Course Descriptions
Science & STEM: Fall 2020
Registration Is Open For Fall And Winter/Spring Semesters
Tuesdays Jewish Community Center (JJC)
NEW! Animal Kingdom Exploration
1st-2nd Grade
Tuesdays 10:00-10:50
6 Weeks: September 15, 22, 29 October 13, 20, 27 (No class October 6)
Location: Jewish Community Center of Mission Viejo (JCC)
Tuition: $140
Explore the animal kingdom by learning fascinating facts about mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and invertebrates. Students are introduced to the world of animal classification through hands on activities and games. Each week we focus on a different animal class as students create an interactive notebook to highlight learning points.
Outside Classwork: Minimal homework, under 30 minutes per week.
Instructor: Lisa Antonic
1st-2nd Grade
Tuesdays 10:00-10:50
6 Weeks: September 15, 22, 29 October 13, 20, 27 (No class October 6)
Location: Jewish Community Center of Mission Viejo (JCC)
Tuition: $140
Explore the animal kingdom by learning fascinating facts about mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and invertebrates. Students are introduced to the world of animal classification through hands on activities and games. Each week we focus on a different animal class as students create an interactive notebook to highlight learning points.
Outside Classwork: Minimal homework, under 30 minutes per week.
Instructor: Lisa Antonic
NEW! Zoology: A Study of the Animal Kingdom
3rd-5th Grade
Tuesdays 11:00-12:15
6 Weeks: September 15, 22, 29 October 13, 20, 27 (No class October 6)
Location: Jewish Community Center of Mission Viejo (JCC)
Tuition $160
Encounter zoology, the captivating branch of life sciences that pertains to animals. Students learn about the fascinating world of the animal kingdom through video presentation, observation, classification, inquiry, and hands-on activities. Using an interactive notebook, students will compile a collection of animal classification short reports.
Outside Classwork: about 1 hour per week
Instructor: Lisa Antonic
3rd-5th Grade
Tuesdays 11:00-12:15
6 Weeks: September 15, 22, 29 October 13, 20, 27 (No class October 6)
Location: Jewish Community Center of Mission Viejo (JCC)
Tuition $160
Encounter zoology, the captivating branch of life sciences that pertains to animals. Students learn about the fascinating world of the animal kingdom through video presentation, observation, classification, inquiry, and hands-on activities. Using an interactive notebook, students will compile a collection of animal classification short reports.
Outside Classwork: about 1 hour per week
Instructor: Lisa Antonic
NEW! Engineering with LEGO: Race Cars
3rd-6th Grade
Tuesdays 2:30-3:30
6 Weeks: October 27 November 3, 10, 17 December 1, 8 (No class November 24)
Location: Jewish Community Center of Mission Viejo (JCC)
Tuition $225
In our RACE CARS class, students will learn about race cars and what makes them go fast! Concepts taught include chassis construction, energy, gears, and basic electronics. Students engineer projects such as wind and rubber band powered cars and motorized dragsters! Students will also have a chance to earn a medal and receive prizes and awards on the final day!
Outside Classwork: none
Instructor: TBD
3rd-6th Grade
Tuesdays 2:30-3:30
6 Weeks: October 27 November 3, 10, 17 December 1, 8 (No class November 24)
Location: Jewish Community Center of Mission Viejo (JCC)
Tuition $225
In our RACE CARS class, students will learn about race cars and what makes them go fast! Concepts taught include chassis construction, energy, gears, and basic electronics. Students engineer projects such as wind and rubber band powered cars and motorized dragsters! Students will also have a chance to earn a medal and receive prizes and awards on the final day!
Outside Classwork: none
Instructor: TBD
NEW! Biomes and Ecosystems
3rd-5th Grade
Tuesdays 11:00-12:15
5 Weeks: November 3, 10, 17 December 1, 8 (No class November 24)
Location: Jewish Community Center of Mission Viejo (JCC)
Tuition $140
Consider how all living organisms are impacted by factors that are essential to their survival in a particular habitat. Students will develop an understanding of how a lack of just one element of a habitat (food, water, shelter, and space) can affect an organism's chance for survival. We focus on these five biomes of planet earth: rainforest, desert, grassland, tundra, and marine. Students will compile learning in an interactive notebook and engage in hands-on activities in class.
