Course Offerings

Learn all the ins and outs of the fascinating world of 3D printing! We will cover how to operate a 3D printer safely, how to design your own files to print, and numerous topics related to 3D printing such as problem solving, post-processing, and slicing files.
The class will alternate weekly between "Discussion Days" — days where we will talk about different topics — and "Design Days" — days where students are given prompts to create their own 3D designs in TinkerCAD.
Students will also get to go home at the end of the last day of class with at least one thing that they designed, which will be 3D printed!

Instructor: Brian Jaffe

Learn all the ins and outs of the fascinating world of 3D printing! We will cover how to operate a 3D printer safely, how to design your own files to print, and numerous topics related to 3D printing such as problem solving, post-processing, and slicing files.
The class will alternate weekly between "Discussion Days" — days where we will talk about different topics — and "Design Days" — days where students are given prompts to create their own 3D designs in TinkerCAD.
Students will also get to go home at the end of the last day of class with at least one thing that they designed, which will be 3D printed!

Instructor: Brian Jaffe

Ready to move beyond the basics? This advanced class is for students who have already taken the introductory level.
This class will focus on much more advanced topics, learning how to make more complex and intricate 3D designs. We will cover topics such as 3D print benchmark tests, gears and movable objects, painting your prints, working in teams, and a full in-class one-day Hackathon!
Almost every class will have independent time for students to do some in-class designing as well as receive one-on-one coaching to elevate their projects. Laptops will be needed for this class, but they will be provided if the students do not have one.

Instructor: Brian Jaffe

Chess is more than just a game, it's a way to think critically, solve problems, and have fun with friends. In this beginner-friendly class, students will be introduced step by step to the exciting world of chess. They'll learn how each piece moves, explore special rules like castling and pawn promotion, and practice simple tactics such as forks and pins. Along the way, students will discover what it means to put an opponent in check and checkmate, and they'll gain confidence playing full games by the end of the course.
Class sessions are active and hands-on. Students will practice new skills right away through puzzles, mini-games, and guided play. Each week builds on the last, starting with the basics of setting up the board and gradually moving toward opening strategies, simple tactics, and endgame techniques. The class emphasizes learning by doing, so students will spend plenty of time playing against peers in a fun, supportive environment where good sportsmanship is encouraged.
By the end of the course, students will not only know how to play chess from start to finish, but they will also develop problem-solving, patience, and creative thinking skills that extend beyond the board. No prior experience is required, just curiosity and a willingness to play!

Instructor: Jordan Sherry-Wagner

Coding Logic & Games is an 8-week introductory course for students in grades 3–5 on core computer science concepts through creative, hands-on learning. Using Scratch, a block-based programming language designed for young learners, students explore how computers follow instructions, solve problems, and respond to user input while creating games, animations, music, and interactive stories.

The course emphasizes curiosity, creativity, collaboration, and persistence rather than memorizing syntax. Students develop foundational computational thinking skills such as sequencing, debugging, loops, events, and conditionals, by working through puzzles and open-ended projects that encourage experimentation and self-expression.
Each week includes one 50-minute lesson that blends unplugged activities, guided Scratch programming, group discussion, and reflection to support diverse learning styles and build confidence in problem-solving with code.

Please note: This course requires the use of a laptop or similar device. The Robinson Center can provide a device if your child does not have access.

Instructor: Noah Nguyen

Students will dive into the unique ways that common body systems achieve similar goals within the animal kingdom (including us!). How do different animals breathe in oxygen, or digest food? Who works hard to stay warm or cool? Why do some animals drink water and others don't? Throughout these topics and more, students will learn the fundamentals of physiology that will allow them to approach new contexts through this biological lens. For half of the course, students will practice valuable learning skills by using guided notes to engage in active learning lectures. For the other half of the course, students will complete hands-on projects that showcase their ability to apply the concepts learned during lectures, incorporating student-choice from a wide variety of project styles.

Instructor: Paige Reed

How do scientists track the spread of germs? Why do clean water and vaccines matter? And how do communities around the world work together to stay healthy?
In Disease Detectives: Global Health Heroes, students step into the role of junior investigators as they explore how public health protects people and communities. Through interactive simulations, hands-on experiments, and global case studies, students will learn how diseases spread, how outbreaks are investigated, and how prevention strategies save lives.
Students will conduct classroom "germ transmission" experiments, design clean water solutions, analyze fictional outbreak scenarios, and explore the important roles of scientists, engineers, and community health workers. Throughout the course, the focus remains on solutions, teamwork, and innovation.
By the final week, students will design their own public health strategy or invention to help keep a community healthy, demonstrating how knowledge, collaboration, and thoughtful planning can make a powerful difference.

