FALL

SPRING

9:00 a.m. to 9:50 a.m.

Saturday Express:

Saturday Express:

Science*, Mathematics, Humanities

Science*, Mathematics, Humanities

FALL

SPRING

9:00 a.m. to 9:50 a.m.

Computers: Reporting the News

Computers: Around the World with the Internet

Geology: The Restless Earth*

Introduction to Robotics*

Investigations in Biological Science*

Investigations in Physical Science I*

Math Problem Solving [Course A]

Math Problem Solving [Course B]

Morning at the Improv

Writing: Tall & Wild Tales

10:00 a.m. to 10:50 a.m.

Computers: Reporting the News

Computers: Around the World with the Internet

Geology: The Restless Earth*

Introduction to Robotics*

Investigations in Biological Science*

Investigations in Physical Science I*

Math Problem Solving [Course A]

Math Problem Solving [Course B]

Morning at the Improv

Writing: Tall & Wild Tales

11:00 a.m. to 11:55 a.m.

Computers: Reporting the News

Computers: Around the World with the Internet

Geology: The Restless Earth*

Introduction to Robotics*

Investigations in Biological Science*

Investigations in Physical Science I*

Math Problem Solving [Course A]

Math Problem Solving [Course B]

Morning at the Improv

Writing: Tall & Wild Tales

FALL

SPRING

9:00 a.m. to 9:50 a.m.

Advanced Math Problem Solving

Anatomy & Physiology*

Biology: Environmental Issues*

Discovering Ancient Greece

Chemistry in our Lives*

Law & the Open Seas

Election 2008 & Beyond

Mystery Writing

Law & Entertainment

Probability & Statistics

Meteorology*

Real Life Problem Solving & the Internet

Physics: Energy for the 21st Century*

Rocketry & Airplane Design*

Writing: Fantasy & Science Fiction

World of Chemistry*

10:00 a.m. to 10:50 a.m.

Advanced Math Problem Solving

Anatomy & Physiology*

Biology: Environmental Issues*

Discovering Ancient Greece

Chemistry in our Lives*

Internet Law

Election 2008 & Beyond

Mystery Writing

Law & Psychology

Probability & Statistics

Meteorology*

Real Life Problem Solving & the Internet

Physics: Energy for the 21st Century*

Rocketry & Airplane Design*

Writing: Poetry & Magic with Words

World of Chemistry*

11:00 a.m. to 11:55 a.m.

Advanced Math Problem Solving

Anatomy & Physiology*

Biology: Environmental Issues*

Discovering Ancient Greece

Chemistry in our Lives*

Internet Law

Election 2008 & Beyond

Mystery Writing

Law & Psychology

Probability & Statistics

Meteorology*

Real Life Problem Solving & the Internet

Physics: Energy for the 21st Century*

Rocketry & Airplane Design*

Writing: Poetry & Magic with Words

World of Chemistry*

The Saturday Express is a program of exploration and discovery in science, mathematics, and the humanities. Students will be exposed to challenging ideas and concepts rarely introduced or explored at the early childhood level. They will be provided with hands-on learning experiences by expert instructors in their fields at a depth and pace appropriate to gifted children.

One class will emphasize mathematical thinking. Students will be encouraged to problem solve while having fun with shapes and numbers, as well as learn a variety of mathematical concepts. Another class will highlight the exploration of individual thematic units in science. The third class will emphasize the humanities, integrating literature, social studies, and the cultural arts, in interdisciplinary study.

Maximum attention is provided to each child in a non-pressured setting that encourages risk-taking and independent thought and action. Children are also given many opportunities to interact both intellectually and socially. These courses are designed so that students can participate for four consecutive semesters without repeating content.

Science courses are designed so that students can participate for four consecutive semesters without repeating content. Different materials are introduced and different topics are explored each semester. The use of Roman numeral designations does not indicate levels of difficulty; they merely indicate different learning experiences. There are no prerequisites for any of these courses.

