Junior Explorers: S.T.E.a.M. Around the World Club Part 1 (STEM + Science)

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:

🌍 2025 Junior Explorers: STEAM Around the World ✈️🔬


❄️ Winter 2025 Passport

Week of January 5: 🏰 Fairy Tale STEM
Week of January 12: ❄️ Science of Snow (with hands-on STEAM challenge)
Week of January 19: 🦊 Exciting Earth: Animal Habitats
Week of January 26: 🦡 Seasonal STEAM: Groundhog Day! (Statistics & Hibernating Animals)
Week of February 2: ⚡ Jr. Physics: Use the Force!
Week of February 9: ❤️ My Amazing Body: My Heart
Week of February 16: 🏙️ City STEM: Incredible Inventions
Week of February 23: 🔭 Look Up: Mars, Our Red Neighbor
Week of March 2: 🦴 Fossils
Week of March 9: 🍀 STEM Challenge: Cereal Box Leprechaun Traps (Extra supplies & adult help may be required)
Week of March 16: 🧪 Hands-On STEM: Let’s Make Slime! (What is it, anyway?) (Extra supplies & adult help may be required)
Week of March 23: 🥚 Animal Science: Anatomy of an Egg (Welcome spring!)

🌸 Spring 2025 Passport

Week of March 30:  🐾 Animal Science: Animal Adaptations
Week of April 6: 🚫 NO CLASS for some sections/ STEAM FUN WEEK for some sections (be sure to check your class schedule)
Week of April 13:  🌱 Exciting Earth: What is SOIL? (Earth Month)
Week of April 20: 🏡 City STEM: "Green" Homes (Earth Day/Earth Month)💨 Exciting Earth: Wonderful, Wild Wind (Earth Day)
Week of April 27: 💨 Exciting Earth: Wonderful, Wild Wind (Earth Month)
Week of May 4: 🌸 SPRING STEM FUN WEEK (May-themed engineering challenges)
Week of May 11: 🌿 Seasonal STEM: Parts of a Flower
Week of May 18: 🐟 Pond Life (Freshwater Ecosystems)
Week of May 25: 🐝 Busy, Buzzy Bees!
Week of June 1: 🎲 STEAM FUN WEEK (STEM challenges, show-and-tell, STEM games) (🚫 NO CLASS Friday, June 6)
Week of June 8: 🚫 NO CLASS
Week of June 15: 🪨 Geology ROCKS! (All About Rocks)
Week of June 22: 🍄 Natural Wonders: Mushrooms are Magic

☀️ Summer 2025 Passport

Week of June 29: 🌲 Summer STEAM Kick-Off Challenge: Terrific Treehouses (Hands-on designing & building challenge—bring creative materials!)
Week of July 6: 🦈 Ocean STEM: Shark Week!
Week of July 13: 🕵️ Shhh—It's Spy School! (The Science of Secret Communication)
Week of July 20: 🔥 Campfire Chemistry: What is FIRE?
Week of July 27: 🌌 STEAM "Out" of This World: Stargazers (Star Science + Hands-on project)
Week of August 3: 🏴‍☠️ STEAM on the High Seas: Pirate Ships STEAM Challenge (You might get a little wet!)
Week of August 10: 🪁 Backyard STEAM: Let’s Go Fly a Kite! (The Physics of Flying)
Week of August 17: 🏗️ Playground PHYSICS (Hands-on STEAM building challenge)
Week of August 24: 🦓 Animal Classifications (Bring a plastic toy or stuffed animal for a fun game!)
Week of August 31: 🦡 Animal Adaptations: Life Underground (🚫 NO CLASS Monday, September 1 - Labor Day)

🍂 Fall 2025 Passport

Week of September 7: 🏛️ Super Structures (Hands-on STEAM challenge, extra supplies requested)
Week of September 14: 🍁 Autumn Leaves
Week of September 21: 🌀 Labyrinths & Mazes (Hands-on STEAM challenge, household craft supplies required)
Week of September 28: 🔦 Fireflies & Codes
Week of October 5: 🦇 Bats! (Hands-on STEAM challenge, extra supplies requested)
Week of October 12: 🎃 Punkin' Chunkin' Catapults (Guided STEAM project, extra supplies requested)
Week of October 19: 🦴 My Body: My Bones
Week of October 26: 💪 My Body: My Muscles
Week of November 2: 🧠 My Body: My Brain
Week of November 9: 🎲 STEAM Fun Week! (Creative building challenges + more!) (🚫 NO CLASS Thursday and Friday due to the US Thanksgiving holiday)
Week of November 30: 💧 Surface Tension (Guided STEAM experiment, extra supplies requested)
Week of December 7: ❄️ Holiday STEAM Fun: Water Experiments (Buoyancy, solutions, & more hands-on STEAM)
Week of December 14: 🌲 Seasonal STEAM: Evergreens & Conifers (Please bring samples of evergreens from your neighborhood!)
Week of December 21: 🚫 NO CLASS
Week of December 28: 🚫 NO CLASS

🎉 HAPPY HOLIDAYS & HAPPY NEW YEAR!

**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.  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.