Junior Explorers: S.T.E.a.M. Around the World Club Part 1 (STEM + Science)
In this STEM club, students will embark on a journey of discovery. Lessons and activities will cover a wide range of age-appropriate science and social studies topics. Hands-on, interactive, with lots of time to share and ask questions.
What's included
1 live meeting
45 mins in-class hours per weekHomework
1 hour per week. Extension activities may occasionally be provided to further enrich the lesson. These activities will always be optional.Assessment
No formal assessment will be provided. Parents/caregivers may request feedback at any time.Class Experience
US Grade Pre-Kindergarten - 2
Beginner Level
Curious kids are invited on a journey of discovery! We'll learn about Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math and more more, as we STEAM around the world in search of weekly topics. Sharing, fun activities, movement, new friends, & more! **NOTE: There is also a "Part 2" of this class, designed for slightly older students (ages 7-10). Both classes run weekly year-round, can be taken at any time, and weekly topics do not build. You can check out "Part 2" here: http://tiny.cc/STEAMCLUB2** This is an ongoing club designed especially for primary and early elementary learners (preK-2nd grade). The weekly subject matter will be introductory--so no previous knowledge of the topic is required. All activities, games, read-alouds, videos, and content will be age and developmentally appropriate. New topics will be presented each week--jump in at any time! Topics will be teacher-led, but I will consider student or parent requests and encourage them! Each week, I will present a brief lesson about a featured STEAM topic. Students will take turns sharing what they already know about the topic, as well as any "show-and-tell" related to the subject matter (books, toys, cool facts, etc). For the remainder of class, students will participate in some of the following: a variety of short activities, discussion, read-alouds, video clips, or hands-on projects to explore and demonstrate what we are learning. Students will be encouraged to keep a STEAM "travel journal." Each week, we will end the class by adding an entry to our journals to show something we learned. Students may share their entries before leaving the club, or they can continue to work on them after the meeting and post photos/videos in the virtual classroom. I recommend using a folder with brads and pockets (a video for how to set it up will be provided in the classroom once you are registered) OR a side-by-side, spiral-bound sketchbook with blank pages. Some printed materials may be provided to glue into the journal, as well as drawings, copy-work, and more. Students may occasionally be provided extension activities between meetings. These activities will always be optional. Class topics are as follows: WINTER 2024 Week of January 1: WINTER 2024 STEAM PASSPORT BEGINS Week of Jan 7: Fairy Tale STEM: Hansel and Gretel (hands-on STEAM Challenge) Week of January 14: Science of Snow (with hands-on STEAM challenge) Week of January 21: Exciting Earth: Animal Habitats Wek of January 28: Seasonal STEAM: Groundhog Day! (Statistics and Hibernating Animals) Week of February 4: Jr. Physics: Use the Force! Week of February 11: My Amazing Body: My Heart Week of February 18: City STEM: Incredible Inventions Week of February 25: Look Up: Mars, Our Red Neighbor Week of March 3: Fossils Week of March 10: STEM Challenge: Cereal Box Leprechaun Traps (additional supplies and adult assistance may be required) Week of March 17: Hands-On STEM: Let’s Make Slime! (and what is it, anyway?) (additional supplies and adult assistance may be required) Week of March 24: Animal Science: Anatomy of an Egg (welcome spring!) (NO CLASS 3/28, 3/29) Week of March 31: (NO CLASS 4/1-4/3) Animal Science: Anatomy of an Egg Week of April 7: Exciting Earth: What is SOIL? Week of April 14: Animal Science: Animal Adaptations Week of April 21: Exciting Earth: Wonderful, Wild Wind (Earth Day) Week of April 28: City STEM: "Green" Homes (Earth Day/Earth Month, continued) Week of May 5: Seasonal STEM: Parts of a Flower (NO CLASS May 9-10) Week of May 12: Seasonal STEM: Parts of a Flower (NO CLASS May 13-15) Week of May 19: Pond Life (Freshwater Ecosystems) Week of May 26: Busy, Buzzy Bees 🐝 Week of June 2: (NO CLASS Friday, 6/7) STEAM FUN WEEK (STEM challenges, show-and-tell, and STEM games) Week of June 9: NO CLASS Week of June 16: Geology ROCKS ! (All About Rocks) Week of June 23: Natural Wonders: Mushroom are Magic Summer Passport 2024 Week of June 30: (SUMMER PASSPORT BEGINS) Summer STEAM Kick-Off Challenge : Terrific Treehouses (hands-on building/designing challenge--be sure to bring creative building supplies and your imagination) Week of July 7: Ocean STEM: Shark Week! Week of July 14: Shhh--it's Spy School! ( the Science of Secret Communication) Week of July 21: Campfire Chemistry: What is FIRE? Week of July 28: STEAM "Out" of this World: Stargazers (Star Science plus Hands-on project) Week of August 4: STEAM on the High Seas: Pirate Ships STEAM Challenge (you might get a little wet!) Week of August 11: Backyard STEAM: Let's Go Fly A Kite (the physics of flying) Week of August 18: Playground PHYSICS (hands-on STEAM building/design challenge) Week of August 25: Animal Classifications (please bring plastic toy or stuffed animals for a fun game) Week of September 1: Animal Adaptations: Life Underground (NO CLASS Monday, 9/2 Labor Day) Week of Sept 8: STEAM FUN WEEK (STEM-inspired building/drawing/sculpting challenges, plus sharing and more) Fall Passport 2024 Week of September 15: Super Structures (hands-on STEAM challenge, additional supplies requested) Week of September 22: Autumn Leaves Week of September 29: Labyrinths and Mazes (hands-on STEAM challenge, some extra supplies required, all household or common craft items) Week of October 6: (NO CLASS Friday, 10/6-10/7): Fireflies and Codes Week of October 13: Fireflies and Codes (NO CLASS 10/10, 10/11, 10/12) Week of October 20: Bats! (with hands-on STEAM challenge, some additional supplies requested) Week of October 27: Punkin' Chunkin' Catapults (with guided STEAM project--some additional supplies requested) Week of November 