The 2024-2025 PGAHC STARTALK Chinese STEAM and Culture Summer Academy aims to provide an enriching educational experience for high school students in the area of Prince George County, Maryland. It provides 60 student contact hours during the two-week program, integrating Science and Technology into daily lessons that facilitate student learning. The instructional program, entitled “Exploring the wonders of DNA and genetics,” will offer 45 high school students a fun and innovative Chinese immersion experience. The academy welcomes students from 9th to 12th grade. Students will be divided into three classes of 15 students based on their grade levels (NM, NM-NH, NH-IL).
Throughout the program, students will benefit from a diverse range of activities, including daily language lessons, hands-on science experiments and activities, and one field trip to The Maryland Science Center. The lessons are designed to foster curiosity and understanding about the complexities of DNA and genetics, encouraging students to explore their own genetic traits (e.g., hair color, eye color, ear wax type, ability to curl tongue, ability to taste bitter PEC paper, etc.).
At the end of the program, students will not only have improved their Chinese language skills but also develop a deeper appreciation for scientific inquiry. The culmination of their efforts will be showcased on the final day through presentations and demonstrations, where students will share their newfound knowledge with peers, parents, and community members.
Awarded by NSA grants to operate numerous STARTALK student programs since 2016, the Prince George’s Arts and Humanities, Inc. (PGAHC) is dedicated to promoting artistic excellence and expanding arts opportunities for all citizens of Prince George’s County and beyond through an energetic program of advocacy, education, and financial support. We embrace, celebrate, and draw on our differences through an equity lens in our thinking and actions. We recognize that inclusion empowers us all to belong, connect, and grow.
PGAHC was legislated in 1981 to be the Arts Agency for Prince George’s County. In 2012, it was reorganized, legislated, and renamed the Prince George’s Arts and Humanities Council, Inc., as the County’s local arts granting agency. The County is home to the highest concentration of artists in the DC metro area. Programs include the Community Grants Program, robust public art and arts education programs, STEAM education, the Prince George's Film Office, and the Poet Laureate’s Office.