WKU’s Center for Gifted Studies holds annual Camp Innovate
BOWLING GREEN Ky. – Western Kentucky University is holding its annual Camp Innovate at the Mahurin Honors College this week for children who have passed the third through fifth grade.
Camp Innovate is held to help children continue to learn over summer break. This camp is aimed at teaching students through interactive learning and through fun courses. Some of the courses that the students take are mathematics, social studies, language arts, art class, and clowning. Through each of these courses, the students are learning the overall importance of patterns. Whether those patterns are learned from angles in math or balloon animals, they are important to help children recognize patterns in everyday life.
“All of the classes provide content looking at patterns. Just think of the patterns you would have, and you are creating. Balloons in clowning. Oh, you’re thinking of angles in mathematics or weaving in art. All of that requires patterns. So if you were thinking about the content that you’re learning about in terms of patterns, how patterns repeat, it’s a wonderful way to enhance learning.” says Dr. Roberts.
Along with patterns, the children are also being taught that learning can be fun through activities and through working together as a class to solve problems. The camp includes group work, which in turn is helping the students make new friends. Dr. Roberts talked about how they are trying to emphasize the idea that learning can be fun.
“Learning is fun when you’re learning at a level that you’re ready to learn. We hope that children in the summer, as well as in the school year, have ongoing opportunities to learn what they’re ready to learn.” Says Dr. Roberts.
The Center for Gifted Studies at WKU is the sponsor behind Camp Innovate and is helping children learn all year long. Sign-ups for Camp Innovate open up in early March each year, and parents can sign their kids up by going to the website for the Center for Gifted Studies at wku.edu/gifted.