Outside Classwork: about 1 hour per week
Instructor: Lisa Antonic
3rd-5th Grade
Tuesdays 11:00-12:15
5 Weeks: November 3, 10, 17 December 1, 8 (No class November 24)
Location: Jewish Community Center of Mission Viejo (JCC)
Tuition $140
Consider how all living organisms are impacted by factors that are essential to their survival in a particular habitat. Students will develop an understanding of how a lack of just one element of a habitat (food, water, shelter, and space) can affect an organism's chance for survival. We focus on these five biomes of planet earth: rainforest, desert, grassland, tundra, and marine. Students will compile learning in an interactive notebook and engage in hands-on activities in class.
Outside Classwork: about 1 hour per week
Instructor: Lisa Antonic
NEW! Animal Habitats & Food Chains
1st-2nd Grade
Tuesdays 10:00-10:50
5 Weeks: November 3, 10, 17 December 1, 8 (No class November 24)
Location: Jewish Community Center of Mission Viejo (JCC)
Tuition $120
How do desert animals keep cool? Why are fires important to the grasslands? How do rain forests keep our planet cool? Learn all this and more as we take a look at the plants and animals interact in deserts, grasslands, forests, ocean, and arctic habitats. Students engage in hands on activities and assemble an interactive notebook to reflect their learning.
Outside Classwork: Minimal homework, under 30 minutes per week.
Instructor: Lisa Antonic
1st-2nd Grade
Tuesdays 10:00-10:50
5 Weeks: November 3, 10, 17 December 1, 8 (No class November 24)
Location: Jewish Community Center of Mission Viejo (JCC)
Tuition $120
How do desert animals keep cool? Why are fires important to the grasslands? How do rain forests keep our planet cool? Learn all this and more as we take a look at the plants and animals interact in deserts, grasslands, forests, ocean, and arctic habitats. Students engage in hands on activities and assemble an interactive notebook to reflect their learning.
Outside Classwork: Minimal homework, under 30 minutes per week.
Instructor: Lisa Antonic
Thursdays Jewish Community Center
NEW! Engineering With LEGO: Super Structures
1st-3rd Grade
Thursdays 10:00-11:00
6 Weeks: September 10, 17, 24 October 1, 15, 22 (No class October 8)
Location: Jewish Community Center (JCC)
Tuition: $225
This is a fun, hands-on class where students will learn the fundamentals of structural engineering and architecture while using LEGO® bricks! Students will learn concepts such as force, joints, strong shapes, and engineering fundamentals. Challenges include building a structure strong enough to survive our famous Box Cannon and seeing how strong their bridge is on our Bridge Crusher.
Outside Classwork: None
Instructor: TBD
1st-3rd Grade
Thursdays 10:00-11:00
6 Weeks: September 10, 17, 24 October 1, 15, 22 (No class October 8)
Location: Jewish Community Center (JCC)
Tuition: $225
This is a fun, hands-on class where students will learn the fundamentals of structural engineering and architecture while using LEGO® bricks! Students will learn concepts such as force, joints, strong shapes, and engineering fundamentals. Challenges include building a structure strong enough to survive our famous Box Cannon and seeing how strong their bridge is on our Bridge Crusher.
Outside Classwork: None
Instructor: TBD
NEW! Junior Engineers' Workshop: Robotics for Kids
1st-3rd Grade
Thursdays 10:00-11:00
6 Weeks: October 29 November 5, 12, 19 December 3, 10 (No class November 26)
Location: Jewish Community Center (JCC)
Tuition: $315
Students will get to build and program robots! They'll learn how circuits work and build their own out of different materials. They'll also learn about basic sensors and build robots that move based on hand motions and their own computer programs.
Outside Classwork: None
Instructor: TBD
1st-3rd Grade
Thursdays 10:00-11:00
6 Weeks: October 29 November 5, 12, 19 December 3, 10 (No class November 26)
Location: Jewish Community Center (JCC)
Tuition: $315
Students will get to build and program robots! They'll learn how circuits work and build their own out of different materials. They'll also learn about basic sensors and build robots that move based on hand motions and their own computer programs.
