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 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.

This course is designed to provide a variety of learning experiences about living things. The 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 its dependence on plants and animals will be investigated. An understanding of the relationships between living things and the non-living world will be developed and explored.

*No previous background or coursework in physical science is needed. This course is designed to provide a variety of learning experiences that will introduce the students to basic concepts about chemistry and physics. The 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 that are related to the physical sciences.

In this course, students will use computer language tailored specifically for investigations in geometry and other areas of mathematics. An emphasis will be placed on analyzing visual figures and how their parts fit together. Programs will be tailored to each student’s interests and demonstrated level of competence.

This course will focus on developing superior mathematical problem-solving techniques. Students will learn to identify key words, find pertinent information, and select appropriate strategies for solving problems. They will also learn to use diagrams, models, and charts to organize information. Classroom lessons will include short presentations on various problem-solving techniques, followed by challenging individual exercises, which will allow students to practice and improve their problem-solving abilities. A variety of problems will be presented to meet the needs, interests, and abilities of each student. New problems are presented during each of four consecutive semesters.

This course is designed to stimulate, challenge, and meet the special interests, needs, and abilities of gifted students. Students will be introduced to brainteasers and puzzles, to help them develop critical and analytical thinking skills and a deeper understanding of mathematical concepts. Students will have fun while engaging in divergent thinking activities.

What the future holds is an intriguing question. In this course, students will examine ideas related to events of the 21st Century – and hypothesize what may lie ahead. A curious imagination and a willingness to explore are all that are needed to travel to the year 2020 … and beyond.

Move beyond the surface to journey with famous artists into the realm of human imagination and creativity. Students will experience art history from medieval times to impressionistic times in an exciting and innovative hands-on manner. Students will produce their own original art work in the styles of DaVinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, Rembrandt, Monet, Degas, Seurat and others!

Learn the important skills to be successful when speaking in front of an audience. Techniques for improving poise, diction, and voice projection will be discussed and practiced. Students will be involved in speech making, debating, creative dramatics, and declamation. They will have a variety of opportunities to learn to be an effective public speaker.

Students will use Hyperstudio to create an interactive mystery story. They will explore the process of writing a mystery, including the setting, clues, suspects, and solution. Interactive Hyperstudio buttons will add heightened suspense. Students will receive a CD-ROM anthology of mysteries at the conclusion of the semester.

This course is designed to engage youngsters in the study of chemistry. A prior chemistry course is not required. Activities and discussions will be drawn from topics, such as solids and fluids, changes in phase, elements and compounds, types of chemical bonds, acids and bases, solubility, and chemical equations. In each instance, the objectives are to enable students to “discover” some basic chemical concepts and principles, become familiar with standard laboratory techniques, and experience the excitement and enjoyment of scientific inquiry. Different topics are covered during the fall and spring semesters. Laboratory activities will be carefully supervised and safety procedures emphasized.

This course explores some of the physical and mathematical relationships that will help students understand Einstein’s Theory of Relativity. An open mind is all that is needed. Students will be taught the mathematics and physics necessary to understand work in the course. Topics to be covered include: momentum, Quantum Theory, atomic and nuclear physics, special and general Theories of Relativity, cosmology, and where we go from here.

This course will take students on a journey deep inside the cell to study structures that control its makeup. Students will explore the discoveries of Mendel, Watson and Crick. Topics to be covered are Mendelian genetics, human inheritance, the structure of the DNA and RNA, and DNA fingerprinting.

Oceans, seas, bays, and estuaries represent environments, which cover three quarters of the earth’s surface. Students will learn about the critical and delicate balance that is threatened by the introduction of pollutants, as well as the incredible diversity of marine life and resources found within the world’s oceans. Students will also perform a series of detailed investigations of various forms of marine organisms, including micro-organisms, planktons, echinoderms, mollusks, squids, and fish.

This course serves as an introduction to optics, lasers and laser applications including holography. Students will study the eye, lenses, mirrors and other optical devices and use the laser as their light source. Types of lasers and their uses in industrial, medical and scientific applications will be investigated. Lasers used are low (one thousandth of a watt) power, and therefore, are in no way hazardous to students. Students in grade 6 may opt for an extended program in this area.

This course is designed to give each student learning experiences that are challenging and fun-filled. While solving brain teasers and playing brain games, students will learn to organize sets of clues (some direct, some indirect) and reach logical conclusions by using pure deductive reasoning.

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. Weekly 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. Special attention will be provided to meet the needs, interests, experience and ability of each student. New problems are presented each semester.

Working independently, students will use the computer to explore various mathematical concepts. Computer programs will provide students with the tools to learn more about fractions, decimals, percents, ratios, proportions, probability, statistics, algebra, and geometry.

Students will gain an understanding of man by looking into his past. They will become familiar with the tools and techniques of the archaeologist. They will learn how we gain an understanding of an earlier culture through a study of its artifacts and ultimately will participate in a simulated dig using established techniques.

