College for Kids offers an exciting, enriching, and educational experience for K–8th grade students! This innovative program encourages children to explore their interests and expand their horizons through engaging, hands-on learning experiences. Working alongside knowledgeable experts—including JMU students, faculty, staff, and local educators—students will have the opportunity to uncover hidden talents, explore new ideas and fields of study, and spark a lifelong passion for learning!

GRADES: K - 8th Grades

DATES: 

Saturday, February 6, 2027
Saturday, February 13, 2027
Saturday, February 20, 2027
Saturday, February 27, 2027

There will be an inclement weather make up day on Saturday, March 6 if needed. 

TIMES:
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM each Saturday

PROGRAM FEE: 
$195

LOCATION: JMU's King Hall/EnGeo Buildings (unless otherwise specified in the course description)

REGISTER TODAY (USE CODE WC4K27) !

Roar & Explore! (K - 2nd Grades): Get ready to dig into the past! Young explorers will discover the ancient world of dinosaurs and paleontology through hands-on activities, exciting experiments, and plenty of dinosaur-sized fun. We’ll uncover the secrets of fossils, learn how paleontologists study ancient life, investigate dinosaur bones and footprints, and explore what life was like millions of years ago!

Speak with Your Hands! (K - 2nd Grades): Did you know you can talk without making a sound? In this hands-on class, young learners will discover American Sign Language (ASL), a real language that uses hands, faces, and big expressions to tell stories, share feelings, and make new friends! There are many benefits of children learning sign language, including boosting early literacy, building social-emotional awareness, and improving fine motor skills. Discover the magic of ASL by letting your hands do the talking! 

Traveling around the World (1st - 2nd Grades): Pack your bags—we're going on a world adventure! In this exciting class, students will become world travelers as we explore various countries and discover what makes them unique. Along the way, we'll learn about fun traditions, special holidays, create our own national costumes, and make snacks inspired by each country's cuisine! Students will receive their very own passport to collect stamps as we "travel" from country to country. We'll also capture our adventures in a travel blog, sharing fun facts, favorite discoveries, and all the amazing things we learn along the way. Get ready to explore the world, one country at a time!

Enchanted Winter Forest (1st - 3rd Grades): Step into a magical winter woodland where creativity and nature come together! Students will explore the magic of winter forests through hands-on art projects, imaginative building, and simple nature discoveries. From crafting snowy trees and designing cozy animal homes to creating their own miniature enchanted forest, students will learn about winter habitats while developing their creativity, critical thinking skills, and appreciation for the natural world. By the end of the course, each student will contribute to a magical woodland scene inspired by the wonders of winter!

Kitchen Chemistry (1st - 3rd Grades): Mad science in a messy kitchen! Put on your safety goggles and grab your measuring spoons! In this hands-on, experiment-filled science lab, young scientists will explore the wonders of chemical changes, states of matter, and the magic of density through experiments you can see, feel, and sometimes even taste! We'll mix, fizz, bubble, pour, measure, and investigate as we discover what happens when different ingredients come together. Students will practice thinking like real scientists by making predictions, testing ideas, asking questions, and discovering the science behind everyday things. Get ready for plenty of surprises, a little bit of mess, and LOTS of scientific fun!

Little Bosses: Create Your Own Business! (2nd - 4th Grades): Become a kid entrepreneur! In this class, students will use their imagination to dream up their very own business ideas and bring them to life. They'll invent unique products, sketch creative designs, choose catchy business names, create store signs, and so much more! But that's not all- young entrepreneurs will also learn about money by using play cash to buy, sell, and trade while participating in fun business games. Throughout the course, students will get to be creative, practice working with others, and learn how businesses work. We'll wrap up the class with our very own business showcase, where everyone gets to present their creations and share their big ideas with their classmates. No experience needed, just creativity and a willingness to have fun!

