Six rising fourth-graders and teacher Tracy Holsenback walked around Warrenville Elementary School on Tuesday - not so much as a tour, but as an exercise to map the school.
About 80 children so far are attending a six-week summer reading camp at four elementary schools in Aiken County - a program to improve their reading skills before they move on to fourth grade.
The kids clearly enjoyed the chance to explore the large, complicated school site - recording how any visitor could find the art room, the cafeteria, the outdoor playground and even a custodian's closet.
The project ties in with informational text - how real maps work and how students can use them to make connections with the real world around them.
That can include research on a state or perhaps the symbols representing Native Americans.
For three weeks, the children will focus on social studies and then switch to science books and materials after the Fourth of July.
Other reading camps are located at Jefferson Elementary School, Ridge Spring-Monetta Elementary School and Busbee-Corbett Elementary School.
"Reading is my passion," said Breanne Creswell, the Aiken Elementary School reading coach and the lead teacher at the Warrenville site. "I want to help the children grow and become lifelong learners. ... This is an amazing opportunity for them."
Holsenback is a teacher of 4-year-olds at East Aiken School of the Arts. She wanted to get more experience in teaching outside her own instructional area, helping these students and her own move to the next grade.
In 2014, the S.C. General Assembly approved and funded a "Read to Succeed," initiative, said Jeanie Glover, the Aiken County School District's federal funds director.
"Our primary goal is to get kids reading on grade level by the end of their third-grade year," she said.
By 2017-18, however, children not yet proficient will be retained in the third grade, although with some limited exemptions.
"There's going to be a lot of pressure," Glover said.
That's why schools must introduce reading to 4-year-old kindergarten students and keep the process going as they get older, she said.
Glover is disappointed that more parents have yet to take advantage of the summer camp thus far. A total 150 children are signed up, but barely half have shown up, she said.
Glover does expect some could arrive later this week.
Those who don't make it will miss some field trips.
Teachers at all four schools will bring their children to North Augusta later this month to visit the Living History Park and the historic brickyard ruins.
Senior writer Rob Novit is the education reporter.