENGES
Students will become acquainted with challenging topics in mathematics through exploration and problem-solving situations. Activities and projects will help students come to a clearer understanding of mathematical concepts that will prepare them for further study. Areas of exploration will include: conic sections, math modeling, logic, probability and game theory, inductive and deductive reasoning, number systems and imaginary numbers. Mathematical material chosen will be dependent upon student interest and ability level.

SCIENCE

ADVANCED OCEANOGRAPHY: UNDERSEA ADVENTURES
Oceans, seas, bays, and estuaries represent environments which cover nearly three-quarters of the earth’s surface. Students will learn about the environments of these bodies of water and the critical and delicate balance that is threatened by the introduction of pollutants.

ADVANCED ROCKETRY
This course will be a study of the exploration of space, including aerodynamic principles and rocket propulsion. Students will build and launch multi stage rockets and use triangulation techniques to ascertain altitudes. Experienced rocketeers will be given more advanced projects and will discuss and develop selected aspects of projectile motion. Safety procedures and rules will be stressed throughout the program.

CHEMISTRY: NEW RESEARCH TOPICS I
This course will provide an opportunity for students to explore the world of modern chemistry as they learn how matter is composed and how new substances are created. Investigations involving analysis of chemical composition, chemical reactions, chemical changes, and other related topics will enrich students’ understanding of fundamental chemical concepts. Laboratory activities will be carefully supervised, and safety procedures will be emphasized.

INVENTIONS: HOW THINGS WORK (ADVANCED)
In our daily world, we are surrounded by the practical applications of science and technology. Many of the comforts and conveniences that we have come to enjoy started out as basement projects of creative individuals who took joy in tinkering. In this course, using concepts of heat, light, sound and motion as starting points, students will have the opportunity to look inside some of the products of science to understand how things work. From digital alarm clocks and motion detectors to scuba diving and satellite technology, air bags, bicycles, and solar-powered cars, students will learn how the concepts of science have become intricately woven into the fabric of their daily lives. As a culminating activity, students will work individually and in small cooperative groups to design and develop their own inventions.

HUMANITIES

LAW: COURTROOM DRAMA
“You are there” as we explore the background of famous trials, indictments, courtroom testimony, cross-examination, verdicts, and sentences involving historical cases of major significance. Great lawyers and their courtroom tactics, crime detection, and investigation make criminal trials and current legal issues interesting material for developing historical perspectives about crime. Questions about law, morality, and justice will be analyzed in this course.

WRITING: HEROES & VILLAINS NEW!
Adventure, mystery and dramatic stories are driven by heroes, villains, and antiheroes. What are their similarities and differences? Students will consider how such protagonists and antagonists as Harry Potter, Lady Macbeth, and Frankenstein have been created by their authors. They will employ similar techniques in developing characters for their own stories.