Buildings are everywhere. Whether they provide shelter, offer entertainment, or honor people and significant events, they become part of culture and history. This course will teach students about important buildings around the world and some new ways to look at them. Not only will students look at buildings, but learn how to “read” them as well. The class will be interdisciplinary in focus. Students will discuss technology, mathematics, art, history, and their relationship to how and why the buildings were constructed, and the influence of the culture on the design and eventual use of the buildings.

This course is designed to help students understand the central role played by our constitution in our government and legal systems. Through the use of mock trials, case studies, analysis of legal procedures, etc. students will examine such topics as individual and civil rights, the workings of the Supreme Court, Federalism and Separation of Powers. This course will strive to encourage students to "think as lawyers" as a means of exploring the legal profession and current controversial topics such as free speech, privacy and gun control.

Students enrolled in this course will role-play as attorneys and witnesses as they deal with cases involving human rights, air piracy, and national security. Cases will be chosen based upon the maturity of the class. Students will examine the treaties and other international agreements made among the nations of the earth. Law cases involving such treaties and agreements will be reviewed and presented in our courtroom.

The mysteries of ancient Egypt still intrigue us, and the civilization created by the Egyptians today is still considered to be one of the richest and most fascinating ever. The course will take an approach stressing cultural history and geography. Students will learn about people, places, customs and traditions of ancient Egypt, as well as subtopics of art, architecture and music. Students will view slides, videotapes and artworks and work on hands on projects as they learn more about the life and times of pharaonic Egypt.

Students enrolled in this course will be presented with court cases that reveal the on-going struggle between private business interests and the need to preserve our environment. Students will present cases in our courtroom as they play the roles of government figures, corporation chief executive officers, attorneys, and other court personnel. Cases will be selected based upon the maturity of the class.

Have you ever tried to figure out why people act the way that they do? Did you ever wonder how our eyes can play tricks on us when we see visual illusions or magic tricks? These questions and many more will be explored in this course in which students will be introduced to basic principles in psychology.

In this writing course children learn how to develop strong and believable characters. Authors build and reveal their characters in many ways. This can be done through the character’s thoughts, conversation, actions, and behavior. This task can also be accomplished through narrations and the thoughts of other characters. In this course, students will study real and imaginary worlds to develop interesting and exciting characters. Different pieces of literature will be presented as models for students’ original work. Students in grade 6 may opt for an extended program in this area.

In this course, students will create stories of the strange and supernatural. They will study the art of developing plot and character, building suspense and surprise, and write stories that involve the supernatural. An anthology of stories written by students will be compiled.

Students enrolled in this course will have an opportunity to investigate the underlying mathematics in the ancient classic game of chess. Among the topics to be discussed will be algebraic notation, the geometryo f the chessboard, and classic problems such as the “Eight Queens” and the “Knight’s Tour”. A basic understanding of the rules and strategy of chess would be helpful but is not essential for this course.

This program will be dealing with similar issues and topics but in greater depth (offered in grades 4-6). This course is designed to give each student learning experiences that are challenging and fun-filled. While solving brain teasers and playing brain games, students will learn to organize sets of clues (some direct, some indirect) and reach logical conclusions by using pure deductive reasoning.

Contemporary writers John Updike, Joyce Carol Oates, and Tobias Wolf have worked successfully in a variety of genres such as fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction, among others. In a special section, sixth grade students will have the opportunity to write stories, poems, memoirs and/or personal essays, and to examine how those genres resemble and differ from one another. A goal of the course is to develop journal comprised of student writing from the Center in 2009 to be published at the year-end.

This program will be dealing with similar concepts as offered in grades 4-6 the Development of character, but in greater depth. In this writing course children learn how to develop strong and believable characters. Authors build and reveal their characters in many ways. This can be done through the character’s thoughts, conversation, actions, and behavior. This task can also be accomplished through narrations and the thoughts of other characters. In this course, students will study real and imaginary worlds to develop interesting and exciting characters. Different pieces of literature will be presented as models for students’ original work.

This course will explore some of the greatest experiments of all time. The thought process and theory behind some of the most exciting experiments of all time will be discussed and then performed. Eratosthenes’ experiment to prove that the earth is round, Young’s double slit experiment and the wave theory of light are a few of the subjects that will be explored. In addition to these, the course will allow the student to see and do the work done by Newton, Galileo and Rutherford. This course will let the children see the most beautiful experiments of all time, and give them a glimpse into some of the greatest minds.

This program will be dealing with similar topic offered in grades 4-6 but in greater depth. This course serves as an introduction to optics, lasers and laser applications including holography. Students will study the eye, lenses, mirrors and other optical devices and use the laser as their light source. Types of lasers and their uses in industrial, medical and scientific applications will be investigated. Lasers used are low (one thousandth of a watt) power, and therefore, are in no way hazardous to students.