Instructor: Christina Dujardin

Everything we see, touch, and use is made from materials, from the clothes we wear to the buildings we live in. This hands-on course introduces students to the fascinating world of Materials Science and Engineering: the study of what things are made of, how they behave, and how we can design them to solve real-world problems. Students will explore materials' properties, learn about different types of materials, and discover why engineers choose certain materials for specific purposes. Through interactive and hands-on activities, students will test, compare, and design with different materials, applying their knowledge to engineering challenges.

Instructor: Noah Nguyen

Students will discover the intricate ways that our digestive organs work together to extract nutrients from our food. We will cover each of the digestive organs as we learn about how humans process different types of nutrients beginning from when we taste the food and ending with removing the waste. For the first half of each class, students will use guided notes to learn about the anatomy and physiology of each group of organs through active learning lectures that build strong classroom skills. In the second half of the class, students will apply their knowledge by creating a visual representation of the digestive organ(s) of focus that day. At the end of the course, students will have a project that shows the system as a whole and showcases their hard work over the entire quarter.

Instructor: Paige Reed

Chess is a timeless game of strategy that rewards creativity, focus, and patience. In this class, students of all levels will be introduced to the essentials of chess while also exploring deeper strategies and tactics. Beginners will learn the basics of setting up the board, how each piece moves, and the rules of the game; including check, checkmate, castling, and stalemate. More experienced students will extend their knowledge through opening principles, tactical patterns like forks and pins, and endgame strategies such as pawn promotion and basic checkmates.
Each session combines clear instruction with hands-on practice. Lessons include interactive puzzles, mini-games that focus on specific skills, and guided practice with peers. Over the weeks, the class will move step by step from piece movement to tactics and strategies, giving every student the opportunity to learn at their own pace. Along the way, students will develop problem-solving skills, sharpen their critical thinking, and build confidence as they play full games.
By the end of the course, students will be able to play chess from start to finish, apply basic strategies, and approach the game with curiosity and confidence. Whether brand new to chess or ready to advance beyond the basics, students will find challenge, support, and fun in this welcoming learning environment.

Instructor: Jordan Sherry-Wagner

Success in school is about learning how to learn!

In this practical and empowering course, students discover the tools that strong learners use every day: focus, organization, time management, goal setting, and healthy study habits. Through interactive games, hands-on planning activities, creative reflection, and real-world practice, students build skills that support confidence both inside and outside the classroom.

Rather than memorizing tips, students experiment with different learning strategies to find what works best for them. They explore how memory functions, how to manage distractions, how to break big tasks into achievable steps, and how mindset shapes motivation. Each session blends movement, discussion, and creative problem-solving so that students actively practice the habits of successful learners.

By the end of the course, every student will design a personalized "Success System" — a set of routines, tools, and strategies they can continue using throughout the school year.

Instructor: Sarah Bender

In this hands-on, creativity-focused class, students will learn how songs are made — and then make their own! Through listening, singing, rhythm games, group brainstorming, and guided songwriting, we will explore a variety of musical genres such as pop, rock, folk, blues, hip-hop, and more. No prior musical experience necessary!

Each week, students experiment with musical elements using their voices, small percussion instruments, and live guitar accompaniment from the teacher. They will learn how melodies work, how rhythm shapes a song, and how to write meaningful and memorable lyrics. By the end of the 8-week program, students will have written a complete original song, and will gain confidence expressing themselves through music, rhythm, and creative storytelling.

Instructor: Keenan Foster

Step into a world of magic, mystery, and deep questions! German fairy tales are more than just stories - they're windows into courage, cleverness, danger, hope, and the choices people make. In this creative, interdisciplinary class, students explore classic tales from the Brothers Grimm to discover what makes a fairy tale a fairy tale, why these stories were written, and how they still shape our imaginations today.

Through drama, art, storytelling, and hands-on cultural activities, students will investigate the patterns hidden in fairy tales: the mysterious "rule of three," the hero's journey, symbols that carry secret meanings, the moral puzzles characters face, and students even learn bits of German vocabulary that appear in the tales.

The emphasis is on curiosity, creativity, and students expressing their own interpretations — not just listening to stories, but thinking like storytellers, artists, and little folklorists. Each week builds toward students crafting and performing their own modern fairy tale inspired by German traditions.

