Summer Explorations 2011 – 4th/5th Grade

Visit our Summer Explorations Day Camp General Information page for additional details.

Registration Form

Click HERE for the Registration Form (for Preschool & Elementary classes)

Class Descriptions

Session 1: May 31 – June 10

a.m. Fraction Fun – Ms. Tasha Parrish, M.S.

Fractions can be intimidating to math students of all ages. This session is designed to bring fractions to life, with real world examples, technology, and games. We will work on integrated activities involving fraction, percentages and decimals to increase students’ understanding of operations with fractions. After this session, there will no longer be a reason to be afraid of middle school math!

a.m. Horseback Riding at Pembroke Farm ($220)

The Horseback Riding Session at Pembroke Farms will be an adventure into the world of horses! Students will learn about all aspects of basic horsemanship: grooming, care and feeding, history, breeds, etc., and, of course, riding. The first priority at Pembroke is safety. There will be three teachers: Lynne Day, BHSI,Carol DeVelice, CHA, and Ashley Jarrell, an experienced young rider and teacher. Students will arrive at 8:00 and depart at 12:00. The hotter parts of the morning will be spent indoors at the farm, working on various equine projects. Riding will be done early, with a lesson on horseback scheduled most days. We’ll invite family and friends on June 10th at 11:00 am to watch the students progress with their equine projects.

p.m. Television Production – Ms. Valencia Winston, M.S.

Students will learn basic television production shots, story boarding, interviewing techniques, editing, and writing for TV. We’ll be filming, editing, and mastering video! Ms. Winston’s former students have gone on to work for ABC, CBS and NBC and some have even started their own video production companies.

Session 2: June 13 – 24

a.m. Spainish Countries & Culture – Mrs. Kerri Lowery, M.S.

Check the map as we start with geography to find all the countries where Spanish is spoken in our world. We will be learning fun facts about each country such as food, clothing, location, and history. We’ll start with Mexico and head south to the Caribbean and South America plus don’t forget Spain!

a.m. Fables and Folklore of the Forest – Ms. Joy Summerlin, B.S.

p.m. The Ultimate Challenge: America’s Next Top Leaders

This two week class will be taught by Ms. Mary Whitman, B.S. and will be a challenge! You and your friends are on a deserted island, and all you have recovered from your wrecked plane is ….. how can you guarantee everyone’s survival? The only way to successfully get rescued is to outwit every difficulty thrown your way. Can you work together to solve riddles, overcome physical obstacles and develop strategies that include each survivor’s strengths? Receive and decode daily mission assignments. Complete a series of mentally and physically stimulating tasks. Create an environment that is a win-win for all involved. Are you up to it?

Session 3: June 27 – July 8

(holiday on 4th of July)

a.m. Playground Physics – Coach Denise Moody, M.S.

Simple machines are all around us! Without their help, we wouldn’t be able to accomplish half of our daily work! Come tour the area around Capitol Park to examine the physics of our local playgrounds and experience these machines at work! Hands on physics learning right in our own backyard! Lots of outdoor games and summer fun will be included since our bodies have levers, too.

p.m. Web Design – Ms. Katie Dewees, B.S.

Come join The Capitol School Web Development team as we delve into the magical world of the Internet. We’ll skim over computer basics and learn how the Internet works while working through the development cycle of our very own website. No computer knowledge is necessary. If you’ve never sent an email before, it will only be that much cooler to see it for the first time! Are you already a computer whiz? We’ll find an advanced project for you to help make our website shine.

Session 4: July 11 – July 22

a.m. Wild Weather – Mrs. Kiesha Matthews, B.S., M.S.

Science touches on every aspect of our lives and one of the most common ways we experience science is through the weather. Students will learn about different types of weather and will go wild as they get a chance to become meteorologists! Meteorologist today know more than ever before. Your child will be drawn in by wild weather activities that encourage them to use higher level thinking skills. There will be many opportunities for exciting science experiences and to perform plays about weather. We’ll also use the weather safety skills as we explore ways to stay safe during dangerous weather.

a.m. Speaking Spanish – Ms. Kerri Lowery, B.S., M.S.

Let’s get practical about what you want to learn to say in Spanish! Want to talk to friends? Order a meal? We’ll role play with mock scenarios, games, and puzzles. We’ll learn to identify food, count, learn prices, find directions—even locate the bathroom!

p.m. DaVinci Sketchbooks – Mrs. Ruth O’Connor, M.A.

Observe, explore and invent just like Leonardo DaVinci did many years ago. The ultimate Renaissance man, he did it all and so can you! We will be making our own sketchbooks from scratch, then filling the pages with observations about the world around you. We’ll add the explorations into your imagination and inventions created just by you. This will be the perfect time to explore how these areas of study relate to each other and be useful in our everyday lives.

Session 5: July 25 – August 5

a.m. Learn to Play Violin – Mrs. Y. Zhao, B.A. & Suzuki Instructor

Summer is the best time for kids to start or continue their violin lessons! In this two week period, I will be introducing students to the Suzuki Violin Method.They will learn classical, popular folk songs and fiddle songs. I will also teach students how to read musical notes. We will listen to the classical music together and learn how to play it. Through learning to play violin, these 8 kids will have fun and great time that they will not forget. Violins will be provided during the lessons.

a.m. Broadway, American Musicals – Ms. Hillary Burke, B.A.

Students will have a BLAST while being immersed in all things American Musical Theater! Students will study the numerous components of a musical such as dance, costume, art and production design. We’ll take a look at the development of the Broadway musical and how it has grown and changed alongside the political, social, and economic events in American history. Based on a program produced by National Public Television, it is a wonderful (and FUN!) way for students to learn about theater, music, AND American history!

p.m. What’s Cooking? – Mrs. Raye Blumthal, B.A.

Fun in the kitchen? You bet! This class isn’t just about preparing our favorite delicious foods. It’s about exploring ways to make those favorites better for us. It’s about discovering why we need to make healthier choices to get the best from our bodies. We will explore the science of food safety and the math of altering recipes. We’ll take a fieldtrip to a local farmer’s market and we’ll plan a party!