Homeschool Classes

A Series of Classes Just for Homeschool Families

Experiment, develop ideas and work together as you learn and build skills.

Two classes per month. New topics each month.
Winter Programs: January-March, first and third Thursdays
Spring Programs: April and May, first and third Thursdays

Concurrent classes for Ages 2–16
Ages 2–4 meet from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.
Ages 5–7, 8–11, and 12–16 meet from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m.

Program Cost
One month (two class sessions)
Ages 2–4 $36 ($30 for members) for 2 one-hour sessions
Ages 5–16, $50 ($40 for members) for 2 one-and-a-half-hour sessions

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Winter Programs

Ages 2–4

Science Toys
Wonder, discover, and play! Learn about the properties of the physical world by making toys. Explore everyday phenomena and share the excitement of doing hands-on science together. Take your projects home to play with, to extend the experience beyond the classroom.
One participating adult must attend with each child.
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January 7 and 21
Balls and Rolling
Make a Toy Car

February 4 and 18
Magnet Toys
Invent Your Own Play Dough Recipe

March 4 and 18
Wind and Kites
Bubble-ology

Ages 5–7, 8–11 and 12–16

Electricity and Magnetism
January 7 and 21
Discover the basics of circuitry with hands-on experiments and projects that use problem-solving skills. Experiment with magnets and see the connection between magnetism and electricity. Make a project to take home, so you can continue your investigations.
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Age 5–7
Electrical Connections
Magnet Explorations

Age 8–11
Volts and Jolts–Electricity Generation
Electromagnets

Age 12–16
Electric Circuitry
Motors

Space Sciences
February 4 and 18
Explore the phases of the Moon and other complexities of our Solar System through planetarium visits, models, games, and crafts.
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Age 5–7
Earth from Space
Moon Models

Age 8–11
Moons of the Solar System–Planetarium
Making and Using Telescopes

Age 12–16
Solar System Models
Our Very Own Sun–Planetarium

Light
March 4 and 18
The youngest scientists experiment with mirror and mirroring devices to elucidate concepts relating to light and reflection, and explore making shadows with materials of varying opacity. Older students use a laser to make patterns of reflected light, which they bounce from mirror to mirror, to observe angles of incoming and reflected light beams; they also build their own periscopes and explore with them. Students ages 12–16 explore the spectrum of colors, both visible and invisible; discuss the nature of light; and manipulate light with diffraction gratings and colored filters.
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Age 5–7
Mirror, Mirror
Shadows

Age 8–11
Light and Lasers
Periscopes

Age 12–16
Colors from Space–Spectrum of Light
Spectroscopes and Color Filters

Spring Programs

Ages 2–4

Squiggly Wiggly
An amazing world of animal homes and hideaways exists in our own backyards – under rocks, on leaves, and in the soil. Find out why “roly polies” curl up into a ball, learn how earthworms help your garden, and follow a snail’s shimmering trail. These activities nurture a respect and understanding of each organism’s place in nature. One participating adult must attend with each child.
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April 1 and 15
Snails
Isopods

May 6 and 20
Worms
Ants

Ages 5–7, 8–11 and 12–16

Bridges
April 1 and 15
Explore the geometry of polygons and polyhedra and discover what shapes are stable and strong. Work cooperatively with others to design and build bridges and test your bridge to see how it withstands real life situations like weighta simulated earthquake.
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Age 5–7
Blocks, Beams and Bridges
Giant Geometry

Age 8–11
Giant Geometry
Bridge Design

Age 12–16
3-D Geometry
Bridge Design

Ponds
May 6 and 20
Have an up-close encounter with fish, turtles, frogs, crayfish, and other pond animals in week one. Learn how these creatures survive in their watery habitat. Through observation and hands-on activities, we will compare the locomotion, life cycles, defenses, and eating behaviors of these awesome aquatic animals. In week two age groups 8-11 and 12-16 will have a field experience at the UC Botanical Garden looking for these creatures in their natural habitat and investigating features of the pond.
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Age 5–7
Pond Animals and Ecology
Crayfish Investigations

Age 8–11
Pond Animals and Ecology.
U.C. Botanical Garden pond field trip
(On May 20th participants will need to be dropped off and picked up at the U.C. Botanical Garden. Field program will take place rain or shine.)

Age 12–16
Pond Animals, Microscopic to Macroscopic
U.C. Botanical Garden pond field trip
(On May 20th participants will need to be dropped off and picked up at the U.C. Botanical Garden. Field program will take place rain or shine.)