In Oxford, however, about 200 youngsters headed back to the classroom for another five weeks, beginning in early July.

Instead of algebra, history and geography, however, the summer school program offered at Great Oak Middle School and Quaker Farms School focuses more on such hands-on courses as Fun with Nature, Jewelry Making and Bubbles, Goo and You.

The courses were offered in two, 90-minute sessions three days a week.

Some academic subjects were also offered. But, the approach to these was less structured and more entertaining than in the traditional classroom.

Take Spanish, for example. Instead of learning the language from a book, students were taught through crafts, games, puzzles, songs and puppets.

And in "Ready, Set Read," reinforcement of basic reading skills was accomplished through stories, art projects and games.

The program also offered readiness classes for kindergarten students about to enter first grade and for first-grade students entering second grade.

In Beth Casey-Smith's Colonial Crafts class, students made soap. They also made clothespin dolls, toys and paper and did some candle dipping.

Students in Mary Ellen Haussler's clay hand-building class at Quaker Farms last week were getting ready to display their hand-built clay pieces, sculptures and ceramics at a Midsummer Day Art Show to which parents and other students were invited.

In Leanne Aldrich's baking and cooking class, students made brownies, pizza, cookie hamburgers, chocolate French toast, M&M pancakes and popcorn balls.

To keep the students occupied productively while the goodies were baking, Ms. Aldrich had them make recipe scrapbooks.

"It's something extra," Ms. Aldrich said.

The class was one of the most popular with a total of 21 students in the two sessions.

Summer school program coordinator Damon Ott said this year's program was very successful.

He said, at a cost of $90 per session, the program was an economical alternative to summer camp or going somewhere on vacation.

"It's a great way to spend my time," agreed fifth grader Zoe Olbrys, who took the baking course and also a course in fiber arts and knitting.

"I go because it gets me up and out of bed," added Audrey D'Amico.

In addition to the baking course, Audrey said she was enrolled in "Puppy Love," a course that taught children about different breeds of dogs.

Erin Satkowski noted that the program, in addition to being instructive, offered personal benefits.

"It's better than staying home and watching TV and keeps you out of trouble," she said.