INVESTIGATIONS IN BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE

Fall

This course is designed to provide a variety of hands-on learning experiences about living things. Students will conduct investigations that show how different plants and animals are able to carry out their activities and complete their life cycles. Selected topics on the human body and our dependence on plants and animals will be investigated. An understanding of the relationships between living things and the non-living world will be developed.

GEOLOGY: THE RESTLESS EARTH

Fall

In this course, students will explore the movements inside our restless earth and their relationship to volcanoes and earthquakes. Students will learn what is deep inside our earth as they take an imaginary journey to its center. A hands-on approach will be used as students build models of the earth's layers and volcanoes. Students will learn about the different types of volcanoes, the ring of fire, plate tectonic theory, and tips for surviving an earthquake or volcanic eruption. They will also explore what Earth was like 250 million years ago when the continents formed one super continent, Pangaea.

COMPUTERS

COMPUTERS: REPORTING THE NEWS

Fall

This course is designed to introduce students to the role of the news reporter. Under the guidance of the instructor and using the computer facilities of the University, students will work independently or in collaborative pairs to investigate the people, places and events that make New York City the most exciting city in the world.

MATHEMATICS

MATHEMATICAL PROBLEM SOLVING

Fall

These courses focus on the development of superior mathematical problem-solving techniques. Students will learn to identify key words, find pertinent information, and select appropriate strategies for solving problems. This will include diagrams, models, and charts to organize information. Classroom lessons will include short presentations on various problem-solving techniques and will be followed by challenging individual exercises. A variety of problems will be presented to meet the needs, interests, and abilities of each student. New problems are presented during each semester.

SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES

MORNING AT THE IMPROV

Fall

How does Robin Williams make those creative choices so quickly? He makes them through the applied principles of improvisation. In this course, students will participate in active explorations using improvisation. They will work both individually and in groups as they discover the three rules of improvisational theatre: listen, process, and respond. Each session will begin with a warm-up, followed by creative-thinking exercises designed to open up the world of spontaneity and logic.

BIOLOGY: ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

Fall

Laboratory experiences will help the students understand what environmental issues are endangering our planet. Acid rain, water clarity and cleanliness, the truth about plastics, alternate energy sources, the care of the atmosphere and solid waste disposal are some of the issues we all need to concern ourselves with so we can create solutions. This class will discuss those issues and create scenarios proposing creative ways to address them.

CHEMISTRY IN OUR LIVES

Fall

This course is designed to engage both youngsters with minimal experience as well as students with prior knowledge in the study of chemistry. Activities and discussions will be drawn from topics such as chemicals and their classification, phases and phase changes, neutralization and pH, and the interactions of energy and matter. In each instance, the objectives are to enable students to discover basic chemical concepts and principles, as well as experience the excitement and joy of scientific inquiry. Laboratory activities will be carefully supervised with safety procedures strongly emphasized.

METEOROLOGY

Fall

We will emphasize a hands-on and minds-on approach to learning by actively engaging the students in the discovery process, often working in small groups. This course will explore the major topics of weather. Students will be exposed to such topics as heat transfer, wind, pressure, air masses, fronts, hurricane and tornado formation, global warming, and the calculations of dew point, humidity, and cloud base altitude.

PHYSICS: ENERGY FOR THE 21ST CENTURY

Fall

Students will investigate energy, its production, forms and interaction with matter in a laboratory setting. Topics will include gravitational, mechanical, thermal, chemical, electrical and nuclear energy. The contemporary problems of nuclear power, alternative power, alternative energy sources and the energy crisis will be examined. Students will brainstorm solutions to these problems and why these solutions matter.

ADVANCED MATHEMATICAL PROBLEM SOLVING

Fall

Students will participate in activities to help them develop and enhance their problem-solving abilities. They will learn to analyze and solve unique mathematical problems, identify key words, and use diagrams and tables. They will also look for patterns and develop estimation and deductive reasoning skills. Weekly activities include short teacher presentations on key techniques followed by small group and individual practice sets designed to challenge students and improve their critical thinking skills. Special attention will be provided to meet the needs, interests, experience and ability of each student; however, students should already have a strong background in mathematics. New problems are presented each semester. The use of letter designations does not indicate level of difficulty; merely different learning experiences. There are no prerequisites for these courses.

