The Newton South HS Science Team — led by captains Frank Liu, David Kim, and Lucy Dutton — is starting an online mentorship program to introduce middle-school students to high-school science. Middle-school students will benefit by filling in gaps in their curriculum during the shutdown while also interacting with high-school students. Students can ask questions about science and high school and get to know Science Team members. The program aims to be introductory and preparatory, addressing the basics of physics, chemistry, biology, engineering, and related topics. It is designed mainly for students who will be in Grade 9 at Newton high schools in the fall, but it’s open to anyone interested in science. Weekly sessions will be scheduled based on availability and demand. Interested parents should fill out this form to express interest and learn more.

Newton Community Education is offering week-long, online STEM classes for elementary, middle, and high school students. Classes include:

• 3-D Game Development (Grades 9-12)
• 3-D Printing, Coding, & Design (Grades 3-5, 6-9)
• App Inventors (Grades 6-9)
• Camp Invention: Live Online (Grades 1-6)
• Chess Intensive Plus (Grades 3-6)
• Circuitry 101 (Grades 1-4)
• Game Creation (Grades 4-6, 7-9)
• Hands-on Electronics (Grades 3-5)
• Interactive Electronics (Grades 6-9)
• Intro to Programming: Scratch (Grades 3-5)
• Math Meets 3-D Printing (Grades 3-5)
• MathemAddicts (Grades 5-9)
• Minecraft Metropolis (Grades 3-6)
• Minecraft Modding with Java (Grades 9-12)
• Minecraft Mythicraft (Grades 2-5)
• Nature in your Neighborhood (Grades 1-4)
• Python Game Development (Grades 5-9)
• Python Programming (Grades 9-12)
• Science Scramble (Grades 1-4)
• Space Lab (Grades 1-4)
• Web Development (Grades 5-9)
• Web Development: Javascript (Grades 9-12)
• Wicked Cool Vet School (Grades 1-4)

Boston University’s School of Engineering will offer a one-week, virtual U-Design summer engineering workshop for students entering Grades 7-10 to design and build gliders and also discuss topics in aerospace and astrophysics. This will be an online version of the popular U-Design Flight School program. This year, students will work together online, 10AM-Noon each day. with independent, off-line work on their own schedule. The cost is $200 per student, and a limited number of scholarships are available for those who qualify. Materials, including safety goggle and required tools,  will be mailed to students before the workshop starts. Registration is limited to 20 students. For further information, email Ann Mahoney at 617-320-5351 or ammahon@bu.edu.

This summer Artisan’s Asylum, a 10-year-old makerspace in Somerville, is offering a two-week, immersive virtual program, Mission Control: Build a Martian Colony, for students entering Grades 6-10. The program will run in two sections, July 20-31 and August 10-21, with each running online 10AM-3PM, Monday through Friday. No prior experience is required, just an interest in engineering, robotics, and space exploration. The goal will be to solve engineering challenges and program robots to create safe structures for a team of three astronauts. A kit of materials will be provided for pickup or mailing. Students will learn about programming, robotics & engineering, hands-on building, and critical thinking/problem-solving. Pay what you can afford in the range of $300-$800 per student.

The Newton LigerBots high-school robotics team has room in two free programs it’s offering for elementary students:

• Awesome Mentorship Program:  Students in Grades K-6 are paired up with enthusiastic and vetted high schoolers to have Zoom calls once a week for reading together, science experiments, drawing together, and more. Sign your child up here.
• Virtual Summer Camp:  In Camp AMP, students entering Grades 1-6 can take online classes in programming, map-making, dance, mythical creatures, and more, 9AM-12:30PM. Materials are provided. Sign up here to confirm interest in Session 2 (July 20-31), Session 3 (August 3-14), or Session 4 (August 17-28).