Training Our Future Scientists and Engineers For A Better Future!
For years educators have stressed that students learn better “by doing” – especially in the sciences. Students of all ages learn more science-content and skills when they engage in investigation and discovery using everyday materials and the basic equipment of science.
Our carefully designed inquiry-based lessons involve children with hands-on activities, capturing children’s natural curiosity, stimulating their interest in science, and teaching them important science topics along with critical thinking skills.
Club SciKidz Where Science and Technology Connect!
Our unique Science Club program is designed to meet the needs of children in grades K-6. Club SciKidz lessons help engage students in observation, measurement, identification of properties, and experimentation involving life, earth, and physical science concepts. The units are rigorously researched by science educators with the help of teachers and children. The results are lessons that students can enjoy and genuinely learn from.
2021-2022 Super Hero After School Program Descriptions
Fall 2021
Save The Bees:
Bees are in trouble! Since 2006 entire hives have been dying from what scientists call “Colony Collapse Disorder.” Worker honeybees are disappearing. Without the worker bees, the hive, or colony, can’t survive. Scientists don’t yet know the exact cause of CCD. Diseases, parasites, loss of habitat, and poor nutrition are all thought to contribute to CCD. However, research is pointing to pesticides as the main cause of CCD.
Students will perform experiments in pollination, build a bee house, plant their own Bee friendly garden, create a beeswax kitchen wrap, and make a honeycomb candle. Can you help save the bees?
Rainforest Rescue:
When you think of the rainforest, what do you imagine? Do you see tall trees, dense foliage, and diverse animals and insects? How about lots and lots of water? Rainforests are found all over the world, the most well-known one being the tropical rainforest in Brazil. Unfortunately, rainforests are in trouble! Half of the world's rainforests have been destroyed in the last 100 years by humans.
Students will complete projects in building a model rainforest, create a solar oven, assemble and color a water cycle wheel, and create a rainforest friendly bracelet.
Holiday Toy Box Science:
At Club SciKidz we really know how to celebrate the holidays-scientifically that is!
Science is everywhere, in your home, your school, your car…even your toys! Something as simple as a rubber ball demonstrates a scientific principle. In this part of our fall workshop, you will become an expert in the science behind the toy. You are going to experiment with gravity, energy, and other amazing scientific principles. We’ve even added some yummy treats!
Join us as we create Intergalactic donuts, create a miniature galaxy painting, Solve a Puzzle Cube, and experiment with our light up rail twirler and a super bounding ball.
Spring 2022
Save Our Oceans:
How many times have you been asked to “throw something away?” Lots of times, right? Have you ever stopped to think about just exactly where is this, “away”? Unfortunately, a lot of what is thrown “away” ends up in our oceans.
Our Save The Oceans box gives young marine biologists the opportunity to learn about how pollution impacts the oceans and the marine biology of our precious seas.
Students will complete projects in making their own bioplastic, experiment with biodegradable packing peanuts, build a model of the ocean zones, learn about pressure and Boyle’s Law and of course, concoct some cool mermaid slime.
Join us on the high seas and help save our oceans!
Environmental Engineers:
Every April, kids around the world show support for protecting our earth by celebrating Earth Day. The planet is facing a crisis; pollution, deforestation, and overuse of Earth’s natural resources are causing temperatures to rise. Fortunately, scientists called environmental engineers are working hard to fix these problems. Using their knowledge of physics, biology, and chemistry, these scientists come up with new ways to decrease pollution, improve recycling, and combat climate change. In this workshop, you will become an environmental engineer and learn how to make everyday Earth Day!
Students will build a clean water mini-filtration apparatus, create an Eco-Bag, as an alternative to plastic and paper, grow a tree in our Forest Forever experiment, and participate in our Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle
Activity. Caution: this activity uses pine tree seeds.
Go Fly a Kite!
Humans have always been fascinated with flying like the birds. Kites may seem like they are just for fun, but history shows kites are much more than a toy. Ancient Chinese used kites in battle and exploration. 18th century scientists used kites to study weather and electricity. The Wright Brothers would not have been able to invent the airplane without first experimenting with kites. Kites were important tools of communication and observations in both world wars. Experimental kite materials led to improvements in parachutes and hang gliders. You are going to build a Kazoon Kite and do some experiments of your own. Get ready for some high-flying fun!
Students will build and fly a Kazoon Kite using Tetrahedron shapes. Construct a mini wind turbine, and practice their aviation skills using a foam glider, and assemble their own anemometer.