Category Archives: After School

Mad Science: Online After-School Programs for Grades K-5

This fall Mad Science of North Boston will offer virtual programs for students in Grades K-5 on a drop-in or subscription basis. There will be 8 weekly classes, 45 minutes each, on Tuesdays (September 29-November 17) at 5PM, Wednesdays (September 30-November 18) at 4PM, or Thursdays (September 17-November 5) at 3:30PM. The cost is $20 for one class, $60 for four classes, or $100 for eight classes.

The Innovation Institute: Online and Hybrid Learning Labs, Enroll by Sept. 14

The Innovation Institute has moved its low-stress, high-quality learning-lab model to both online and hybrid formats for ages 5-17. Students meet virtually and create learning labs at home under the guidance of TI2’s staff of post-doctoral research scientists and engineers teaching on-site. Enroll by September 14. Courses include neuro-engineering, chemistry, genomics, and an integrative K–4 STEM program. For example, Dr. Arkhat Abzhanov will teach these two 33-week classes, with 8 students each:

Science Club for Girls: Apply for Fall Virtual Science Clubs

This fall, Science Club for Girls will continue its successful free, online science clubs, each meeting for eight sessions over Zoom starting the week of October 5 for Tuesday and Thursday clubs (3:30-4:30PM) and on October 17 for Saturday clubs (10:30-11:30AM). See this video of one of SCFG’s summer clubs. Clubs are open to girls, and those who identify with girlhood, in Grades K-8. Participants must have access to a computer, tablet, or smartphone and an Internet connection. SCFG will provide any other materials needed. Applications are open until September 30, and priority placement will be given to girls of color or economic need, per SCFG’s mission. Applications will be accepted after September 30 if space is available. Adult STEM professionals may apply to be mentors, and students in Grades 8-12 who love STEM can apply to be junior mentors in SCFG’s leadership program.

TYE Entrepreneurship Academy, Grades 9-12, Apply by Sept. 18

The TYE Entrepreneurship Academy is a rigorous, six-month extracurricular program (October-May) for Boston-area students in Grades 9-12 to foster skills in building a startup. It uses a proven curriculum in entrepreneurship and business acceleration, taught by experts in the field, to help students tackle real-world problems. Along the way, it helps students identify and develop pathways to reach personal and professional goals. This year, TYE will offer a fully immersive, virtual program. Space is limited, and the application deadline has been extended to September 18. Register to attend a virtual info session on September 15.

Brookline Codes: Free Online Math & Computer Science for Grades 2-8

Two Brookline HS seniors, Yuen Ler Chow and Elena Su, have created Brookline Codes to offer free online courses in math (four levels) and introductory computer science (in Scratch, Python, and Java) for greater Boston students in Grades 2-8 (and sometimes Grades K-1). Each course will engage students in two weekly sessions of 45-60 minutes each, plus off-line study. Register by September 11 for fall courses running September 14 to December 13. High school and college students may apply to teach with Brookline Codes. For more information, email brooklinecodes@gmail.com.

4 NSHS Seniors Create Free Online Science4Kids for Ages 7-11

Four Newton South HS seniors — Phillip Amitan, Sonakshi Das, Emma Wang, and Tanya Zafira — have created Science4Kids to offer elementary students (ages 7-11) free online classes with science experiments about climate change. Their mission is to:

  • “Make complex topics related to environmentalism more accessible and digestible to young people interested in educating themselves about the challenges our planet is facing” and
  • “Create a platform for young minds to learn and to discuss ways that we can combat climate change and live more sustainably.”

Science4Kids offered its first sessions this summer. This fall, sessions will be Tuesdays and Thursdays, 5PM-6PM, starting with these:

  • September 8 & 10: Recycling
  • September 15 & 17: Renewable Energy
  • September 2 & 24: Global Warming

There are 30 spaces available for the fall, organized into groups of 10. Space will be filled first-come/first-served. Register between August 31 and September 6. For more information, email 123science4kids@gmail.com.

Newton Community Ed’s Fall Online STEM Programs

Newton Community Ed is offering these STEM-related online courses this fall:

Kids Science

  • Mad Science Home Lab: Grades K-1
  • Nature in Your Neighborhood: Grades 1-3
  • Tiny Worlds: Grades 1-3
  • Earth & Sea Science: Grades K-2, 3-5

Kids Technology

  • Circuitry 101: Grades 1-3
  • Game Design with Tynker: Grades 2-5
  • Intro to Programming — Scratch: Grades 3-5
  • Roblox: Grades 3-5
  • 3-D Printing, Coding & Design: Grades 3-5, 6-8
  • Intro to Python: Grades 3-6
  • Robotics Programming with Micro:bit: Grades 3-6
  • App Inventors: Grades 4-7
  • Interactive Electronics: Grades 5-8
  • Mobile Apps: Grades 6-9
  • Python Multi-Player Games: Grades 6-9
  • Minecraft Modding with Java: Grades 9-12
  • Object-Oriented Programming with Java: Grades 9-12
  • Web Development: Grades 9-12

Adult Technology

Artisan’s Asylum: Online After-School Programs for Ages 11-15

Artisan’s Asylum offers STEAM-based online after-school programs for ages 11-15. Each week has a theme and a project that can either build on previous weeks or stand alone. Sessions are 3:30-5PM, Monday-Friday, and some programs are one week while others are over a few weeks. Artisan’s Asylum offers a Pay What You Can Afford model ($65 to $125 per week) to help defray the cost for families in need. Registration closes 72 hours before each week’s first session.

  • September 14-18: Reimagining Your Home: A Photo Montage & Collage Unit
  • September 21-25: Exploring “Yes, And…” in Creative Storytelling
  • September 28-October 21: Get On My Level: Exploring the Relationship Between 2D and 3D
  • October 5-8: Art & Activism: Using Your Illustrative Voice

Empow Studios BUILD: New After-School Program, In-Person or Live Virtual

Empow Studios is launching a new after-school program, BUILD, for project-based STEM learning for ages 7-17.  It’s a monthly membership program with weekly classes across five STEM Paths: Digital Arts & Design, Coding, Minecraft, Robotics, and Video Game Development. It will be offered in two formats — a choice between in-person or live virtual. For more information, call 800-456-4949 or use this form.