Archive
New Fernbank Planetarium shows feature the skies of Africa
During February, the Fernbank Planetarium gives visitors a look at the stars as they appear from an African vantage point.
The children’s program, “Stories of Africa,” compares the night skies over Atlanta and Africa. It runs Feb. 5-26, with shows on Saturdays at 1:30.
“African Skies,” designed for audiences ages 10 and up, examines how Africans used the stars to measure distance, predict weather and create calendars. The show runs from Feb. 5 to March 4, with shows on Thursday and Friday evenings at 8 p.m., and Friday and Saturday afternoons at 3 p.m.
Admission is $4 for adults; $3 for students and seniors.
Archaeology and astronomy events at the Tellus Science Museum
The Tellus Science Museum in Cartersville has three upcoming events worth noting:
- This Thursday, Feb. 3, at 7 p.m., a professional archaeologist will discuss the Leake Site, a major archaeological discovery in the Cartersville area. (This is billed as an adult program, but I see no reason why it wouldn’t be appropriate for a teen with a keen interest in archaeology.)
- Junior Astronomy Workshop on Friday, Feb. 11, from 6:30 – 8 p.m., for ages 5 and up. (UPDATE: As of Feb. 8, this workshop has no spaces left.)
- Family Science Night, Friday, Feb. 25, from 5 p.m. – 10 p.m., will offer hands-on activities for kids, planetarium shows and a tour of the observatory.
If you find these appealing, don’t let the Cartersville location discourage you too much. Tellus is just one minute off of I-75, so while it’s not right up the road, it’s easy to get to.
Saturday School announces spring line-up
Georgia State University’s Saturday School for Scholars and Leaders has released its class list for the “spring B” session. Choices include classes in math, science, writing and drama, dance and interpersonal skills.
Classes will meet on five Saturdays beginning March 12. Sessions are held in the mornings and afternoons, although the morning has two advantages: 1) more choices of classes, and 2) free parent seminars, which are held while the children are in class.
Registration is open now through Feb. 21.
Science enrichment at UWG for elementary and middle-school kids
The University of West Georgia still has some space available for the spring sessions of its IMPACT science program. The classes that still have openings are:
- Water Wonders, for grades 4-5, Feb. 19
- Discovering Gravity, for grades 4-5, March 19
- CSI Club: Computers and Forensics, for grades 6-8, March 19
- Geometric Art, for grades 4-5, April 16
- CSI Club: Biology and Forensics, for grades 6-8, April 16
IMPACT is held on the campus of UWG, which is in Carrollton, about a 45-minute drive from where I-285 meets I-20 on the west side of the Perimeter. In exchange for making this considerable trek, you’ll get a 3-hour program for just $5 per child, which is a bargain in the world of enrichment.
To learn more or register, visit the IMPACT Science page at UWG.
Apply now for Emory’s Pre-College summer program
Current high-school sophomores and juniors can apply now to the Pre-College Program at Emory University.
This summer program gives motivated students the chance to take college classes with college students. Some courses are two-week, non-credit classes; others are six weeks long and earn college credit.
Pre-College students can choose to live on campus in a dorm or commute from home. As with all residential summer programs, living on campus adds to the cost but also enhances the total experience.
The application deadline is May 1. Spaces are filled on a rolling basis, so applying earlier is encouraged. Some need-based financial aid is available. Those seeking financial aid should apply by March 1.
Register now for Duke TIP at UGA for 5th & 6th graders
UGA will present a Duke TIP Academic Adventures day for 5th and 6th graders on Saturday, March 26. Available courses include topics in neuroscience, 3-D computer animation and marine biology.
Registration is open until March 11, but as always with the Duke TIP programs, popular courses will fill up well before then.
Eligibility for the Academic Adventures program is one of the perks of participating in the Duke TIP 4th/5th Grade Talent Search. To learn more about the search and how your child can take part, see this previous post.
Open house for gifted summer camp at Emory
Summer Institute for the Gifted (SIG) is hosting an open house on Saturday, Feb. 5 for families that want to learn more about this summer’s programs at Emory University.
SIG has two camp programs at Emory this summer:
- A day camp for ages 6 to 9
- A residential camp for ages 11 to 17 (a commuter option is available for those who either want to cut costs or aren’t quite ready to live on campus)
In addition, the National Society for the Gifted and Talented will run a program for ages 15 to 18 called University Prep. This three-week course helps prepare students for the college application process and includes an SAT prep course from Princeton Review.
You must pre-register for the open house by calling Michelle at (866) 303-4744, ext. 5159, or by e-mailing sig.info@giftedstudy.com.
Summer research program at Winship Cancer Institute
Current high-school juniors with a passion for science can apply now for the Winship Summer Scholars Research Program at Emory University.
Students selected for the program will work in a biomedical research lab, paired with a mentor who is actively engaged in cancer research at the Emory University School of Medicine.
Deadline to apply is Feb. 11.
Wetland ecology class for high-school credit
High-school students looking for a hands-on science experience can still apply for the wetland ecology class at Fernbank’s Advanced Studies program. Unfortunately, coordinator Denise Savage said that’s the only class with spaces for spring semester.
Denise said that the ornithology class on the schedule won’t be taught because there wasn’t enough student interest. If you have a child interested in birds — and maybe they have a few friends with a similar interest — you could contact her to see if they might reconsider that decision and open the class.
Advanced Studies classes are open to high-school students who have a GPA of 3.0 or higher. The classes, which are held after regular school hours, earn school credit. Students who attend DeKalb County schools can take the classes for no charge; there is a fee for those outside the county system.
Early bird registration for UGA-TIP scholar weekend
How would your child like to spend a weekend learning about robotics, bacteriology, or arguing a case before the Supreme Court?
These are three of the courses available at February’s UGA-TIP Scholar Weekend at the University of Georgia. The program is open to students in 8th-11th grades who have taken part in a talent search through the Duke Talent Identification Program (TIP). Classes will be held on Feb. 12 and 13, with students having the option to stay on campus overnight. TIP Scholar Weekends are designed to expose gifted students to subject matter beyond the standard curriculum and provide a taste of the collegiate atmosphere.
The early registration deadline is Jan. 7, 2011. Regular registration ends Jan. 28. But if history holds, those dates are meaningless — the most popular classes will fill up well before the deadline.
