February Vacation: STEM Explorers (Ages 4.6y+) **Afternoon Program**

The STEM Explorers program is designed for students 4.6y to 6.6y years old and will focus on introducing key concepts of engineering, mechanics, and natural science in a fun, hands-on way. Each day of the 5-day program will revolve around a centralized theme, such as dinosaurs, weather, oceanography, or space exploration. Throughout each of the 5 days, students will participate in some combination of Lego building models that represent the topic being learned that day, experiments, crafts, and games that extend and reinforce their understanding of and interest in the topic. Students will work both independently and together while testing the limits of their knowledge throughout this fun-filled week!

In addition to acquiring new knowledge, students will practice and strengthen the following competencies:

• Teamwork and communication
• Independence
• Operational thinking
• Creativity
• Fine motor skills

PROGRAM STRUCTURE

• Instructors begin each day with a preview of the key concepts to be covered, but the bulk of each day is reserved for students to engage in hands-on construction and experimentation.
• During each session, every student will build 1-2 models specifically designed to apply their new knowledge and discover how the concepts are reflected in the world around them.
• Throughout, instructors pose open-ended questions to stimulate critical thinking and creativity, facilitate discussion, and provide support for independent and group problem-solving.
• For this age group, we also incorporate all-important “brain breaks”, the shaking out of “sillies”, crafts, and unstructured play.

PRE-REQUISITES: Students should have a basic understanding of mathematical concepts related to quantity, counting, space, and time.

RECOMMENDED AGES: 4.6-6.6y

SCHEDULE OPTIONS

• Monday-Friday Afternoons from 1pm-4pm

Host or Publisher Inventor STEM School