Gifted Atlanta

Gwinnett Alliance for Gifted Education is hosting another round of its Saturday Exploration Program next month.

These Saturday morning classes cover a variety of topics, from math and science to history and performing arts. They are primarily for students in grades 2 to 5, though one class (CSI Detectives) is open to 1st grade students as well.

Classes will meet March 2 through March 23 and will be offered at three campuses:

• Bethesda Elementary School in Lawrenceville
• Chesney Elementary School in Duluth
• Partee Elementary School in Snellville

Cost to enroll is $50 for GAGE members, $75 for non-members.

Registration deadline is this Friday, Feb. 22.

I’m always excited to pass along opportunities for kids to take part in real scientific research. If you have birds in your back yard, you can participate in two different citizen science projects this winter and spring.

Each of these projects brings in data from thousands of people to help scientists track bird populations and migrations. This data provides scientists clues into how birds are being affected by climate change and suburban development, among other factors.

First, the Great Backyard Bird Count will start this Friday, Feb. 15, and continue through Monday, Feb. 18. Now in its 22nd year, this worldwide project is a cooperative effort between the National Audubon Society, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and Bird Studies Canada.

To participate, you’ll count the birds you see in your back yard for as little as 15 minutes on any of the four days. You can do more than one day, or watch longer if you want. Then, you submit the data you’ve gathered using an online form.

The second opportunity is Project Feederwatch, which runs longer and is slightly different. This year’s Project Feederwatch kicked off in November and will continue through early April. The project is operated by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Bird Studies Canada.

When you join Project Feederwatch, you’ll receive a research kit by mail with complete instructions. That can take a few weeks, but you can start counting even before you receive your kit. You’ll count birds no more than once a week and submit your observations online.

Not only can you collect data for either of these projects, but you can also view the data being collected all over the world — a great opportunity to see scientific research in action.

The Atlanta Science Festival returns next month, March 9-23, 2019, with a broad slate of activities for kids, teens and adults.

Among this year’s events for kids are:

• Mathapalooza, a sort of math open-house that challenges kids with math games and puzzles. Saturday, March 9, at the Ebster Recreation Center in Decatur.
• Astronaut Job Fair, a full-day event for kids ages 9 to 13, to tickle their imagination about the possibilities of working in space. Monday, March 18, at Fernbank Science Center.
• Pi Day, math-related fun for younger kids. Thursday, March 14, at the Children’s Museum of Atlanta.
• Family Zoo Safari Camp, a three-hour program that introduces kids ages 4 to 13 (with their parents) to what it’s like to be a zookeeper. Saturday, March 16, at Zoo Atlanta.
• Eco-Geo Expedition, a scavenger hunt at Arabia Mountain. Sunday, March 17.

Teens (and adults) have plenty to choose from as well: introduction to curling (the Olympic sport)  . . . outer space in science fiction . . . neuro-engineering . . . honeybees . . . and much, much more.

There are literally dozens upon dozens of programs and events to choose from, far more than I can list here.

They’re not all downtown, either. Scanning the events list, I saw locations from Mableton to Marietta.

Many events have limited space and require you to register ahead, so don’t wait until the last minute to take a look and sign up.

As it does each year, the festival culminates in the Exploration Expo, a free event with more than 100 informative and interactive booths, Saturday, March 23 at Piedmont Park.