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Summer Program 2013

The Center for Gifted Youth summer program is a four-week, campus-based, non-residential summer program emphasizing hands-on academic activities. Opportunities are provided for individual and group work and productive learning experiences with special emphasis on higher order thinking skills, creativity, problem-solving and leadership development. A supervised recreational program is offered at the end of each day. Students may participate in outdoor athletic activities, such as soccer and kickball, or take part in club-type activities, such as chess and group discussions. Students enrolled in the program come from the New York area, across the country and overseas.

Students accepted to Long Island University Center for Gifted Youth entering grades 2 through 8 in September 2010 are eligible. Enrollment is limited.

** Summer transportation is now available. For more information please contact us at 516-299-2160.**

REGISTRATION POLICY

- The summer program is for students entering grades 2-8 in September 2013.

- It is advisable to register early to avoid disappointment. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis.  As soon as a course is filled, it will be closed. We cannot guarantee placement in the summer program. 

- Students in grades 2 and 3 are assigned to a class, which remains together the entire day.       

- Students in grades 4 through 8 should select, in priority order, three course choices for each hour.  All choices listed on the registration form will be considered commitments.

- This registration packet contains the 9 forms necessary for registration. Please mail all forms directly to the Center for Gifted Youth office. 

COURSE SELECTION GUIDELINES

The program provides students in grades 2-8 with the opportunity to take subjects not offered during the typical school year. We encourage all students in grades 4-8 to select courses from a variety of disciplines. We suggest students and their parents develop a mutually agreeable schedule from the list of courses offered.

EMERGENCY CLOSING PROCEDURE

The Center for Gifted Youth operates under the auspices of Long Island University. Therefore, the Center is not responsible for program closings due to inclement weather or other university emergencies.

TUITION, DEPOSIT & FEES

Academic tuition for the summer program is $2,888.00. The lunch program is $200.00 for a total program cost of $3,088.00. A laboratory fee of $30.00 per course will also be charged for students enrolled in science classes. The tuition includes a $1,000.00 non-refundable deposit to be paid when you register your child.

REFUND POLICY

- The $1,000 deposit is non-refundable. 

- The only circumstance in which the deposit will be refunded is if the student becomes seriously ill before the start of the semester and a doctor's note is provided. 

- If you wish to withdraw your child from the Center for Gifted Youth prior to the start of the semester, the tuition balance, not including the deposit, may be refunded.

- All withdrawal requests must be made in writing.

- Assignment to any course chosen by your child on the registration form commits her/him to attend. Therefore, choose only courses that will be suitable for your child. 

- Once the semester has started, there will be no refunds. 

- Under no circumstances will deposit or tuition payments be applied to another student or another semester.

TRANSPORTATION

** Summer transportation is now available. For more information please contact us at 516-299-2160.**

PAYMENT

Please make all checks payable to: Long Island University

Be sure to include the full name of the student at the bottom of your check, so that you will be credited correctly.

Mail tuition with completed Payment Form in an envelope addressed to:
LIU Center for Gifted Youth
College of Education, Information and Technology
720 Northern Boulevard
Brookville, New York 11548-1300

Lunch Program

Students will be provided a healthy lunch at the Hillwood Commons Cafeteria. *If your child has any severe allergies and/or allergic reactions, please provide your own lunch. As part of the tuition, students will be served a nutritious lunch from the Hillwood Commons Cafeteria. Following lunch, a brief recess is provided. During the lunch and recess times students are given opportunities to socialize with friends and to meet new people.

Recreation Program

In an effort to achieve a healthy balance between the academic and social aspects of the summer program, recreation and arts have been woven into the daily student activities. A recreation program including indoor and outdoor activities is provided daily. A creative arts program also is offered during this recreation time. Special events such as a talent show, a scavenger hunt and Team Olympics highlight the program.

SCHEDULE OF THE SUMMER PROGRAM

July 1-July 26, 2013
Students in grade 6 may choose courses for either grade levels 4-6 or 6-8
without being confined to either age group.

