Focus on Learning

Kids U offers summer fun

University reports on the progress during the past year

From the Office of Communications at University of Houston-Clear Lake

May 24, 2007

HOUSTON— Classes are filling fast at University of Houston-Clear Lake School of Education’s Kids U. This educational summer camp is brimming with activities that excite, educate, and yes, even entertain the most resistant of kids. Whether science, math, technology, writing or language, kids find these specially designed summer classes stimulating and fun.

At iCamp, the Children’s Technology Workshop, kids explore the flip side of video games – not how to play them, but how to design them, and new this year – designing in 3-D. Other mind-expanding adventures include exploring the world of engineering and robotics, animation and digital video production, graphic design and digital art.

Hollywood comes to Houston via the Kids U Technology and Math Camp, featuring classes in “Claymation,” “Create Your Own Game Show,” “Digital Storytelling” and “Desktop Publishing.” Or your child can learn the game of Chess on a life-size chess board! Kids design robots, write computer programs, design Web pages and create digital masterpieces.

The Young Writers Camp will coax the muse out of any budding poet. Creativity abounds as students explore poetry through an interactive Web site, learn poetic rhythm using music and discover the magic of bringing their poems to life. Courses are available for all ages from the youngest of writers to the older, including college bound students seeking to refine writing skills through the SAT Writing Preparation course.

Back by popular demand, World Explorers Camp opens youthful eyes to the importance and means of actively participating in the issues and concerns of our local communities. “CSI: Citizens Should Investigate” is designed to show young citizens that everyone, even kids, play a role in community affairs. In “History’s Mysteries – Famous American Heroes,” kids explore the extraordinary difference “ordinary” citizens like Rosa Parks, Rachel Carson, Frederick Douglass, among others can make. “Lemon-Aid Stand” – open a lemonade stand and help the world. Kids learn the vital connection between business and community while raising funds for a charitable organization. “Oral Histories” provides hands-on experience and a wide range of technology for young historians to capture, document and produce - a la Ken Burns - their family’s unique history, culture or special events.

Kids U Language Camp can open a child’s mind to the global world. It has been proven that young children can master language more easily than adults. Kids U is excited to present its first offering of “Arabic for Kids.” This is a beginner level class that is light and interesting. And of course, the ever popular “Spanish for Kids” is back, and popular as ever.

Not all science takes place under a microscope, though there is plenty of that, too, at the Kids U Science Camp. Whether Einstein or Muir, sessions offer several choices to meet any child’s interest. From “Kitchen Chemistry” to “Concoctions and Commotion to Grossology,” from “Baby Animals to Critter Camp to Woodlore,” this camp is filled with fun activities and exciting ways to explore and study our natural world – both inside and out, literally. Kids work in labs, investigate physics, and cook up some strange dishes, or explore nature up close and personal through field trips and nature hikes. Instructors include geologists, field biologists, naturalists and wildlife rehabilitators.

The Gifted Academy offers classes focusing on such topics as scientific reasoning and leadership that challenge children who demonstrate accelerated learning capabilities.

Kids U is primarily designed for kids currently in kindergarten through eight-grade. There are a few pre-school classes offered through Science Camp, and a SAT preparatory course is offered for older, students.

For more detailed course and schedule information please visit http://kidsu.uhcl.edu. Courses are held throughout the summer with sessions usually running for one week beginning mid-June. Registration for summer 2007 has begun. Enrollment will continue Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m., until classes are filled. Registration may be completed online. For more information, call Joyce Young at 281-283-3530.