Some 4th graders recently got to be college students.

Santa Cruz Sentinel reports.

Santa Cruz County fourth-graders introduced to college

By fourth grade, assigned reading books include more words than pictures.

But the illustrations still carry some sway.

More than 3,300 fourth-graders from across Santa Cruz County had real-life demonstrations of the college experience Friday in the 4th Annual Samper Fourth Grade Experience. Instead of being told they can be doctors and lawyers and writers and teachers, groups of students crisscrossed the Cabrillo College campus to see what taking certain classes translates to. Dental students mixed chemicals, creating fluoride past, actors improvised a dishwashing scene and an illustrator create a one-page masterpiece from “flying mermaid,” “Gummy Bears” and “into the clouds” suggestions.