Summer Wonders - Buffalo Grove - Grades K - 6
Cooper Middle School
1050 W. Plum Grove Circle, Buffalo Grove
Weekdays:
Session I: June 16 - 27
Morning Program Courses for Kindergarten and 1st Grade students
| Science Puzzlers: Challenge the laws of physics and chemistry! Defy gravity, melt stuff in cold air, make a ball fall uphill, and other amazing scientific phenomena. |
| Space Exploration: Blast off, astronauts, to an astronomically fun, factual, and fantastic exploration of the cosmos! |
| Math Meets Literature: Discover the hidden math in great books! Graph, measure, pattern, add, subtract, and use algebra and geometry to explore literature. |
| Wild, Weird, and Wooly: Discover, dramatize, and imagine as you visit wild creatures and amazing places in literature; create your own make-believe adventures. |
Morning Program Courses for 2nd through 6th Grade students (as indicated)
| Creative Writing: Compose your own stories, prose, and poetry inspired by such catalysts as posters, paintings, films, books, and stories. Grades 2-6 |
| Math Unabashed: Solve secret sequences; ponder math riddles; tackle intriguing logic puzzles; and challenge your peers at fierce math games. Grades 2-6 |
| Chemical Cacophony: Mix, squish and swish your own weird chemical concoctions; choose the ingredients; test for potency, smoothness, solubility, stickiness—and explosive reactions. Grades 2-6 |
| Airplanes, Kites, Balloons: Explore the principles of aerodynamics and physics; construct your own models; test them. Which designs fly highest? fastest? longest? Grades 2-3 |
| Airplanes, Kites, Rockets: Explore the principles of aerodynamics and physics; design and build your own models; conduct flight tests; launch your bottle rockets! Grades 4-6 |
| Robotics I: Construct and control (you hope) Scooter, your own sound-activated, mechanical, model robot. $30 lab fee. Grades 4-6 |
| Robotics II: If you already have built Scooter or Cyber Beetle, construct Scrambler, a six-legged, all-terrain robot with a state-of-the-art, infrared tracking beam. $50 lab fee. Grades 5-6 |
| Computer Animation Lab: Explore basic animations; create your own animated scenes, combining graphics, text, and sound. Grades 2-6 |
| Let’s Build a Zoo! Design the park; select rare and wonderful animals; build attractive “green” habitats; find creative ways to keep animals and visitors safe. Grades 2-3 |
| Diplomatic Games of Strategy and Intrigue: Build your own rail network across the prairie in “Empire Builder.” Working with teammates, negotiate make-or-break deals; transport the merchandise; create a monopoly; become a tycoon! Grades 4-6 |
| Chess Club: Challenge your peers, whether novice or advanced, as you explore basic rules, openings, end games, and (if you’re ready) highly sophisticated strategies. Grades 2-6 |
| Artist’s Studio: Create multi-dimensional masterpieces of mixed media, methods, and muses, such as collage, printmaking, sculpture, drawing, pastels, and watercolor. Grades 2-6 |
| Musical Theater: Grades 2-3 will perform You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown; and grades 4-6, Fiddler on the Roof. Grades 2-6 |
Session II: June 30 - July 11 *No classes July 4
Morning Program Courses for Kindergarten and 1st Grade students
| Strange Brews: Create your own mystery solutions using secret ingredients with curious chemical properties in a slightly weird, fingers-on science lab. |
| The Sea and Me: Discover the briny deep—from sea monkey aquariums to legends of giant squid; create aquatic environments; investigate fish, whales, dolphins, and more! |
| The Art of Math: Investigate geometric patterns and puzzles; create and construct your own models with stuff like paper, string, straws, toothpicks, and marshmallows. |
| Edible Literature: Explore new and old-favorite stories through hands-on cooking escapades and delectable science experiments. |
Morning Program Courses for 2nd through 6th Grade students (as indicated)
| 3-D Math: Engineer and create mathematical constructions and geometric designs of various dimensions, such as kaleidoscopes and assorted polyhedrons. Grades 2-6 |
| Detective Science: Can you solve the case of the missing teddy bear, et al? Whet your sleuthing skills, dauntless detectives, and begin the investigations! Grades 2-3 |
| Crime Lab Chemistry: Reconstruct the scene; examine the soil for clues; dust for fingerprints, etc. Using crime lab technology, identify your evidence and piece it together to solve the crime! Grades 4-6 |
| Sci-Fi or Fact? Can science fiction become scientific fact? Has it? Employ tried and true scientific methods, hands-on exploration and lab experiments to prove, improve, or disprove cool and far-out concepts of science fiction. Grades 4-6 |
| Computer Games Lab: Explore the various elements of computer games; design and create your own. Grades 2-6 |
| Electronics and Robotics Lab: Assemble and reassemble assorted robots that walk, crawl, jump, hop, etc. $25 lab fee. Grades 2-3 |
| Journalism: Experience the roles of reporter, sportswriter, political analyst, movie critic, etc., as you work with your peers to produce multi-media news magazines. Grades 2-6 |
| Let’s Build a City! Create your model; map it out; design the parks; plot the skyscrapers. Will you need a mega-mall? an underground? You’re in charge! Grades 2-3 |
| This Is Your Country: Create and form your government; organize a defense system; forge alliances with your neighbors; design your flag, symbol and currency. Grades 4-6 |
| Dynamic Dramatics: Explore comedy, tragedy, mime, improvisation, character development, etc. as you perform in skits, scenes and plays with your peers. Grades 2-6 |
