At first glance, watching a Godzilla movie and dressing up in a kimono may not seem like educational activities, but these and other activities are being used to appeal to children ages 6-10 during week-long Japanese Culture and Language camps at Wheeling Country Day School.

Beginning this week, students are practicing martial arts, sampling Japanese foods and more, all while learning the basics of the Japanese language.

"I'm trying to appeal to maybe the children's love of the Japanese pop culture, which is really big in America right now," said Doug Smith, who teaches Japanese at Country Day during the regular academic school year and lived in Japan for four years.

Smith is offering the camp to introduce Japanese culture to any child who would like to learn about the subject in a fun and casual setting. Smith said he also is going to cover the more traditional aspects of Japanese culture with the campers. He said each week they will work on a different craft, such as a sculpture, calligraphy and different types of artwork. Students also will make and eat Japanese food.

Smith used part of the camp session Monday to show the students how to write their names in Japanese on paper umbrellas in a small, outdoor amphitheater.

"By the end of the week, they should be able to write their own names in Japanese," he said.

Other fun summer activities like sports, a water slide and exploring the nearby creek will be included in the camp as well. A trip is being planned for the end of July to Japanese specialty stores in Pittsburgh for all students participating in the program.

The camp is also helpful to those who already have received Japanese instruction throughout the regular school year and would like to maintain their language skills through the summer months. Smith said he encourages the participants who already have taken lessons in Japanese to help the other children who are new to the subject.

"Research indicates that before the age of 10 the brain is at its optimum ability to learn foreign language sounds. ... We are pleased that Wheeling Country Day School meets the industry guidelines for a good early start foreign language program," said Liz Hofreuter-Landini, head of school at Country Day.

In addition to Japanese studies offered at the school, the subject foreign languages and multicultural studies was added to the curriculum last academic year for students in junior kindergarten and third through fifth grades.

Camp sessions started this month and will continue from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. July 6-10, July 13-17, July 20-24, Aug. 3-7 and Aug. 10-14. The weekly cost for the camp includes a daily snack and lunch each Friday. For more information about the camp, call Doug Smith at 304-780-1825.