One can never be sure if a child will become a genius, but one thing that is certain is that a kid who attends the Saturday Gene-iuses program at the University of Hawaii at Manoa will have a lot of fun trying.
The program, run by UH’s College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, provides children and their parents with activities designed to spark interest and appreciation for science and scientific thinking.
"I always used to hear from high school students that they were scared of science," said Ania Wieczorek, a UH professor of molecular biology who created the classes as a field-trip program for schools eight years ago. "I thought this was crazy, it’s not right."
She developed a curriculum aimed at introducing kids to science, showing them how much fun it is and hopefully teaching them some concepts at the same time.
"It’s crucial that they have a fantastic time, and what happens is, the kids are having so much fun they don’t realize they’re learning," Wieczorek said.
GET SMART
Saturday Gene-iuses program sponsored by UH’s College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources:
» Where: St. John Plant Sciences building on the UH-Manoa campus, 3190 Maile Way
» Cost: $17.50 per class (a parent or chaperone is required for students in grades 1-3 at a cost of $17.50)
» Info: www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/geneius-day/saturday.html
Schedule:
» Sept. 7: DNA Detectives!
» Oct. 5: Plants to the Rescue!
» Nov. 2: Buzz Off!
» Dec. 7: CSI for a Day!
» Jan. 4, 2014: DNA Extravaganza!
» Feb. 1: You Are What You Eat!
» March 1: The Dirt on Dinosaurs!
» April 5: Wonderful Weather!
» May 3: Find Me If You Can!
» May 31: Mission Completed! (party for those who took all classes)
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The classes are framed as a kind of challenge that kids can explore and resolve. The first session, called DNA Detectives!, poses a scenario in which an alien creature tries to steal baby animals from a fictitious planet and fails. The children have to match parents with their babies.
"We teach the kids that DNA can help you do that," Wieczorek said. "They build a model of DNA … and then we teach them if you look at the DNA closely, you can actually see which baby belongs to which mother. In the end, they save the world."
Other topics include the study of plant science, insects, forensics, bacteria, dinosaurs, weather and animals’ ability to adapt to their environment. Students are grouped in grades 1-3 and 4-6, with the younger students required to attend with their parents.
"Bringing them in at such a young age is the most important part," Wieczorek said. "That’s when the child’s mind is open to all the different things. The kids can explore and figure out what they want to do."
The classes are held the first Saturday of each month from September until May 2014, with a graduation ceremony on May 31 for those who attend all nine sessions. Courses are $17.50 each per student and $17.50 per parent or chaperone.
Participants can choose between morning and afternoon sessions.
Okinawan Festival features culinary delights, bon dance
The 31st Okinawan Festival celebrating all things Okinawan returns Aug. 31 and Sept. 1 to Kapiolani Park.
Sponsored by the Hawaii United Okinawa Association, the festival features everything from an arts and craft gallery to a bon dance, entertainment, children’s games and lots of food. Kids can also dress in traditional Okinawan attire for a keepsake photo taken by a professional photographer.
Some Okinawan food favorites to be sold include the Andapop (chocolate-dipped Okinawan doughnuts on a stick), Andadog (an Okinawan version of the corn dog), Okinawa soba and yakisoba.
The festival opens at 9 a.m. Saturday with most food booths open until 6 p.m. (Okinawa soba and andagi booths until 8 p.m.). The bon dance lasts from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Kapiolani Park field.
On Sunday, the craft gallery and children’s games will be available from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., while food booths and tents close at 5 p.m.
Entertainment runs 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days at the Kapiolani Park Bandstand. More than 200 participants will share cultural talents in dance, musical performances and martial arts.
A shuttle bus will run from Kapiolani Community College for $2 round trip. Purchase a commemorative pin for $5 and get a free round-trip ride and other discounts.
Admission is free. Call 676-5400 or visit www.okinawanfestival.com.
Enter your tot in this year’s Healthy Baby Contest
Attention, competitive moms and dads of charming babies.
The deadline to enter the 60th annual Meadow Gold Healthy Baby Contest on Oahu is Monday, with preliminary rounds taking place in September.
The contest, an island tradition since 1953, is coordinated by the Honolulu Chinese Jaycees and is intended to promote healthy families.
Children are judged in categories of physical appearance, healthiness and personality.
Preliminary rounds are 10 a.m. to noon on these dates: Sept. 7 at Windward Mall; Sept. 14 at Ala Moana Center; and Sept. 21 at Kahala Mall.
The winners, including the People’s Choice award, will be announced Sept. 29 at Ala Moana Center.
The top five winners will be awarded prizes, which last year included $500 to $1,500 in U.S. savings bonds. The grand prize is a family trip for four to a neighbor island.
Children entering the contest must have been born between March 8, 2011, and Sept. 8, 2012. Register online at healthybabycontest.com or call 944-5944.