| Sculpture Studio: Create, shape, mold, and chisel 3-D masterpieces with paint, clay, papier-mâché, and more. Grades 2-6 |
Session III: July 14 - 25
Morning Program Courses for Kindergarten and 1st Grade students
| Goo, Gak, Slime: Discover hands-on chemistry as you explore slippery substances and mushy stuff via elbow-deep, sometimes silly, but extremely scientific projects and experiments. |
| Edible Geology: Explore the planet—from the center of the earth to the tip of a volcano—through tasty activities. |
| Math Games and Puzzles: Ponder logic puzzles; tackle tangram tricks; solve sequencing secrets; play math games and invent some of your own! |
| Tall Tales, Small Tales: Imagine, explore, create, and construct your way around, through, over, and under fantastic stories with origami, clay, mosaics, and more. |
Morning Program Courses for 2nd through 6th Grade students (as indicated)
| Math Conundrums: Ponder perplexing puzzles; uncover hidden number patterns; create your own number tricks and baffle your peers! Grades 2-6 |
| Balloons, Pulleys, Levers, and Gears: Create your own machines; invent mechanical toys; explore the laws of physics; test the laws of fun. Grades 2-3 |
| Bridge Mania: Design and build your own assorted models—suspension, cable, stayed, beam, arch—and test them. Will your bridges withstand pressure, or collapse? Grades 4-6 |
| Mad Scientists Loose in the Kitchen: Discover the amazing chemical phenomena now occurring in your pantries and refrigerators; explore chemical reactions and properties of sundry edibles. Grades 2-3 |
| Chemistry Lab: Explore chemical properties through hands-on experiments; investigate molecular structure; experiment with solutions, solvents, and reactants—but don’t blow up the lab! Grades 4-6 |
| Computer Video Lab: Explore the varied aspects of video production; design and create your own projects. Grades 2-6 |
| Computer Lego Robotics: Create and engineer computerized robots. Employ gears, sensors, and motors to make them faster, smarter, and trickier! Grades 3-6 |
| Ancient Egypt: Enter the 3000-year realm of the Pharaohs! Explore the mummies, art, and treasures of the pyramids; investigate hieroglyphs and hieratic script; discover the people, places, politics, philosophy—and food! Grades 2-6 |
| Musical Theater: Grades 2-3 will perform Annie; and grades 4-6, Footloose. Grades 2-6 |
| International Art: Create, paint, craft, sew, appliqué, and construct as you explore diverse art of exotic cultures. Grades 2-6 |
Program Structure / Application / Placement
Morning Program
For all students, mornings consist of three 50-minute classes. Kindergarten and 1st-grade students explore three themes using an interdisciplinary approach, through literature, art, science, drama, math, and movement. A nutritious snack is served mid-morning. Students entering 2nd-6th grades choose their three courses from a wide variety of exciting topics. The development of problem solving skills and creativity is inherent in our framework for all courses. Projects and activities evoke active, hands-on participation.
Full-Day Program
After their morning classes, students enrolled in the Full-Day Program enjoy lunch and a quiet story time. Then, in groups with their age peers, they engage in hands-on discovery through a creative blend of activities, such as cooperative games, sports, computers, art, drama, science, and outdoor play. Full-day students bring sack lunches (including drinks) that do not require refrigeration.
Apply early! Students are placed and classes assigned according to postmark dates of their applications. The teacher recommendation, if required, may be sent at a later date.
Students in any city or educational setting may apply. They need not be enrolled in their school's gifted programs. Achievement test scores of most Center for Gifted students rank at or above the 95th percentiles in some areas. We sensitively consider exceptions. Parents may request a conference with the Director regarding their child's particular circumstances.
Download and complete the application and mail it in with the required deposit of $150 or full tuition. Applications without deposits will not be processed. Applications are not accepted via phone, fax, email, or online.
Parents are notified of their children's enrollment status within two weeks of application or, for new students, following a review of their teacher recommendations. A week or two before each Session begins, students receive enrollment packets with individual class assignments, maps, and information about our on-site parent seminars.
Tuition / Payment
Session I: Morning Program $320; Full-Day Program $495
Session II: Morning Program $290; Full-Day Program $450
Session III: Morning Program $320; Full-Day Program $495
A deposit of $150 via check or money order, or full tuition via check, money order, or Visa or MasterCard, must accompany application. The deposit is credited to tuition. The full balance of tuition is due two weeks before each Session begins. Make checks payable to Summer Wonders. Extended care fees are payable daily, as incurred, by cash or check. Lab fees are not incurred until classes are assigned and are payable on the first day of the Session.
Extended Care
Organized, nurturing supervision by quality staff is offered from 7:00am to 9am to all students and from 3:00pm to 6:00pm for students in the Full-Day Program. Charges for extended care are payable by cash or check daily, as incurred.
Refunds / Withdrawls
If a student withdraws before a Session begins, tuition is refunded upon written request, minus a $50 processing fee. There are no credits or refunds for withdrawing after a Session begins, nor for absences for any reason. The Center for Gifted does not offer sibling discounts.