Outside Classwork: None
Instructor: TBD
Thursdays YMCA
NEW! S.T.E.A.M. Series - Marine Science
4th-8th Grade
Thursdays 2:15-3:30
7 Weeks: September 10, 17, 24 October 1, 8, 15, 22
Location : Mission Viejo Family YMCA
Tuition: $260
Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (S.T.E.A.M) is a deliberate integration of different areas of study to create more authentic learning experience. The ocean covers 71% of the Earth’s surface and is a critical part of life on Earth. In Marine Science, students will focus on science related to habitats and animal adaptations in the ocean with a look at how humans impact ocean ecology. Marine scientists will observe biotic and abiotic items for artistic inspiration and to drive exploration of biomimicry for engineering applications.
This class will include a field trip to the tide pools to apply learning from the classroom to the real world. (Friday, October 16th at 2:30pm in Dana Point.)
Outside Classwork: May include online research to prepare for class, collecting data or samples, and completion of art or engineering projects started in class. About 1 hour.
Instructor: Laura Wong
4th-8th Grade
Thursdays 2:15-3:30
7 Weeks: September 10, 17, 24 October 1, 8, 15, 22
Location : Mission Viejo Family YMCA
Tuition: $260
Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (S.T.E.A.M) is a deliberate integration of different areas of study to create more authentic learning experience. The ocean covers 71% of the Earth’s surface and is a critical part of life on Earth. In Marine Science, students will focus on science related to habitats and animal adaptations in the ocean with a look at how humans impact ocean ecology. Marine scientists will observe biotic and abiotic items for artistic inspiration and to drive exploration of biomimicry for engineering applications.
This class will include a field trip to the tide pools to apply learning from the classroom to the real world. (Friday, October 16th at 2:30pm in Dana Point.)
Outside Classwork: May include online research to prepare for class, collecting data or samples, and completion of art or engineering projects started in class. About 1 hour.
Instructor: Laura Wong
NEW! S.T.E.A.M. Series - Science of Cooking
4th-8th Grade
Thursdays 2:15-3:30
6 Weeks: October 29 November 5, 12, 19 December 3, 10 (No class November 26)
Location : Mission Viejo Family YMCA
Tuition: $225
Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (S.T.E.A.M) is a deliberate integration of different areas of study to create more authentic learning experience. Welcoming all students who want an introduction to the whys and hows of cooking. In the Science of Cooking class, students will investigate the scientific concepts such as osmosis and diffusion, emulsification, and temperature. Students will integrate quantitative and qualitative measurements that are foundational to science, and create a recipe based on their learning.
Outside Classwork: May include online research to prepare for class, cooking (parental guidance required), and completion of art or engineering projects started in class. About 1 hour.
Instructor: Laura Wong
4th-8th Grade
Thursdays 2:15-3:30
6 Weeks: October 29 November 5, 12, 19 December 3, 10 (No class November 26)
Location : Mission Viejo Family YMCA
Tuition: $225
Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (S.T.E.A.M) is a deliberate integration of different areas of study to create more authentic learning experience. Welcoming all students who want an introduction to the whys and hows of cooking. In the Science of Cooking class, students will investigate the scientific concepts such as osmosis and diffusion, emulsification, and temperature. Students will integrate quantitative and qualitative measurements that are foundational to science, and create a recipe based on their learning.
Outside Classwork: May include online research to prepare for class, cooking (parental guidance required), and completion of art or engineering projects started in class. About 1 hour.
Instructor: Laura Wong
Course Descriptions
Science & STEM: Winter and Spring 2021
Tuesdays Jewish Community Center (JJC)
NEW! Botany Investigating Plant Life
3rd-5th Grade
Tuesdays 11:00-12:15
6 Weeks: January 12, 19, 26 February 2, 9, 16
Location: Jewish Community Center of Mission Viejo (JCC)
Tuition $160
Kingdom Plantae includes the largest and tallest living organisms on earth, as well as some of the smallest. Become a botanist-in-training as students take a close-up look at the parts of various plants: cells, leaves, flowers, fruits and seeds, non-flowering plants, stems and roots. Students build a botany section within their interactive science notebooks and engage in hands-on activities in class and at home.
Outside Classwork: About an hour a week.