A Taste of Learning (3rd - 5th Grades): THIS COURSE WILL TAKE PLACE IN A DIFFERENT BUILDING ON CAMPUS- TBD Let’s travel around the world one recipe at a time! Each week your traveler will visit a new country and become an expert chef through this hands-on, engaging course. Learners will strengthen their reading and math skills by exploring a popular recipe each week. We will practice reading directions, following sequential steps, and building vocabulary all while reinforcing our math skills by measuring, estimating, and utilizing fractions. We will use a collaborative approach while learning about food and cultures from around the world. By combining academics with real-world cooking, learners will discover how essential reading and math are to everyday skills!

Spy Academy: Secret Agent Training Camp (3rd - 5th Grades): Get ready to think like a detective! In this exciting spy academy course, students will crack secret codes, unravel mysteries, design creative gadgets, and tackle exciting escape-room challenges through hands-on STEM activities. Along the way, they’ll use creativity, critical thinking, teamwork, and problem-solving skills to uncover clues, test ideas, and bring their own solutions to life.

ASL Adventurers (3rd - 5th Grades): Each week, students will dive into a different aspect of basic American Sign Language (ASL), from learning the alphabet to numbers, days of the week, weather signs, emotions, and even emergency signs! Through collaborative games and hands-on activities, students will form a strong understanding of foundational ASL that they can use in the real world! There are many benefits of children learning sign language, including improving communication skills, building empathy and inclusivity, and strengthening memory. Discover the magic of ASL by letting your hands do the talking! 

Ni Hao, Winter! A Chinese Adventure (4th - 6th Grades): Ni hao! Winter is the perfect time to learn a whole new language! In this interactive class, young learners will discover Mandarin Chinese, one of the most widely spoken languages in the world, through games, songs, stories, and silly challenges. Students will practice pronunciation with tones, learn to count, greet friends, and talk about colors, animals, family, and favorite foods. Over our four Saturdays, your child will be able to introduce themselves, count to ten, and say some simple phrases with confidence. No experience needed, just curiosity and lots of energy! Bundle up and get ready to speak up in a brand-new language!

Beginner Olympic Fencing (5th - 8th Grades): THIS COURSE WILL TAKE PLACE IN A DIFFERENT BUILDING ON CAMPUS- TBD Students will learn the basics of fencing (i.e. modern sword fighting) as practiced by Olympic athletes, specifically how to fence with an Epee. One of only five sports contested at every summer Olympic Games since 1896, fencing challenges participants both physically and mentally in a safe and fun environment. All standard practice and safety gear will be provided. Activities will include: instruction in techniques and tactics, rules and refereeing, safety and equipment; conditioning exercises and practice drills; fencing-based games; sparring matches; and a tournament to show off everything learned at the end.

Big Questions, Different Answers (6th - 8th Grades): Teaching philosophy to kids might sound ambitious, but kids already ask philosophical questions all the time: Who makes the rules? What makes someone a good friend? Why is something fair to one person but unfair to another? This course explores these questions through games, stories, role-playing, and everyday dilemmas. Students will move around the room to take positions on tricky questions, explain their reasoning, and try defending a perspective different from their own. Guided by Jacques Rancière’s pedagogical philosophy of intellectual emancipation, the course begins with confidence in every student’s ability to think and contribute. As Rancière writes, “The equality of intelligence is the common bond of humankind.” The emphasis is on helping children talk through their ideas, understand their reasoning, and consider others’ perspectives rather than simply arriving at the “right” answer. Students’ questions will help shape discussions as they practice listening closely, disagreeing respectfully, and reconsidering their ideas.

Twoville Crafting (6th - 8th Grades): The wonders of coding and art come together in Twoville, an application made by Dr. Chris Johnson to express geometric shapes using code! From the fundamentals of creating circles and squares to the more advanced arcs, randomness, and turtle graphics, students will learn the language of Twoville to experiment and make their own designs. In addition, the course also teaches various concepts found in introductory programming languages like Java such as assignments, arrays, loops, and conditionals. Coding helps children learn problem-solving skills, strengthens math skills, and encourages imagination. Join us in this creative adventure that brings coding and art together!