Children create a bubbling potion as part of a previous UOW Kids on Campus event. Photo: UOW.
Children have the chance to get a taste of university life while engaging in fun activities when the University of Wollongong (UOW) opens its doors to them these school holidays.
Primary school aged children, from Kindergarten to Year Six, can dive into science experiments as well as art, sports and history activities for the university’s Kids on Campus program in Batemans Bay on 1 October.
It is back for its second year, after selling out in 2023.
“The program is designed to be really fun,” program organiser and UOW Eurobodalla campus services officer Kiara Astbury said.
“The activities complement the school curriculum, but also extend on it. We have looked outside of the curriculum to allow students to engage in interest areas that are not usually covered at school.”
She said it would give families an option for a one-day program that was cheaper than some of the more expensive alternatives.
“The key is getting the students amongst it, doing the experiments, making the artworks, running around and meeting lots of new students that they would not usually meet,” Ms Astbury said.
The activities will cover the subject areas of STEM, humanities and creative arts and 50 children will be divided into small groups with two UOW mentors for each group.
The children can participate in hands-on science experiments, channel their creativity through arts and crafts, get physical with sports activities and outdoor games, and explore ancient Egypt through activities based on pharaohs and pyramids.
UOW students will facilitate the learning activities and Ms Astbury said it would give Master of Teaching students a taste of what it was like to run a classroom and manage behaviours.
A UOW facilitator leads children in a creative class for Kids on Campus. Photo: UOW.
Ms Astbury is currently completing her honours in history at UOW and said she was excited to let the children “see all the fun and crazy things in ancient Egypt”.
“Getting them building pyramids, learning about pharaohs, listening to songs. It is about letting them see the grand exciting things. Letting the history do the talking,” she said.
Master of Teaching student Lachlan Congram, who will be a facilitator again this year, said the program provided a unique opportunity for university students to interact with younger generations, helping to shape positive learning environments.
“Kids on Campus is different from teaching in a classroom; you do not have the same amount of time to get to learn about the students,” he said.
“It is a fast-paced environment that focuses on hands-on learning and teaching.
“As a teacher, you learn different teaching strategies to hold student engagement and participation.”
Kids on Campus is on 1 October and costs $60 per child. It will run from 9 am – 3:45 pm with supervision for drop-off and pick-up between 8:30 am and 5:30 pm.
For more information click this link and to register click here.
UOW Eurobodalla is at Hanging Rock Place in Batemans Bay.
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