ELECTION 2008 & BEYOND

Fall

It is important to help children become educated and engaged citizens. To achieve this goal, the course will focus on the 2008 Presidential campaign using a combination of activities that will give students a voice in this year’s election. Students will participate in a mock election activity that will involve all students in the CGY and compare these results to actual election day outcomes. In addition, using a variety of interactive activities students will study the presidency, history-making campaigns and elections, and other civic learning experiences.

LAW & ENTERTAINMENT

Fall

In this course, students will explore the interesting and provocative relationship between the rule of law and entertainment. Students will appear as attorneys and witnesses as they role-play court cases involving Hollywood and its fascinating personalities. Proper trial techniques will be employed as students prepare for the ultimate drama of the courthouse.

LAW & PSYCHOLOGY

Fall

Students enrolled in this course will investigate the basic concepts of psychology and explore the unique relationship between the world of psychology and the world of law. Students will role-play court cases that involve testimony by "expert witnesses" in the field of psychology. Topics to be discussed in this course will include the role psychologists play in creation of jury questionnaires, the evaluation of jurists by attorneys, and how psychologists assist attorneys in their presentations to juries. In addition, psychological defenses against criminal charges will be explained and evaluated.

WRITING: POETRY & MAGIC WITH WORDS

Fall

Children will learn to write poetry in many styles. This will include the limerick, cinquain, diamante, isijo, tanka, novelty verse and rhyme verse in different form and meter. They will produce an illustrated anthology of poems by the end of this course. Children will also learn and play word games that build vocabulary and analytical thinking skills.

WRITING: FANTASY & SCIENCE FICTION

Fall

Science fiction as a literary form is ever increasing in popularity. Students will learn about its early creators and advocates, surprisingly long history, and its current vogue. They will read and analyze samples of the literature and try their hand at writing their own stories or skits.

The Saturday Express is a program of exploration and discovery in science, mathematics, and the humanities. Students will be exposed to challenging ideas and concepts rarely introduced or explored at the early childhood level. They will be provided with hands-on learning experiences by expert instructors in their fields at a depth and pace appropriate to gifted children.

One class will emphasize mathematical thinking. Students will be encouraged to problem solve while having fun with shapes and numbers, as well as learn a variety of mathematical concepts. Another class will highlight the exploration of individual thematic units in science. The third class will emphasize the humanities, integrating literature, social studies, and the cultural arts, in interdisciplinary study.

Maximum attention is provided to each child in a non-pressured setting that encourages risk-taking and independent thought and action. Children are also given many opportunities to interact both intellectually and socially. These courses are designed so that students can participate for four consecutive semesters without repeating content.

Science courses are designed so that students can participate for four consecutive semesters without repeating content. Different materials are introduced and different topics are explored each semester. The use of Roman numeral designations does not indicate levels of difficulty; they merely indicate different learning experiences. There are no prerequisites for any of these courses.

INTRODUCTION TO ROBOTICS

Spring

This course is designed to introduce students to the “age of robots,” helping them understand how robots of the 21st century may change the way people live. Robots come in many shapes and sizes and have the potential to perform different tasks. Students will have an opportunity to pretend they are robotic engineers and design blueprints for robots of the future. Students will even imagine robots of the future that replace Mom or Dad’s job!

INVESTIGATIONS IN PHYSICAL SCIENCE I

Spring

This course is designed to provide a variety of hands on learning experiences that will introduce students to the basic concepts of chemistry and physics. Students will investigate such topics as air pressure, buoyancy, gravity, density of matter, temperature, heat, chemical reactions and electromagnetism. Activities will stress the development of skills and understandings related to the physical sciences.

COMPUTERS

COMPUTERS: AROUND THE WORLD WITH THE INTERNET

Spring

Students will use a variety of search engines to explore the World Wide Web. Along their journey, they will collect information on communities around the world and develop a database. They will also produce, in a Web page format, a report of their research.

