EXPLORIT Science Center - Weekly Column

With summer just around the corner, it's time to register for Explorit's Summer Science Classes. Children from preschool through those going into fifth grade can have fun in classes chock full of experiments, outdoor explorations, hands-on activities, crafts, problem solving, games, stories, and songs designed to engage and challenge the minds and imaginations of young scientists.

Explorit's Summer Classes, like all their vacation classes are always enjoyed. Spring class parent Joanne Merry said her daughter Jennyn, 6, "was bubbling over" about the chemistry class. And the morning after her rainforest class, Jennyn wondered if the spider she spotted "was laying 2000 eggs like the mosquito."

For Explorit's Summer Classes, preschool children ages 4 to 5 can choose from four topics: "All Mixed," "Nature Nuts," "Stories in Stone," and "The Size is Right!" In “All Mixed Up," educator Teryn Brule said "we will be making ice cream, ginger ale, and toothpaste." In "Nature Nuts," children will discover insects, explore outdoors, and create nature crafts. You'll want to sign up for "Stories in Stone" if your child digs dinosaurs. And don't miss the fun world of measurement in "The Size is Right!"

For children entering grades 1 through 5, several exciting classes are being offered. Most classes for grades 1 to 2 are full, but there are spaces remaining for children in grades 3 to 5. They can dive into the watery, wonderful world of oceans "In an Octopus' Garden," do lots of fun experiments in "Kitchen Chemistry," discover nature through art in "Nature Explorers," and investigate many amazing ways to measure the world around them in "Meters, Liters, Grams & More."

In "Our Big Backyard," they'll learn about Sacramento Valley's weather, watershed, and wildlife. Finally, junior geologists will look for clues in how the earth works in "Can You Dig It?"

For the children in grades 1 through 5 who can't get enough science in the morning classes, there's the Afternoon Science Club. Here children can do even more hands-on science activities and projects. These classes are held from 12:30 to 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

For more information or to register, call Explorit at (530) 756-0191 , visit the Explorit Web site at www.dcn.davis.ca.us/GO/EXPLORIT/ or stop by Explorit. Classes are filling quickly so register soon!

While you're signing up for summer classes, check out the current exhibition "Gee Whiz Geometry: Patterns in Our World." Explore shapes and patterns in the natural and human-made world. Test your spatial abilities by making shapes with tangrams and tessellations. Find out what geometric shapes naturally occur in crystal structures. Create a tetrahedron from paper and build a Roman arch bridge using blocks. It's fun learning at Explorit!

Explorit Science Center is located at 3141 5th Street in East Davis. The current exhibition is Gee Whiz Geometry: Patterns in Our World. Public hours are Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Sunday from 1:00 to 4:30 p.m., and Tuesday through Friday from 2:00 to 4:30 p.m. Regular admission is $3; members, teachers (with school ID) and children under 4 are free.

Explorit Science Center Weekly Column