In Person, Mondays from 4:00-5:30pm Have you ever wondered how math is used in everyday life? How what you see and do connects to logic, creative inquiry and problem-solving? Get ready to put your math cap on! In this class, students will be challenged to explore mathematical ideas at their own pace through building projects, games, worksheets, and assessments. Students will build on their foundation and understanding of perimeter, area, and volume of Euclid’s element while being able to develop, discuss and use accurate, generalizable procedures to define and analyze dimensions. Mastery will be demonstrated by students using their conceptions and content knowledge to create story board math problems. Prerequisites: Students should be confident with addition, subtraction, and multiplication and begin understanding division. Students should be able to record their thinking.

In Person, Mondays from 4:00-5:30pm From Actinomyces (beneficial bacteria in our digestive tract that helps us break down food) to Varicella Zoster (the tiny virus that causes chicken pox) the microscopic world is wildly diverse in structure, function, and impact on our lives. If you’ve ever wondered about the culprits behind common diseases or the heroes behind some of life’s core processes, this class will help lead you to answers through hands-on activities, case studies, and engaging discussion. By the end of the class, students will be able to understand the cause, mode of transmission, signs and symptoms, and cures for illnesses, as well as how some microbes are beneficial to humans and the environment. Mastery will be demonstrated by classroom participation and activities in which students act as doctors and microbiologists in intriguing case studies. Pre-requisites: Completion of Microbiology 1 is recommended, but not required. MATERIALS REQUIRED: A $25 materials fee is required.

In Person, Tuesdays from 4:00-5:30pm Put on your lab coat and apron! This combination course in chemistry and culinary arts will give new meaning to the expression, “food for thought.” Students will learn the fundamentals of atomic structure and the periodic table of elements, as well as scientific techniques related to experiments in liquid chromatography, osmosis, and more. Through making concoctions such as fruity popsicles and homemade whey, students will learn to savor the chemistry behind cooking. Mastery will be demonstrated by the application of the Scientific Method and cooking techniques, with beginner-level analysis of Chemistry concepts.Pre-requisites: Completion of Kitchen Chemistry 1 is recommended, but not required. Please report any allergies/medical conditions or sensitivity to food and plant material. MATERIALS REQUIRED: A $25 materials fee is required.

In Person, Tuesdays from 4:00-5:30pm Calling all engineers, inventors, and builders! Get ready to take on exciting challenges that will put your innovation to the test. This course will present students with a task that combines science, technology, engineering, art, and math, then they’ll work to creatively accomplish the feat while following the guidelines. These challenges support both independence and teamwork skills while strengthening engineering intuition and hands-on building techniques. Mastery will be demonstrated by completion of a final independent STEAM challenge that will show students’ abilities to create a prototype and improve upon it based on its success. MATERIALS REQUIRED: A $25 materials fee is required.

In Person, Wednesdays from 10:00-11:30am In this class, students will enter into the world of writing by building and combining various strategies in different types of poetry including Haiku, cinquain, free verse, limerick, and many more! This class will encourage students to write freely and creatively and develop an appreciation for the infinite possibilities that arise when language is combined with play. Students will explore visual modes of art-making that complement their literary adventure. Mastery will be demonstrated by the application of poetic terms, forms, and processes presented in an original illustrated book of poetry.

In Person, Wednesdays from 10:00-11:30am In the 21st Century, it is more important than ever to understand that events around the world can affect us here in the United States. Students will learn to think critically about world events using their historical and geographical contexts. Though news headlines can be complicated, this class will help clarify them by examining a nation’s shared borders, need for resources, diverse cultures, and more. At the end of the class, students will be able to locate countries that influence global affairs, identify their capitals, and provide a summary of why they are in the news.

In Person, Wednesdays from 12:00-1:30pm Students in this class will be introduced to what makes up the universe and how the most important chemistry discoveries were made. How do the 118 elements of the periodic table combine and react to create the world around us, and where did the periodic table come from? This class will cover the properties of matter, atomic structure, acids and bases, electrochemistry, types of reactions, and chemical bonds. Through hands-on experimentation, engaging discussion, and examination of groundbreaking chemists throughout history, students will become comfortable predicting reactions and carrying out the scientific method to explain their outcomes. Mastery will be demonstrated by a presentation explaining the work of a past or present chemist or subject of chemistry of your choice to your classmates. MATERIALS REQUIRED: A $25 materials fee is required.