Grades 2-3

Grades 4-6

Grades 6-8
PERIOD 1  
 9:15 - 10:10 a.m.

9:15 - 10:10 a.m.

9:15 - 10:10 a.m.

• Introduction to the Plant and Animal Kingdom*

• Journalism

• Events and Ideas that Changed the World

• Rocketry and Airplane Design*

• Chemistry: Selected Topics*

• Finding Your Global Voice with Chocolate and Trees

• Advanced Computer Robotics*

PERIOD 2

  
10:20 - 11:15 a.m. 10:20 - 11:15 a.m. 10:20 - 11:15 a.m.

• Journalism: Kids on Campus

• Introduction to the Plant and Animal Kingdom*

11:20 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.   
Lunch & Outdoor Recess

• Computer Robotics*

• Improv: Thinking on your Feet

• Finding Your Global Voice with World Water

11:20 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.   
Lunch & Outdoor Recess

• New Frontiers in Chemistry*

• Advanced Rocketry*

11:20 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.   
Lunch & Outdoor Recess

PERIOD 3

  

12:20 - 1:15 p.m. 

 

• Math: Brain Games

• Word Magic

 

• Rocketry and Airplane Design*

• Zoology*

• Entrpreneurship: Create Your Own American Dream

• Writer’s Workshop: Mystery Writing

• Math: Match Wits with Mensa

PERIOD 4

  

1:25 - 2:20 p.m.  

 

• Word Magic

• Math: Brain Games

2:30 - 3:30 p.m.
Recreation

• Writing Humorous Stories

• Mathematical Problem Solving

• Electrical Circuits and Electronics*

2:30 - 3:30 p.m. Recreation

• Entreprenuership: Re-invent the World through Microcredit and Microfinance

• Advanced Zoology*

2:30 - 3:30 p.m. Recreation

* A lab fee of $30 per science class will be charged for any student taking science classes.
**Courses subject to change

SUMMER 2013 COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

Grades 2-3

Students in grades 2 and 3 will be assigned to the following four courses during each day:

JOURNALISM: KIDS ON CAMPUS
This course is designed to introduce students to become reporters and editors. They will write news, features, sport stories, and conduct interviews and surveys for the program newspaper, Kids on Campus. Special emphasis will be given to the development of the comic hero in the newspaper, as well as the role of product advertising.

INTRODUCTION TO THE PLANT & ANIMAL KINGDOMS    
In this course, students will study the biology of various plants and animals. Hands-on activities and role-playing games will be used to learn about these organisms. Students will begin with the study of simple organisms and progress to the more advanced, while learning how they all interrelate with each other. 

MATH: BRAIN GAMES          
This is an activity-based course designed to give students experiences solving various types of mathematical puzzles. The puzzles will provide students with an opportunity to improve their deductive reasoning and critical thinking skills.  Activities will be designed to meet the needs, interests, and ability of each participant.  Puzzles will include block patterns, number and letter sequences, logic, and tangrams. 

WORD MAGIC           
Explore the magical world of words in an exciting and creative manner. Learn to analyze body language and word origins. Try your hand at symbols, figurative language, similes, metaphors, idioms, imagery, and folk tales. 

Grades 4-6

Students in grades 4-6 choose four courses during each day. Students in grade 6 may choose courses for either grade levels 4-6 or 6-8 without being restricted to either age group.

MATHEMATICS & COMPUTERS

CHEMISTRY: SELECTED TOPICS
This course is designed to engage the youngster who has had minimal experience in the study of chemistry. Activities and discussions will be drawn from topics such as matter and its classification, phases and phase changes, physical and chemical properties, chemical changes and reactions, and the interactions of energy and matter. In each instance, the objectives are to enable students to "discover" some basic chemical concepts and principles, become familiar with standard laboratory techniques, and experience the excitement and enjoyment of scientific inquiry.  Laboratory activities will be carefully supervised and safety procedures emphasized.

ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS & ELECTRONICS
Students will begin to investigate the basic facts, concepts and principles of direct and alternating current circuits. They will explore various parameters of Ohm’s Law, which include series and parallel circuits, and examine more complicated electric components. Other areas to be studied will include the nature of various kinds of electro-magnetic waves and the equipment used to study this phenomenon. This will include transformers, spectroscopes, lasers, and diodes. The basic principles behind the operation of TV sets will be discussed and developed. Safety practices and procedures will be required and stressed throughout the program. No previous background in electronics is required.

ROCKETRY & AIRPLANE DESIGN
Students will investigate the evolution of rocket and airplane design from the first Chinese fireworks, to the Boeing 777, to the Space Shuttle. After investigating the principles of flight, students will design, build and launch model rockets and airplanes. Students with experience will work on more advanced models. This hands-on program stresses theory, design, construction and the importance of teamwork in building and launching rockets.  Safety procedures will be stressed throughout the program.

ZOOLOGY
In this course, students will explore the wonderful world of animals.  All the major animal phyla will be examined. Modern nomenclature will be introduced. Hands-on activities will include observations of live and preserved specimens from various groups. Special emphasis will be placed on endangered species and their importance to the major biomes of the world.

COMPUTER ROBOTICS
Robotics is the field of the future.  Using gizmos and gadgets, students will develop and evaluate their own ideas in a project creation environment.  Students learn not only the specifics of using machines to accomplish real tasks, but also the general practice of working in partnership with technology. The software is a collection of tools that build on the tradition of Logo and LogoWriter. This software enhances creativity, problem-solving and critical thinking skills. Students who enroll in this course should have a strong background in computers.

HUMANITIES

ENTRPRENUERSHIP: CREATE YOUR OWN AMERICAN DREAM
Throughout this stimulating course, students will research and debate the idea of the American Dream, and how it relates to social justice and individual potential. Historically, entrepreneurs have been seen as self-taught, self-made individualists. Collaboratively, students will research various giants of industry from the past and present to analyze and synthesize how these entrepreneurs created their own American Dream regardless of social order and position. Activities will include students working collaboratively to create microcredit organizations to benefit society as a whole. Individually and within groups, scaffold activities will allow students to synthesize and apply their research to generate multi-media presentations to market and advertise their product and organization.

IMPROV: THINKING ON YOUR FEET
When situations occur in life which we have not anticipated, it is often important to be able to improvise.  In this class we will study and practice such improvisational tools as dramatic structure and interaction, physical expression, vocal manipulation, imaginative preparation and presentation, and emotional actualization and communication. We will create characters, explore various settings, tell stories, and resolve conflicts, while working together. We will learn how to be positive, to take risks, and to focus on the people with whom we are working. Oh, and we might even have some fun while we’re doing it.

EVENTS AND IDEAS THAT CHANGED THE WORLD
This course will explore events and ideas that altered the course of history. We will examine and trace the course of humankind from ancient times until the dawn of the modern age. Milestones of history such as the development of democracy, rise and fall of empires, spread of religion, growth of business and trade, renaissance and revolution will be viewed in depth. Events and ideas of the past will be brought to life through original reading, simulations of historical events, debates, and the exploration of the arts, literature and music of earlier times.

FINDING YOUR GLOBAL VOICE WITH WATER
Water, water, everywhere…But not a drop to drink. If all of the world’s water were fit into a gallon jug, the fresh water available for us to use would equal only about one tablespoon. Why do some people have access to clean drinking water while others do not? In this enjoyable and intriguing course, students will research and evaluate the world water crisis, analyze their own water use, and develop a firsthand, deep understanding about the importance of conserving water. Students will research the challenges of water waste faced by affluent countries such as North America and Europe, and compare them to those of real people in developing countries around the world. Through challenging and creative activities, students will present and evaluate how access to clean water is connected to human rights, social justice, poverty and hunger, the environment, and public health.

WRITING HUMOROUS STORIES
Have some serious fun retelling favorite stories with a new twist. Stand familiar expressions on their heads.  Write silly rhymes. Create arguments that blow themselves up! We’ll have a good time and challenge our wit by writing stories, essays, and verses that will tickle your funny bone.

