Classes

Now offering Virtual Programs! Learn more.

Why Do Parents Love Our After-School Activities & Classes?

Parents love Engineering For Kids for many reasons, some of which include:

• We create a learning enrichment environment that’s suitable and enjoyable for children between the ages of 4 and 14
• Our esteemed educators are highly trained, kind, and compassionate
• We offer a variety of programs at different times to accommodate almost any schedule

Studies show that children enjoy going to school when they have fun after-school activities to attend. Our enrichment classes serve as the perfect win-win for parents and children alike. They also allow children to create new interests and build friendships that can last a lifetime

Program Offerings

JUNIOR PROGRAMS:

JR. AEROSPACE ENGINEERING

As a Junior Aerospace Engineer you will get to explore straw rockets, airplanes, parachutes, and water bottle rockets! You will use the Engineering Design Process to design, create, test, and refine a variety of flying machines. The straw rockets are powered by compressed air and will fly up to 35 feet with the most aerodynamic design. Get a firsthand look at the basic mechanics of flight by constructing a foam flyer and whirligig and testing the different components that allow it to stay airborne the longest! Design a parachute for a test jumper that must descend gracefully after being dropped from various heights and launch a water bottle rocket that will fly at least 40 feet in the air. Test your design ideas and challenge your friends to see whose flying machines will perform the best for each given task!

JR. CIVIL ENGINEERING: BUILDING UP

The Junior Civil Engineering classes introduce our youngest engineers to fundamental concepts of building and construction. Through open and focused investigation, students explore and construct skyscrapers using a variety of materials and then test the strength of each structure against a powerful windstorm and design and build balloon powered roadsters. Students will create a city scape using what they have constructed and will take them home at the end of the course. Children enjoy the literature component that goes with each lesson as they design and build bridges to withstand the weight of 21 elephants, create columns and arches that can hold their own weight, and a home designed to withstand the blows of The Big Bad Wolf!. Students will place all of their civil engineering creations on a city scape and will take them home at the end of the course.

JR. MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

In the Junior Mechanical Engineering classes, students begin to explore the concepts of energy, materials, and movement. Through the use of children’s literature and hands-on activities, students construct roller coasters, design a device that can withstand impact while carrying a fragile load, make catapults, a rolling rambler, and a milk carton sailboat These activities encourage students to work together and share their ideas for the best results. Students will take most of their designs home with them at the end of each class as we encourage them to redesign and test their creations!

JR. MECHANICAL ENGINEERING OF TOYS

The Jr. Mechanical Engineering of Toys class introduces our youngest engineers to the fundamental concepts of energy, materials, and movement. Students explore and construct various toys throughout this unit including spinning tops, amazing boomerang cans, catapults, roller coasters, and toy poppers! Children will get to take several of their mechanical toys home after each class!

JR. ROBOTICS: ADVENTURE STORIES

When children take their love of building with LEGO® bricks and combine it with technology, a whole new world opens up! In this class, children will use LEGO® WeDo® kits to think critically and cooperatively while learning to solve problems. The Adventure Stories theme focuses on the characters of Max and Mia as they experience an airplane rescue, a sailboat storm, and they escape from a giant in the forest! Students use LEGO® sensors, gears, motors, and computer software to learn principles of robotics, programming, and teamwork. Students may also explore creative writing to share the adventures that surround their creations in each class.

JR. ROBOTICS: AMAZING MECHANISMS

Building with LEGO® bricks has been a fascination of children for many years. In this class, children will use LEGO® WeDo® bricks, motors, and sensors to build a dancing bird, a spinning top, and a drumming monkey. They will love the experience of building with gears and pulleys to make their objects move. Students are also introduced to the basics of robotics and programming as they add sensors and sounds to their creations. They will learn to manipulate gears to make objects move faster, slower, and turn in different directions.

JR. ROBOTICS: WILD ANIMALS

Using LEGO® bricks and motors, children investigate the behaviors of wild animals as they build and program their creations to move. Students join the LEGO® story characters of Max and Mia and find themselves encountering various animals in their natural habitats. Using the WeDo® software, children will build and program lions, monkeys, birds, and alligators to move and make sounds. Through the use of open discussion, students discover how animals behave and interact with their environment. Everyone in this class will have a ROARING good time!

APPRENTICE PROGRAMS:

MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

During the Mechanical Engineering class, students use the Engineering Design Process to design, create, test, and improve a variety of machines and mechanical systems. Students learn basics of energy, traction, aerodynamics, and durability while constructing marble runs, roller coasters that loop, catapults, air powered dragster, and a rubber band racer.

AEROSPACE ENGINEERING

During the Aerospace Engineering classes, students use the Engineering Design Process to design, create, test, and refine a variety of flying machines. They will plan and build a straw rocket to land in a target zone or fly the farthest distance, build a stomp rocket launcher and rocket to test aerodynamics, use house hold kitchen items to create rocket fuel, and use air and water to propel a bottle rocket 40 feet in the air! Students will learn the importance of aerodynamics and material selection as they use the engineering design process to create a world of fun!

ROBOTICS: ROBO BATTLES!

Robots have the ability to go places and do specific tasks that humans either cannot perform, or do not wish to perform. Robots have been sent into space, programmed to explore the depths of the ocean floor, and have performed precise medical procedures. In this six week session, students will begin to investigate the world of building and programming using LEGO® MINDSTORM robots to complete specific tasks. During the first session everyone will build a basic robot. Programming will begin on the second class along with the first battle! During the next four weeks, robots will perform a variety of battles or challenges including Tug of War, Jousting, Sumo Wrestling, and building a Catapult to throw a ball the greatest distance. May the best robot win!

ROBOTICS: OLYMPICS

What’s more fun than competing in wrestling match, a basketball game, or racing a friend to the finish line? Building and programming your robot to do these things! During the Robot Olympics classes, students design LEGO® MINDSTORM robots to compete in simulated Olympic events such as a sprinting in a race, throwing a basketball, tug of war, and sumo wrestling. Students use LEGO® motors, sensors, and computer software to learn principles of robotics, computer programming, and teamwork.

Contact Us to learn more about our available programs.