In Person, Wednesdays from 12:00-1:30pm Ready, set, build! In this course, students will hone their creative engineering skills by building, testing, and improving upon their original designs for marble runs, bridges, catapults, and more. We will use the engineering design process, integrated with both artistic elements and advanced physics topics to create products that meet specific guidelines. Each product will be evaluated through quantitative testing and qualitative evaluation to ensure every student is continually challenged and improving upon their designs. By the end of the course, students will have developed their creativity and engineering intuition and be equipped with ideas to keep building at home! Mastery will be demonstrated by completion of a final independent STEAM challenge where students will invent a structure to accomplish a specific task, then show they can test and improve upon this product. This class requires a $25 materials fee. MATERIALS REQUIRED: A $25 materials fee is required.”=

In Person, Wednesdays from 12:00-1:30pm Tired of someone else making the rules? Think you could organize a better way of living? Want to be a king or queen? Here’s your chance! In this class you will choose where your country will be and what it will be called. Big cities? Small towns? You decide. Students will go step by step to create their own countries. They will draw a map of it, make a flag, choose their laws, and write a constitution. Mastery will be demonstrated by students displaying their countries for a gallery walk and writing about their favorite part of each student’s country.

In Person, Wednesdays from 2:00-3:30pm The human body can do amazing things! How does it taste and digest food, observe the world, breathe air, and pump blood? In this class, students will interactively learn about the systems of the human body and gain a deep functional knowledge of how different organs work together. Through hands-on projects and lab activities, students will better understand how the various human body systems work both independently and together. In addition, students will investigate how things like poor food choices can damage these vital systems, as well as the strength of the body’s healing power when put to the test. Mastery will be determined by hands-on projects and lab activities. MATERIALS REQUIRED: A $25 materials fee is required.

In Person, Wednesdays from 2:00-3:30pm Welcome to Jurassic Life, the class 65 million years in the making! Get ready to separate the science fiction from the science fact as we take an in-depth look at one of the greatest film franchises in history, Jurassic Park. Students will have the opportunity to learn about dinosaur evolution and biology, all while examining real fossils and paleontological artifacts. We’ll discuss what the movies got right, what the movies got wrong, and even have a chance to create some of our own Mesozoic movie monsters! If you haven’t seen any Jurassic Park flicks, start watching! Students will need to be familiar with the films to get the most out this class.

In Person, Wednesdays from 2:30-3:45pm The movement of the sun, planets and stars has been used for timekeeping and navigation since antiquity. In this course, students will create simple devices such as a sundial, gnomon, basic astrolabe, and a marked-out meridian line to estimate their location, local time, time relative to the stars, and more. They will also map the analemma, the path the sun makes in the sky, and use it to deduce their track through space and time as the Earth moves along its orbit. Mastery will be demonstrated by building equipment and interpreting the data gathered with it..

In Person, Wednesdays from 4:00-5:30pm From the Falcon, Swift and Crane to the Ostrich, Owl and Emu, birds make some of the most successful (and ornamented!) vertebrates on the planet. Through in-depth discussion and observation of real artifacts and fossils, students will take a swan dive into all things avian including the natural history, ecology, and impact birds have had on mythology, pop culture and human civilization. Don’t be fooled, Ornithology isn’t just for the birds–you might just discover if the chicken or egg came first! Mastery will be demonstrated by a final creative project illustrating concepts covered.

In Person, Wednesdays from 4:00-5:30pm What is a robot, and how does it work? Stretch your imagination by having fun with engineering and coding to explore the world of robotics! In this class, students will become confident learners as they undertake real-world solutions. Skills will be more complex thinking, group cooperation, and problem-solving. Mastery will be demonstrated by the application of the building and coding methods to construct independent and group projects. MATERIALS REQUIRED: A $50 materials fee is required for the purchase of a Sphero Mini robot.

In Person, Wednesdays from 4:00-5:30pm What would you do if you and your scientific team were tasked with communicating with beings from another planet? Alternatively, what would you do if you and your alien community were suddenly visited by a group of curious, inquiring humans? This role-playing course will give students background in the engineering and science needed to work their way through various first-contact scenarios. Aliens and humans will have to decide whether to cooperate or clash—but only once they’ve learned how to communicate with each other! Students must be active independently and in teams to problem-solve how to anticipate the actions of intelligences very unlike their own. Students will learn the simple design program Tinkercad to mockup 3D designs of aliens, extraterrestrial habitats and more. Student-designed 3D models will be printed at IEA’s Learning Center. Prints will be mailed or available for pickup so students can have their creation in physical form! Mastery will be demonstrated when students exhibit problem-solving skills and empathy to save human and alien civilizations.

In Person, Thursdays from 1:45-3:15pm Whether you’re a budding journalist or astrophysicist, learning the ropes of writing will help you communicate your big ideas with clarity and ease. This course will take the mystery out of learning to write well by breaking down the writing process into manageable steps. Using a program called the Hochman Method from The Writing Revolution, students will learn writing strategies that will equip them to face any blank page with confidence. Sessions will focus on specific techniques and targeted feedback that match each student’s needs. At the same time, students will have opportunities to pursue content based on their particular interests, with the objective to develop enjoyment and motivation in the writing process, in addition to skill and technique.

