MOBILE, Ala. — Only 29 percent of America’s fourth-graders, 33 percent of eighth-graders and 18 percent of 12th-graders perform at or above the proficient level in science. It’s no secret that science education should begin early and be reinforced often in order for students to best understand the subject.

As such, the award-winning Gulf Coast Exploreum Science Center in Mobile is offering interactive day camps during winter break that are both educational and entertaining. Camp topics include how fireworks are made, the different shapes of snowflakes and how robotic toys work, amongst many others.

Parents may visit www.exploreum.com to download a registration form, or call (251) 208-6886 to sign up their child for one camp or more. The daily camp rate is $40 for Exploreum members per child and $48 for non-members. All camps are taught by certified Exploreum staff or certified teachers.

•Dec. 28

New Year’s Know-How! (Ages 4-5), 9 a.m.–noon.

Ring in the New Year Exploreum style. Explore the science of sparkling fireworks, cookie baking and moon pie making.

Icy Cool Science (first-third grades), 8:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

Go polar with some icy science. Lift an ice cube with just a thread, discover the seven basic snowflake shapes and make your own. Finish the day off with a batch of homemade snow cream that you can eat.

Winter Games (Fourth-sixth grades), 8:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

Engineer a day of frosty competition. Teams are challenged to build a spectacular ice fort or castle and then test their designs against a winter blizzard. All competitors will be rewarded for their efforts with a yummy batch of homemade snow cream.

•Dec. 29

Discovering Dinos (Ages 4 and 5), 9 a.m.–noon.

Campers will stomp, roar and romp as they time travel to the days when dinosaurs roamed the earth. Uncover the mystery of dinosaurs with a personalized fossil dig. Design your own dinosaur puppet and bring it to life.

Holiday How To! (first-third grades), 8:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

Explore the science of all your holiday activities — popcorn garland, cookie baking and moon pie making. Campers will explore the science behind each of these holiday activities.

Engineering the Holidays! (fourth-sixth grades), 8:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

It takes high-tech science engineering to bring the holidays to life. Explore how holiday bushes hold up to all of those decorations, how each twinkling light comes to life and take a behind the scenes at how fireworks are engineered.

•Dec. 30

Frosty Fun Science (Ages 4 and 5), 9 a.m.–noon.

Let it snow! Campers will delight in making their own Alabama snow, building a snowman and investigating snowflake science. Finish the day off with a batch of homemade snow cream that you can eat.

Can You Dig It?! (first-third grades), 8:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

Campers will stomp, roar and romp as they time travel to the days when dinosaurs roamed the earth. It’s a camp everyone is sure to dig this holiday season.

Robo-Dino! The Ultimate Survival Challenge (fourth-sixth grades), 8:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

Using rapid prototyping models, campers will design and build their very own prehistoric creature. Each creature will be put to the test as they compete for the title of Ultimate Dino.

•Dec. 31

Lil’ Build It! (Ages 4 and 5), 9 a.m.–noon.

Back by popular demand. Children love to build, so let them. Campers will build fun projects.

Misfit Toy Workshop (first-third grades), 8:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

The island of misfit toys is not forgotten by the Exploreum elves. Join the toy workshop to fix the boat that can’t float, the plane that can’t fly and put the misfit train on the right track. The Exploreum Toy Workshop invites eager elves to participate in the engineering design process to fix our favorite holiday toys.

High-Tech Toys (fourth-sixth grades), 8:30am–12:30 p.m.

Join the holiday team to explore the science of the latest high tech toys. Investigate the inner workings of hydrogen toy cars, must-have gaming systems and make the coolest robotic pet.

The Exploreum’s current operating hours are Monday–Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, from noon to 5 p.m.

The Exploreum will not be open on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day or New Year’s Day.

Family memberships are available for only $100, and include unlimited visits to the Exploreum, discounts on IMAX films, Gift Shop purchases, camps, birthday parties and more.

For more information, visit www.exploreum.com.