Kindergarten – Grade 1.Scroll down for photos and reviews. Scroll down for photos and reviews.
Mythbusters isn’t just for big kids. In this after school science program for students in kindergarten and grade 1, we’ll read a different story each week to our kindergarten and first grade scientists and then conduct hands-on science experiments to test the scientific accuracy, or explore the scientific elements of each story!
When we read Jon Scieszka’s The True Story of The 3 Little Pigs, for instance, we’ll test the power of wind – can it really blow down a house? How does air pressure work? Let’s build our own houses and see if they stand up to our air pump! For Doreen Cronin’s Diary of a Worm, we’ll each build an earthworm habitat to take home!
And guess what we’ll do when we read Bartholomew and the Ooblek?. Yup, it’ll have something to do with SLIME. (Non-toxic and mess-free, of course. Don’t worry – many of us are moms and dads, too).
and …. by popular demand, we now have FOUR different versions of this class (We call them Storybook Science A,B,C and D. Classes are completely independent with all different projects. Students may take any or all, in any order.
Each Storybook Science class follows the same format, but with whole new sets of stories and experiments Ever wonder how a bee hums? In Storybook Science B, we will read the Patricia Polacco’s Bee Tree and then children will build their own bee hummer. We’ll also read 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and build periscopes!
In Storybook Science C , we’ll read read about and play with popcorn (and other mini explosions), shadows, density, cars and much more. Stories include LaPetite Rouge by Mike Artell and The Popcorn Book by Tomie de Paola.
In Storybook Science D, we’ll read about polar explorer Matthew Henson and play with magnets … and more!
For those with religious concerns about this class, see this note.
Stories and lessons will vary depending on the interests of our first grade and kindergarten scientists. And yes, we know it’s hard getting kids to talk about what they did that day. That’s why we send a note home a day or two after every class, explaining what we did, what we learned, and what’s next. Sometimes we also include photos or videos! Parents love our notes!
All I know is that each and every time I picked up my son from class the room was a hive of activity full of the excitement that only comes with implementing newfound knowledge. He was thrilled with every project they made. The instructors were so patient as the children never wanted to quit what they were working on and leave. I also really appreciated the detailed feedback that I received each week via email. Thank you for inspiring my son!
-Carderock E.S. Parent, Bethesda, Md.
[My daughter] LOVES your class and is so excited to share with me her experiments and discoveries from class. Thanks for making class so fun & interesting. I love seeing her enthusiastic face & she has no idea right now that she is learning about science!
Seven meetings, once a week, 60 minutes per meeting. (or 14-21 meetings if you combine classes).
After school sessions only; no evenings.
Minimum: 11 students. Maximum: 14 students. Take-home projects after every class.
Tuition is $125 per student. Parent aide receives free tuition.
Get together a group of at five students, and we can send an instructor to teach this class in your home during school hours, in the evening, or on the weekend! Seven 60-min classes, min 5/max 8 students, $150 per student plus $30 materials fee.
Take-home projects after every class.
We handle registration and payment, all you have to do is enjoy the class! Contact us for more info!
After school classes are only open to students who attend the hosting school. Register through your school /PTA.
If your school/ PTA does not offer our classes, invite us!
Evening classes are open to students from any school. Register here.
Form a private class in your home with as few as five students! Seven 60-min classes, min 5/max 8 students, $150 per student, plus $30 materials fee per student. Contact us for more info!
Photos from The Great Adventure Lab’s Storybook Science classes!
Wood Acres E.S. parent, Class: 3-D design, November 2014
[My son] G. is really excited with all the possibilities with the 3d design! … Thanks for all the updates!
This was my daughter’s first experience with The Great Adventure Lab and she was only willing to attend because of the girls-only session, and really enjoyed being in a group of all girls.
July 9, 2014
Kipling E.S. parent, Deerfield, Ill. Class: Robo Challenge Machines, April 2015
J. is so excited about this class! Thank you for the updates. He now has decided he wants to be a robotics engineer 🙂
May 1, 2015
Bethesda ES parent, Bethesda, Md. Class: Lego Robotics, February 2014
“Thank you for the notes! [My son] is really enjoying Lego robotics.”
March 2, 2014
College Gardens E.S. parent, Rockville, Md. Class: Video Game Programming, October 2015
Thanks for sending these terrific and detailed updates! It helps me understand quite a bit. [My son] is enjoying your class very much.
November 3, 2015
Westbrook E.S. parent, Bethesda, Md. Class: Video Game Programming, October 2014
[My sons] love it. We found the Scratch website at home this afternoon and they are excited to “get to work”. Thank you for making the class such an enjoyable learning experience.
October 23, 2014
Thunder Hill E.S. parent, Columbia, Md. Class: Lego Robotics, May 2013
D. has LOVED your class! Thank you for the detailed reports, fun pictures, and for getting the kids so involved!
May 9, 2013
Garrett Park ES parent, Kensington, Md. Class: Robo Challenge, February 2014
D. is loving the class this time around as much as last time, so thanks for always doing such a wonderful job in there!
Both my daughters did the class and they loved goingeach week! I feel it opens them up to different paths for girls then what are normally offered to them!