In Person, Thursdays from 3:45-5:00pm This course is for the student who desires to express themselves effectively and confidently in any situation, socially or academically. Students will develop and improve their public speaking, argumentative, and critical-thinking skills through their presentation and participation in several in-class speeches and debates. We will explore and research a variety of formats, including educational and persuasive speeches, and Lincoln-Douglas, cross-examination, and academic debate. In addition, students will develop their ability to critique, analyze, and question speeches and debates delivered by others. Mastery will be demonstrated through the development and presentation of an independent speech and participation in a group debate. Students will be invited to choose their topic matter for speeches and debates appropriate for a classroom setting.

In Person, Thursdays from 4:00-5:30pm Up, up, and away we go! This course will explore how balloons can be used to power a vehicle, absorb chemicals, or propel a hovercraft. Students will experiement with physics, chemistry, aerodynamics, and more using ordinary balloons. MATERIALS REQUIRED: A $25 materials fee is required.

In Person, Fridays from 11:00am-12:30pm Did you ever consider the difference between poison and venom? If not, then this class is for you! In this course, students will take an in-depth look at the animal kingdom’s masters of toxicity, from the tiny but deadly Blue-Ringed Octopus to the world’s longest snake, King Cobra. Topics covered will include how these magnificent creatures create and utilize their toxins, the effects of poison and venom on prey, and safety protocols as precautionary measures should you be on the receiving end of a bite or sting. Mastery will be demonstrated by a final creative project illustrating concepts covered throughout the course.

In Person, Fridays from 11:00am-12:30pm Learn how and why the world of electronics, smartphones and computers work. This hands-on class will help students explore the basic principles of electronics and conduct experiments using manipulatives for the understanding of Voltage, Amperes, Watts, and Ohms. Students will conduct experiments using a solderless breadboard, a mechanism for developing prototype electronics and test circuit designs. Mastery will be demonstrated by the application of the scientific method in the lab and building experiments, and the construction of creative projects. MATERIALS REQUIRED: A $25 materials fee is required.

In Person, Fridays from 11:00am-12:30pm Enter the world of sleeping giants, river raft adventures and brave young hearts! Through music, literature and art, there is no nodding off in this creative writing class inspired by the curriculum, Leave Your Sleep for Education. Each week students will explore a short literary work through its musical interpretation, then apply newly acquired skills, perspectives, and problem-solving strategies to their own written work. This Writers Workshop-style class will encourage students to experiment with word choice, syntax, rhythm and rhyme to bring fresh possibilities to character development, setting and plot. Mastery will be demonstrated by the creation of a short written piece in the student’s genre of choice which illustrates independent thinking and progress in reading, writing, and verbal expression. Leave Your Sleep for Education is an initiative created by Gifted Support Center, Inc. that provides arts and music curriculum for elementary school children. Designed by experts in the field of gifted education, the LYSFE curriculum serves as a supplement to the Leave Your Sleep publication by Natalie Merchant and the children’s picture book she created with Barbara McClintock.

In Person, Fridays from 1:00-2:30pm In this class, students will be introduced to some basic laws of physics through hands-on projects and experiments. Students will discuss and debate the different sources of energy that can be converted into electricity and they will conduct experiments to determine the effects of momentum on collisions. Students will engage in demonstrations of Newton’s three laws of motion, and they will discover how to do science–physics style! MATERIALS REQUIRED: A $25 materials fee is required.

In Person, Fridays from 1:00-2:00pm Dinosaurs ruled the planet for over 150 million. They flourished just about everywhere . . . except California. For much of the Mesozoic, our beloved Golden State was at the bottom of the sea. It was not until the Cenozoic, the Age of Mammals, that California became inhabited by fantastic prehistoric beasts. Here in Fauna of the La Brea Tar Pits, prepare yourself for a paleontological journey where you will learn about the incredible megafauna that used to roam ancient Los Angeles just a few tens of millennia ago and gets up close and personal to fossils from Ice Age icons such as the mammoth, sabertooth cat, and more!

In Person, Fridays from 3:30-5:00pm The Middle Ages has been branded unfairly as the “Dark Ages,” a time in which little progress was made in science, technology, or learning. However, the advances made in this time demonstrate otherwise! In this class, we will learn about the various ways in which medieval scholars advanced knowledge in the fields of machinery, architecture, botany, mathematics, and chemistry (alchemy). We will learn the history of science in this time, along with engaging in hands-on experiments and constructions. We will also learn about the ways in which medieval science and modern science overlap. Activities will include learning about botany, astronomy, and alchemy, building and testing miniature catapults and trebuchets, simulating medieval chemistry experiments, and building models of Gothic arches. Mastery will be demonstrated by completing class assignments and participating in and reflecting on experiments and constructions throughout the course. MATERIALS REQUIRED: A $25 materials fee is required.

In Person, Fridays from 3:30-5:00pm From aluminum to zirconium, the periodic table organizes every element that exists – and those that have yet to be discovered! This class will dive into how elements are different at the atomic level and how those structural distinctions give them physical and chemical properties we can observe. Students will explore the different groups of elements, what gives them different qualities, why they react with one another, and how to interpret the symbols and structure of the periodic table. Mastery will be demonstrated through a project that explores and explains the observable physical and chemical properties of an element or compound.