3: My Body: My Bones Week of November 10: My Body: My Muscles Week of November 17: My Body: My Brain Week of November 24: NO CLASS due to the Thanksgiving Holiday Week of December 1: Surface Tension (with guided STEAM experiment--some additional supplies requested) Week of December 8: HOLIDAY STEAM Fun: Water Experiments (bouyancy, solutions, etc) (hands-on STEAM experiments) Week of December 15: Seasonal STEAM Evergreens and Conifers (please bring samples of evergreens in your neighborhood) Week of December 22: NO CLASS Week of December 29: NO CLASS HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR! Winter 2025 Passport: **Weekly themes will be posted for summer as ready. Each week will we alternate between hands-on experiments and thematic explorations. Themes and topics are subject to change at the instructors' discretion, and any updates will be posted in the classroom prior to the start of the class meeting with as much notice as possible.** Additional class dates and themes may be added based on student interest and suggestions. This schedule is subject to change based on feedback from families and teacher's flexible summer schedule. Any changes will be posted as soon as possible for the most notice to families and students. Please note: I strive to create a positive, relaxed learning environment for all of my students. No activities are forced, and sharing is always optional. I am a gentle (albeit enthusiastic) teacher. I welcome all types of learners, and am open to any feedback or communication with parents and caregivers. I want learning to be an AWESOME experience for your little ones. To this end, I ask you to remember that this age group often needs a little more support on both sides of the screen that older students. Please remain nearby your child during class, in case they need social or emotional support, help understanding or navigating instructions, or technical assistance. This makes a huge difference in the quality of their classroom experience, especially for our youngest learners. IMPORTANT: Access to a color printer is required for this class. Please be sure to check the "Supplies" tab for general supplies, to be sure you have what you'll need on hand each week for our activities. Weekly files (to print) and any supplemental supplies will be posted in the classroom 1 day before our club meeting, and then reposted an hour before class begins, in the case of any last-minute registrations. If you are unable to view the weekly post and supplies, please message the teacher ASAP so I can send them directly to you. I am teaching throughout the day, but I will do my best to check my messages prior to starting the class. I will be unable to respond to any messages or posts once the meeting has begun.
Learning Goals
Primary-age and early elementary students will learn about the weekly STEM / STEAM theme and be exposed to new ideas and vocabulary related to the world around them. They will continue to develop social skills such as asking questions, sharing ideas with a group, following directions, communicating, problem solving. They will engage in age-appropriate, interactive, playful learning through creative projects, rhymes and songs, games and dramatic movement exercises, as well as counting, pattern recognition, color matching, read-alouds, and other hands-on activities.
Other Details
Learning Needs
Shiny Happy Kids is committed to providing a safe, inclusive space for children to grow and learn. As gifted and neurodivergent educators, we understand the need to provide a safe and welcome experience We are all learners can shine.
Parental Guidance
Regarding supplies/activities:
Movement activities are basic in nature (animal moves, etc) but please be sure to provide adult supervision if you feel it is necessary. Participation in movement activities is no required. Please contact the teacher with any concerns.
Allergy Note: Playdough may contain wheat, which could cause an allergic reaction if ingested in those sensitive to wheat gluten or with Celiac disease. I am happy to provide a recipe for gluten-free playdough upon request, or suggest alternative supplies.
Please provide adult assistance with cutting/scissor-use as needed per the parents' discretion and child's ability.
Supply List
Each week, we will use some or all of the following: Paper and pencil, construction paper, colored pencils/markers/crayons, building/construction blocks/toys (ie plastic building bricks), small manipulatives, sculpting materials such as clay, sculpey, or playdough, glue stick, scissors (adult assistance may be necessary), plain white paper plates, straws, popsicle sticks, tape, etc. A folder with pockets and brads is recommended, OR a blank, spiral-bound sketch book or journal (spiral-bound opens flat for ease of use), preferable one that opens horizontally for a side-by-side layout of pages. Printed materials will be provided before each meeting. Access to a printer is required--but if none is available, please contact teacher to arrange an alternative solution. (We will do our best to make it work!) Additional materials may be requested prior to individual classes, but they will be common household or office supplies that are easy to find in most homes. Alternative suggestions are always available upon request if a student does not have access to a supply we will be using.
Teacher expertise and credentials
2 teachers have teaching certificates
Pennsylvania Teaching Certificate in Music/Theater/Arts
Florida Teaching Certificate in Elementary Education
I'm so excited to share my love of learning about the world with you! I've been teaching STEAM topics like animals, science and more to preschool through middle school for 7 years through an independent STEAM education company, and I'm really looking forward to connecting with new students here on Outschool. Not only will we be learning about the exciting world around us (and beyond!), but we'll sneak in some colors, numbers and math, comparing and contrasting, observation, movement and more--all things that PreK-2nd grade kids love to learn and practice!
Reviews
Live Group Class
$18
weekly1x per week
45 min
Completed by 868 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 4-8
4-9 learners per class