December 9, 2010
Murch E.S. parent, Washington, D.C. Class: Video Game Programming, June 2013
Thank you so much for all your time and effort. O. LOVED the class.
Thank YOU for such a positive experience for my son, S. I appreciate the emails. Much appreciated!
December 17, 2014
East Silver Spring E.S. parent, Silver Spring, Md. Class: Storybook Science, May 2013
He loves it! His favorite activities are the volcano, the racing cars, and the telephone. Laura is fantastic and does a great job answering the questions and making science fun for the kids!
June 9, 2013
National Presbyterian parent, Washington, D.C. Class: Storybook Science, February 2015
My kids have had a wonderful time in your class – learned a lot and had a great deal of fun – thank you!
May 1, 2015
Al-Huda parent, College Park, Md. Class: Early Engineers, May 2013
You did a marvelous job! Thanks for a wonderful experience. F. enjoyed the sessions so much that he will be signing up for [your] camp over the summer
June 10, 2013
Murch E.S. parent, Washington, D.C. Class: Lego Robotics, November 2015
My son, A., absolutely loves this class and has asked to continue it. What are the options for after school or weekend classes going forward?
November 7, 2015
Garrett Park E.S. parent, Kensington, Md. Class: Early Engineers, October 2015
Thank you. [My daughter] loved it today!
November 3, 2015
Concord Hill E.S., Chevy Chase, Md. Class: Lego Robotics, November 2014
Thank you so much! [My daughter] S. LOVED the class and I asked CHS to continue it in the Spring because it’s her favorite after school activity.
December 17, 2014
Wood Acres E.S. parent, Bethesda, Md. Class: Let’s Roll Engineers, October 2014
Our son R. is really enjoying the class. It is great that even the little guys are being exposed to these early lessons in mechanics, even as they have fun building with Legos 🙂
October 23, 2014
E.L. Haynes Charter School parent, Washington, D.C. Class: Mindstorms, March 2015
I just wanted to say thank you for these weekly updates. My son really enjoys the class.
I am really impressed with your work thus far. Keep it up.
May 1, 2015
East Silver Spring E.S. parent, Silver Spring, Md. Class: Storybook Science, June 2013
E. loved Storybook Science and this last class in particular. He hasn’t taken off the sun beads yet. … I love the bridging of the science with reading and would love for it to continue.
June 7, 2013
Murch E.S. parent, Washington, D.C. Class: Lego Engineers, June 2014
Thank you. [My son] had a blast! Hope to see you next Fall!
June 11, 2014
Forest Knolls E.S. parent, Silver Spring, Md. Class: Video Game Programming, October 2011
Thank you for the email. J. is so excited about the course. He came home raving about moving sprites.
October 9, 2011
Camp GrAd Lab parent, Silver Spring, Md. 2014
My child repeatedly has told me…”Mom, I am so glad that you signed me up for this camp. Thank you.” Also, he has said repeatedly…”I cannot wait to go to camp tomorrow. I wonder what we will do.”
Barnsley E.S. parent, Rockville, Md. Class: Robo Challenge, October 2012
Thank you for the detailed email you sent about the first class. It’s so nice to know exactly what goes on. I also wanted to tell you how much my son enjoyed the class. I even heard from a friend of mine that her son loved it so much, he couldn’t stop talking about it.
October 9, 2012
Wood Acres E.S. club coordinator Reid Lewis, Bethesda, Md. Class: Lego Robotics, September 2012
Thanks! You and your team were impressive today! And the children were totally engrossed in their project. Well done.
June 9, 2013
Beverly Farms E.S. parent, Potomac, Md. Class: Early Engineers, October 2013
Thank you for such a great experience. A. had a blast!
November 9, 2013
Garrett Park E.S. parent, Kensington, Md. Class: Let’s Roll Engineers, April 2014
Thank you for this great update-it’s so nice to have parent updates directly from the program (my kids are very vague on details!). Sounds like a great class!
[My sons] LOVE the class! Wish all of their classes were as fun and instructional as yours.
December 17, 2014
St. Patrick’s School parent, Rockville, Md. Class: Lego Engineers, September 2014
Thank you for the email about today’s class. J. and K. thought class was really fun!
October 23, 2014
Rock Creek Forest E.S. parent, Chevy Chase, Md. Class: Lego Robotics
Thank you … for the great work! This sounds like a fabulous class and L. was glowing with excitement when he came home … They are programming! Amazing!
June 9, 2013
Westbrook E.S. parent, Bethesda, Md. Class: Storybook Science, January 2015
My girls loved the first session and came home telling me all about the rainbow and what they learned.
January 20, 2015
Murch E.S. parent, Washington, D.C. Class: Space Engineers, November 2015
My son R. loves going to the club and I love how much he is learning each week! Thanks so much!