Grades 6-8

MATHEMATICS & COMPUTERS

ADVANCED COMPUTER ROBOTICS
The paradigm for robotics, and robots, is sensing, thinking, and acting. Advanced computer robotics puts emphasis on the sensing and thinking. For example, that means learning how to use and control sensors, how to program, and how to analyze a robot?s design in performing tasks in the real world. Advanced computer robotics is a hands on, project based class that encourages students to dig down to figure out the thinking behind the engineering. 

MATH: MATCH WITS WITH MENSA
When we think critically, we are engaging in strategies to probe the nature of the puzzle or game. This is accomplished by observation, generalization, deductive reasoning, establishing relationships, and developing sequences and patterns. Students will be challenged by mathematical puzzles and games from the Mensa Society. This will encourage children to be inventive, creative and artistic. Students will be inspired to embrace the unknown, while solving challenging puzzles at their level.

SCIENCE

NEW FRONTIERS IN CHEMISTRY
This course is designed to give students an opportunity to participate in exploratory activities in the areas of stoichiometry, kinetics, equilibrium, acid-based equilibrium, chemical bonding, chemical thermodynamics, and electrochemistry. Students will investigate problems of interest to them, using the procedures and concepts learned through earlier activities.  Proper chemistry laboratory skills and techniques will be stressed. This course will be a study of the exploration of space, including aerodynamic principles and rocket propulsion. Students will build and launch multi‑stage rockets and use triangulation techniques to ascertain altitudes. Experienced rocketeers will be given more advanced projects and will discuss and develop selected aspects of projectile motion. Safety procedures and rules will be stressed throughout the program.

ADVANCED ROCKETRY
This course will be a study of the exploration of space, including aerodynamic principles and rocket propulsion. Students will build and launch multi-stage rockets and use triangulation techniques to ascertain altitudes. Experienced rocketeers will be given more advanced projects and will discuss and develop selected aspects of projectile motion. Safety procedures and rules will be stressed throughout the program.

ADVANCED ZOOLOGY
Students will use the modern system of classification to develop an understanding of how all animals are related to each other.  Investigating the similarities and differences among various animals will be the major
focus of this course. The comparative anatomy of representative organisms will be stressed by having the students participate in the detailed study of both live and preserved specimens.  In addition, the interaction of these organisms with their environment will be emphasized.

HUMANITIES

ENTRPRENUERSHIP: RE-INVENT THE WORLD THROUGH MICROCREDIT AND MICROFINANCE
The world today is always being re-invented. This exciting course delves into the resources creativity within students to become entrepreneurs! Individually and in collaborative groups, students will research various leaders of industry from the past like Rockefeller, Carnegie, and Vanderbilt to the leaders of today-Bill Gates, Michael Dell, and Google’s Larry Page and Eric Schmidt through multiple modalities. They will learn about how these entrepreneurs recognized opportunity, harnessed the resources to exploit that opportunity, and exercised their creativity to create sustainable solutions. Students will create an original product or idea which has a needed value in our society, and critically interpret and synthesize their research to generate a business plan for their product. Students will market and advertise their product within an original documentary of Moviemaker presentation.

FINDING YOUR GLOBAL VOICE WITH CHOCOLATE AND TREES!
Do you like chocolate? Do you know how trees empowered women in Kenya? Finding Your Global Voice is a unique course in which students analyze and evaluate research about the Fair Trade and non-Fair Trade chocolate industry and global environmental concerns through the use of multiple modalities and critical thinking skills, while developing a sense of community activism and advocacy. Throughout the course, students will apply their knowledge within multi-sensory and performance based activities as well as the origins of the Greenbelt Movement in Kenya. Innovative pathways will include technology, documentary film, and interdisciplinary links with science and the arts.

WRITER’S WORKSHOP: MYSTERY WRITING
The mystery stories of Edgar Allen Poe, Sherlock Holmes and Agatha Christie have intrigued readers for many years. This course will help students understand the essential ingredients for writing a good mystery. The elements of plot, character, and action will be discussed. Students will have the opportunity to create their own portfolio of mysteries.