MATHEMATICS

MATHEMATICAL PROBLEM SOLVING

Spring

These courses focus on the development of superior mathematical problem-solving techniques. Students will learn to identify key words, find pertinent information, and select appropriate strategies for solving problems. This will include diagrams, models, and charts to organize information. Classroom lessons will include short presentations on various problem-solving techniques and will be followed by challenging individual exercises. A variety of problems will be presented to meet the needs, interests, and abilities of each student. New problems are presented during each semester.

SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES

WRITING: TALL & WILD TALES

Spring

In this course students will have an opportunity to learn about legendary tall tale figures and their adventures. They will read and discuss legends from various eras and cultures, such as the stories of King Arthur, Robin Hood, Rip Van Winkle, and others. Following discussion students will have fun creating their own amazing heroes and heroines and writing their own tall tales.

ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY

Spring

The chief focus of this course will be on the structure and functions of our body and other more complex animals, especially vertebrates. This course will be conducted in a campus biology laboratory where investigations as to how the human machine functions and operates will take place. Simulations of how our different systems work will be demonstrated and discussed.

ROCKETRY & AIRPLANE DESIGN

Spring

The evolution of rocket and airplane design from the first Chinese fireworks to the space shuttle will be studied. After investigating the principles of flight, students will build and launch model rockets. Safety precautions and pre-flight testing methods will be stressed. Students with experience will work on more advanced models.

WORLD OF CHEMISTRY

Spring

How are materials put together? How do chemicals behave under different conditions? What substance is it? What new substances were produced? Using the senses of sight, sound, taste, touch, and smell, students will investigate the answers to these intriguing questions. By working in our campus chemistry laboratory, they will learn chemical concepts, terminology, and laboratory methods. Experiments will involve the study of solids, liquids, gases, heat energy, and other related topics. Laboratory activities will be carefully supervised with safety procedures strongly emphasized.

COMPUTERS

REAL LIFE PROBLEM SOLVING & THE INTERNET

Spring

Students wishing to satisfy their intellectual curiosity and investigate topics, such as wildlife, technology, history, the environment, athletics, and the arts, will be given the tools to explore the vast array of resources available on the Internet. A series of authentic scenarios designed to challenge and enhance analytical abilities and thinking skills will be presented. Topics covered will include Internet access and Web site exploration, as well as the retrieval, downloading, organization, and presentation of information necessary to solve problems meaningful to today’s students.

MATHEMATICS

PROBABILITY & STATISTICS

Spring

This course is designed to provide a variety of learning experiences that will introduce students to the basic concepts of probability and statistics. Students will investigate such topics as complementary events, tree diagrams, compound events, independent and dependent events, factorials, permutations, combinations, measures of central tendency, quartiles, and percentiles.

SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES

DISCOVERING ANCIENT GREECE

Spring

This course will offer an introduction to the world of the ancient Greeks. Who the ancient Greeks were, how they lived and what made their civilization so dynamic are just some of the topics to be explored. Students in this course will expand their knowledge of ancient Greece and learn why this culture still fascinates us today.

INTERNET LAW

Spring

Students enrolled in this course will examine the controversies and court cases that have emerged as our nation and the world struggle to harness the power of this new medium of communication and interaction. Students will appear as attorneys and witnesses, as they role-play selected courtroom cases involving freedom of speech and right to privacy issues. This exciting course will serve to keep students up to date with respect to the rulings of our courts involving Internet use and its applications. Topics discussed and cases reviewed will be chosen based upon the age and maturity of students enrolled in the course.

LAW ON THE OPEN SEAS

Spring

Students enrolled in this course will examine the controversial issues generated by the clash between private, corporate interests and the laws that govern undersea exploration and salvage operations. Students will play the roles of attorneys and witnesses as some of the most interesting and compelling cases in recent maritime history come alive in our courtroom. Court cases have been written with the age and maturity of the intended audience in mind.

MYSTERY WRITING

Spring

The mystery stories of Edgar Allen Poe, Sherlock Holmes, and Agatha Christie have fascinated readers for years. This course will help students understand the essential ingredients for writing a good mystery. The elements of plot, character, and action will be discussed. Students will have the opportunity to create their own mysteries and have them published in a student journal.