June 11, 2014
Bradley Hills E.S. parent, Bethesda, Md. Class: Young Engineers, March 2012
[My son] had a great time …It was the perfect activity for a kid who loves to learn using hands-on activities. Out of all of the after school activities my kids have participated in over the past 5 years, this was definitely the best!
[My son] H. had only positive things to say. These sorts of activities are empowering to kids and give them confidence to learn anything …
December 17, 2014
Westover E.S. parent, Silver Spring, Md. Class: Young Engineers, May 2013
[My daughter] has really been loving all of the fun experiments! Her favorites have been the egg drop project, the catapult, and the bridge! She is learning a lot and is very excited about the class each week!
May 9, 2013
Oyster Bilingual School, Washington DC. Class: Electronics, October 2015
Thanks for this update. When I got home from a business trip, L. could not wait to tell me that he ‘lit a light bulb with batteries and play dough’… he liked it. Great work.
November 3, 2015
Gorman Crossing E.S. parent, North Laurel, Md. Class: Lego Robotics, May 2014
My daughter R. loves this class. Thanks for the updates!
June 11, 2014
Northfield E.S. parent, Ellicott City, Md. Class: Video Game Programming, March 2015
K. was so excited about what he did yesterday he didn’t even realize he was eating a healthy dinner. 🙂 Sounds like things are really coming together.”
May 1, 2015
Forcey Christian School parent, Silver Spring, Md. Class: Lego Robotics, November 2015
Thank you so much for everything! I know T. learned a lot and had a ton of fun!
This is a fantastic update. Thank you so much! I can’t get [my son] to tell me a whole lot so this helps me to ask more specific questions versus ‘how was the class?’ He really enjoyed the class a lot.
The first thing A. did at pick-up today was to open his backpack so he could show me what he made in class–it was the highlight of our evening at home, too! I look forward to seeing more projects and talking to him about the class in the coming weeks.
November 3, 2015
Ritchie Park E.S. parent, Rockville, Md. Class: Storybook Science, March 2015
J. enjoyed your class very much! We will try the canister pop this weekend. We still use the volcano. Many thanks !
Thank you so much for your weekly emails and great lessons you’ve provided our children! A. has loved it each week and felt very challenged. It’s great for him to see that simple machines and Legos can create cool things!
May 31, 2013
Bethesda E.S. parent, Bethesda, Md. Class: Robo Challenge, April 2013
C. came home raving about how “awesome” class was — told me all about his plane and how it poised for takeoff and had a moving propeller! He loved the first class and can’t wait for next week. He thinks he might like to be an engineer, so this is a rong>very cool experience for Continue Reading
April 22, 2013
Bannockburn E.S. aide, Bannockburn, Ill. Class: Lego Robotics, April 2015
I want to share what a wonderful job [your instructor] did … I was especially impressed with the manner in which he worked to make the class inclusive and meaningful for a student with special needs.
My son … told me this is his favorite after school club EVER! You totally rock and I hope that you’ve sparked some interest in engineering among the kids.
October 9, 2011
North Chevy Chase E.S. parent, Chevy Chase, Md. Class: Mindstorms, October 2012
J. is having a great time, and he particularly likes you as the instructor. He can’t stop talking about everything you did in class and gives me a step-by-step account of everything!
October 14, 2012
Forcey Christian School Parent, Silver Spring, Md. Class: Young Engineers, November 2013
She enjoyed the class and it sparked her interest each time she went. Comment from Parent Satisfaction Survey.
November 9, 2013
Girls Get Science summer camp parent, Silver Spring, Md. 2014
The hovercraft ride was such a hit that if I ever book a birthday party with you, we must have that for the attendees. The invention lab was fantastic and I loved what my girl made each day. Even I learnt so much – there is actually such a thing as conductive thread. How cool Continue Reading
July 9, 2014
Wood Acres E.S. parent, Bethesda, Md. Class: Let’s Roll Engineers, March 2015
This is great – thanks! Our son R. really loves the class.
May 1, 2015
Parent, East Silver Spring E.S., Silver Spring, Md. February 2016
I don’t think any of the previous [afterschool] instructors have sent emails about the classes so this is extremely helpful! I really appreciate it. My daughter B. loved the first robotics class! Thanks again.
This is a fantastic update. Thank you so much! I can’t get Kaveesh to tell me a whole lot so this helps me to ask more specific questions versus ‘how was the class?’ He really enjoyed the class a lot.
November 3, 2015
Wayside ES parent, Potomac, Md. Class: Lego Robotics, January 2014
“Thanks so much. My two girls loved the class ! They couldn’t say enough! Great instructor, great program.”
March 2, 2014
Spring Hill E.S. parent, McLean, Va. Class: Storybook Science, October 2012
Thank you very much for providing such a great learning opportunity for Y. and other kids at Spring Hill. Y. really loves your class and had a lot of fun.
October 9, 2012
Chabad of Silver Spring activities coordinator, Silver Spring, Md. Class: Lego Engineers, November 2013
The kids had a blast and so did I. Many children continued to ask after you had left when you were coming back!
Kindergarten – Grade 1. Scroll down for photos and reviews. Scroll down for photos and reviews.