Applications Open! Enroll for Summer 2027 at 2026 Tuition Pricing Until Sept 30
Solve number mysteries in this 3-week data and statistics course for elementary students on Bryn Mawr College’s campus.
Course Description
Which paper airplane flies farthest? Is there really more of one candy color in the bag? Students become data detectives, using numbers as clues to answer questions through games and hands-on experiments. They sort candies, measure rolling balls, compare basketball scores, and test their predictions with classmates.
The discoveries take shape in colorful graphs and simple tables. Students explore averages, middle values, and numbers that appear most often, then notice how much results change from one try to the next. Dice and spinner games introduce chance. Class surveys show how asking a question differently can change someone’s answer, while weather observations reveal patterns over time.
For their final detective project, students choose something they want to find out. They make a prediction, gather information, create graphs, and share what they discovered. The fun is in following the clues, finding surprises, and explaining the answer in their own words.
This three-week course is part of Summer Discovery’s Institute for the Gifted program on Bryn Mawr College’s campus in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. The course is available to commuter students. Beyond class, children make new friends, enjoy campus activities, and build confidence trying something new.
What Will You Do?
• Sort and count candy colors, then turn the results into a graph
• Test paper airplanes and measure how far each design flies
• Compare basketball scores and rolling-ball distances to spot patterns
• Ask classmates survey questions and explore what makes a question fair
• Roll dice and spin spinners to compare predictions with results
• Choose a question, collect clues in the data, and share your discoveries
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
• Collect and organize results from a survey or hands-on experiment
• Use graphs, averages, and number patterns to describe what they notice
• Explain an answer to their own question using the information they collected
Students will leave with their own data-detective project, graphs to share, new math and teamwork skills, and more questions they are excited to explore.
Why Data and Numbers Skills Matter
Numbers become more interesting when they help answer a question a child cares about. Counting, measuring, and making graphs turn a guess into something students can check. Comparing several airplane flights also shows why one lucky throw may not tell the whole story.
Working with classmates gives students practice taking turns, listening, and explaining what they notice. Asking fair survey questions helps them see why everyone’s answer matters. These habits support everyday math and science learning while giving children the satisfaction of figuring something out for themselves and sharing it with others.
Who Should Attend?
This course is for elementary students who have completed 4th or 5th grade and enjoy asking questions, trying experiments, playing games, or spotting patterns. Children who wonder which paper airplane flies farther or what their classmates like will find plenty to investigate.
Students will count, measure, make graphs, and share ideas with classmates. The focus is on joining in, trying things out, and learning from the results. Curiosity and a willingness to work together help students get the most from the activities. Please see the Institute for the Gifted eligibility requirements on our FAQ page.
Why Bryn Mawr?
Bryn Mawr College’s tree-lined campus gives children a new setting for a summer of questions, creations, and friendships. Summer Discovery’s Institute for the Gifted program brings hands-on learning and shared activities to this historic campus near Philadelphia.
Children can try a new challenge, share a discovery, and enjoy being part of a group while returning home at the end of the day. For families, the commuter program brings together learning, creativity, friendship, and structure. The appeal is simple: a summer day full of things to explore and people to explore them with.
Summer Discovery Certificate of Completion
After successfully finishing this course, you will be awarded a certification completion for your accomplishment.
*This is a preview, not what you will receive