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College for Kids

Registration is now closed! If you would like to be notified when information is available about College for Kids for 2014, please add your name to the notification list. 

Saturday mornings, January 19-February 23, 9am-12pm

with an additional Archery Track from 2pm-5pm

James Madison University, Memorial Hall, Harrisonburg, Virginia

College for Kids empowers elementary and middle school children to learn about academic and personal interests in an active learning environment. The courses utilize state-of-the-art campus resources and students interact with JMU faculty, staff, and community professionals.  

Course Options for Winter 2013:

Grades 1-4 (Select 1st and 2nd choice) Explore More Discovery Museum


Lego Engineering This class is for young Lego enthusiasts who are ready to delve into the world of engineering and computer programming.   Each week, students will be presented with a different LEGO Engineering challenge designed to spark creativity and put technical problem solving skills to work.  Participants will also work in teams to build and program Lego robots using the We-Do Lego curriculum. The program track for Lego Engineering is now FULL. Please click here to be placed on a waiting list for this course; if a space becomes available, we will contact you. 

Girls of America   Inspired by the American Girl Series, students in this class will travel back in time and experience American History through a variety of hands-on crafts, cooking experiences, games and more.   Girls will also explore what it means to be an American Girl of today as they create and tell their own stories.   We’ll explore the worlds of 1812 New England, 1824 New Mexico, 1853 New Orleans,  1914 New York,  1934 Cincinnati, and 2013 Harrisonburg.  Don’t miss this incredible journey!

 

Grades 5-8 (Select 1st, 2nd, and 3rd choice) James Madison University’s Outreach & Engagement

Archery
This track will focus on form and safety plus the basics that will give students a general feel for archery. Instructors will cover range rules, safety gear and work on getting the best use of the students muscles and balance, combined with clear mental preparation. 
The program track for Archery is now FULL. Please click here to be placed on a waiting list for this course; if a space becomes available, we will contact you. 

Aviation

This course will teach students to use language, science, math and social studies in the context of aviation enhancing the learning experience through the use of labs, activities and experiments. Experiments include: building a hover craft, reading maps, learning how a wing creates lift, how do engines work, basic physics, air traffic communication and principles of flight.

Lego Robotics
Learn to design, build, and program Lego NXT Robots. You'll learn how the physics of torque, torsion and stress affect robot performance. Learn how to program all the sensors and motors, software loops and switches, and parallel program execution.  The class will end with a mini-competition based on a FIRST Lego League Challenge.

Movin Minds
Join this exciting, fast-paced and energetic class to learn hip-hop, jazz and contemporary dance styles. We will teach the basics of hip-hop, as well as a fusion class of jazz and contemporary styles. The class will be inspired by today's most popular dance tv show, "So You Think You Can Dance?".  

Olympic Fencing
This class will cover the rich history of fencing; teach the current rules and terminology; and provide training in the fundamental equipment usage and physical techniques. Develop your mind, body, reflexes and discipline in a fun and exciting activity that could become a lifelong hobby. At the end of the course, there will be a tournament to determine the best new swashbuckler.  This program track is now FULL.

Project Citizen
Project Citizen promotes middle school students to actively participate in state, local, and federal government. Students work together to identify and study a public policy issues that are of personal interest to them. Examples of student study and action include; distracted driving policies, healthier food in school cafeteria, and daily physical education for middle school students.   

Sketchbooks: Thinking and writing Like and Artist
Keeping a sketchbook can be a great way to experiment with new ideas and compositions before starting bigger pieces. Experiment with a variety of materials to create mixed media sketchbook compositions.

Video Game Design
This course will introduce students to core concepts of software design. The focus of the class will be video game programming.  Each student will learn about software programming and finish the class by creating their own video game. 

Classes are small, and registration is required. Questions? Please call (540) 568-4253.

Registration is $125 per child and covers all six Saturdays.

Please register each child separately. Placement into individual courses will be done on a first-come, first-serve basis; please be sure to indicate first, second, and third choices for each child, as some programs may fill up quickly.