Instructor: Sarah Bender

Have you ever wondered why we ask big questions like What makes something fair? or How do we know what's real? In this course, children will step into the world of philosophy: the practice of asking thoughtful questions, listening closely to others, and thinking deeply about ideas. We'll explore timeless puzzles, everyday dilemmas, and imaginative thought experiments that spark curiosity about the world and our place in it. Topics may include fairness and justice, truth and imagination, friendship and community, and the difference between things we can prove and things we can only wonder about.
Class time will feel like a mix of story time, circle conversations, and playful activities. Using picture books, games, short videos, and hands-on scenarios, students will practice asking their own philosophical questions and talking them through with peers. Together, we will create a respectful discussion space where everyone's ideas matter and where students learn to explain their thinking, consider different viewpoints, and sometimes change their minds.
Students will take part in small group discussions, whole-class dialogues, and creative projects like drawing, role-playing, or building models to show their ideas. Each week invites both new and returning philosophers to connect their own experiences with big ideas, helping them grow as curious thinkers, caring listeners, and collaborative learners.

Instructor: Jordan Sherry-Wagner

Have you ever wondered how computers use math to draw pictures, play games, or make smart decisions? In Programming with Math: Patterns, Games, and Logic, students will discover how math gives computers their power! Using Python, a fun and beginner-friendly programming language, students will turn mathematical ideas into creative projects, like digital art, guessing games, and simulations.

Each week focuses on a key math concept behind computer science, from logic and geometry to probability and data. Through hands-on coding, art challenges, and math-inspired puzzles, students will explore how computers use patterns, numbers, and problem-solving to make amazing things happen.

By the end of the course, students will understand that math isn't just for solving problems, it's the secret language that makes programming work! No prior experience needed.

Please note: This course requires the use of a laptop or similar device. The Robinson Center can provide a device if your child does not have access.

Instructor: Noah Nguyen

What happens when storytime meets science? In this joyful, hands-on class, young learners explore big ideas through picture books, simple experiments, and creative projects. Each week begins with a story that sparks curiosity—about wind, plants, light, water, magnets, sound, or color—followed by playful investigations where students make predictions, test ideas, and discover how the world works,

Designed especially for K–2 students, this course encourages wondering, observing, and sharing discoveries in a supportive, active environment. In the final session, we will create a mini Science Museum where students celebrate their favorite experiments and what they've learned!

Instructor: Sarah Bender

From ancient stone carvings to modern computer code, people have found clever ways to send messages in secret. In this hands-on course, students will become junior cryptographers—learning different code systems from around the world and throughout history, then using them to create and crack their own secret messages. Each week begins with a real-world example of a code in action, followed by a chance to try it, solve challenges, and make their own. By the end, students will invent an original code in teams and put it to the test in a class-wide code challenge.

Instructor: Christina Dujardin

In this hands-on, creativity-focused class, students will learn how songs are made — and then make their own! Through listening, singing, rhythm games, group brainstorming, and guided songwriting, we will explore a variety of musical genres such as pop, rock, folk, blues, hip-hop, and more. No prior musical experience necessary!

Each week, students experiment with musical elements using their voices, small percussion instruments, and live guitar accompaniment from the teacher. They will learn how melodies work, how rhythm shapes a song, and how to write meaningful and memorable lyrics. By the end of the 8-week program, students will have written a complete original song, and will gain confidence expressing themselves through music, rhythm, and creative storytelling.

Instructor: Keenan Foster

Put on your detective hat—there's a mystery to solve! In this playful, hands-on course, students become Junior Detectives as they crack secret codes, uncover hidden messages, and solve creative challenges together.

Each week begins with a new case to investigate. Through games, movement, storytelling, and interactive experiments, students explore picture codes, simple cipher systems, invisible ink, fingerprints, pattern puzzles, and beginner "spy gadgets." Along the way, they practice observation skills, logical thinking, and teamwork while building confidence as problem-solvers. No prior experience is needed—just curiosity and a willingness to follow the clues!

Instructor: Christina Dujardin

In this hands-on, creativity-focused class, students will learn how songs are made — and then make their own! Through listening, singing, rhythm games, group brainstorming, and guided songwriting, we will explore a variety of musical genres such as pop, rock, folk, blues, hip-hop, and more. No prior musical experience necessary!

Each week, students experiment with musical elements using their voices, small percussion instruments, and live guitar accompaniment from the teacher. They will learn how melodies work, how rhythm shapes a song, and how to write meaningful and memorable lyrics. By the end of the 8-week program, students will have written a complete original song, and will gain confidence expressing themselves through music, rhythm, and creative storytelling.

Instructor: Keenan Foster