Instructor: Lisa Antonic
3rd-5th Grade
Tuesdays 11:00-12:15
6 Weeks: January 12, 19, 26 February 2, 9, 16
Location: Jewish Community Center of Mission Viejo (JCC)
Tuition $160
Kingdom Plantae includes the largest and tallest living organisms on earth, as well as some of the smallest. Become a botanist-in-training as students take a close-up look at the parts of various plants: cells, leaves, flowers, fruits and seeds, non-flowering plants, stems and roots. Students build a botany section within their interactive science notebooks and engage in hands-on activities in class and at home.
Outside Classwork: About an hour a week.
Instructor: Lisa Antonic
NEW! Plants Alive!
1st-2nd Grade
Tuesdays 10:00-10:50
6 Weeks: January 12, 19, 26 February 2, 9, 16
Location: Jewish Community Center of Mission Viejo (JCC)
Tuition $140
Grab a magnifying glass and take a close look at the fascinating living world of plants. Young botanists will observe and work with live plants as we study the various parts of plants, the plant life cycle and the necessary functions plants provide for all living things.
Outside Classwork: Minimal homework, under 30 minutes per week.
Instructor: Lisa Antonic
1st-2nd Grade
Tuesdays 10:00-10:50
6 Weeks: January 12, 19, 26 February 2, 9, 16
Location: Jewish Community Center of Mission Viejo (JCC)
Tuition $140
Grab a magnifying glass and take a close look at the fascinating living world of plants. Young botanists will observe and work with live plants as we study the various parts of plants, the plant life cycle and the necessary functions plants provide for all living things.
Outside Classwork: Minimal homework, under 30 minutes per week.
Instructor: Lisa Antonic
NEW! Our Amazing Human Body
1st-2nd Grade
Tuesdays 10:00- 10:50
6 Weeks: February 23 March 2, 23 April 13, 20, 27 (No class March 11, 18, 30 April 6)
Location: Jewish Community Center of Mission Viejo (JCC)
Tuition $140
Take a journey through the six major systems that make up our human body. With hands-on activities and models, students will learn about the skeletal, muscular, nervous, circulatory, respiratory and digestive systems.
Outside Classwork: Minimal homework, under 30 minutes per week.
Instructor: Lisa Antonic
1st-2nd Grade
Tuesdays 10:00- 10:50
6 Weeks: February 23 March 2, 23 April 13, 20, 27 (No class March 11, 18, 30 April 6)
Location: Jewish Community Center of Mission Viejo (JCC)
Tuition $140
Take a journey through the six major systems that make up our human body. With hands-on activities and models, students will learn about the skeletal, muscular, nervous, circulatory, respiratory and digestive systems.
Outside Classwork: Minimal homework, under 30 minutes per week.
Instructor: Lisa Antonic
NEW! Human Anatomy & Physiology
3rd-5th Grade
Tuesdays 11:00-12:15
6 Weeks: February 23, March 2, 23, April 13, 20, 27 (No class March 9th, 11, 30 April 6)
Location: Jewish Community Center of Mission Viejo (JCC)
Tuition $160
Learn fascinating facts about six of the systems that make up our human body. With hands-on activities and models, students will begin with cells and then dive into the skeletal, muscular, nervous, circulatory, respiratory and digestive systems. Students will learn through hands on experiments and complete labeled diagrams of the body systems during our journey into anatomy.
Outside Classwork: About an hour a week
Instructor: Lisa Antonic
3rd-5th Grade
Tuesdays 11:00-12:15
6 Weeks: February 23, March 2, 23, April 13, 20, 27 (No class March 9th, 11, 30 April 6)
Location: Jewish Community Center of Mission Viejo (JCC)
Tuition $160
Learn fascinating facts about six of the systems that make up our human body. With hands-on activities and models, students will begin with cells and then dive into the skeletal, muscular, nervous, circulatory, respiratory and digestive systems. Students will learn through hands on experiments and complete labeled diagrams of the body systems during our journey into anatomy.
Outside Classwork: About an hour a week
Instructor: Lisa Antonic
NEW! Robotics: Building Simple Machines
3rd-6th Grade
Tuesdays 2:30-3:30
6 Weeks: January 12, 19, 26, February 2, 9, 16
Location: Jewish Community Center (JCC)
Tuition: $315
We will be exploring simple machines: wheel and axle, pulley, inclined plane, wedge, lever, screw and then will combine them together to make working models of real-life machines like catapults, stationary bikes, helicopters, and more. At the end, students will get the chance to come up with their own crazy and complicated contraptions.
Outside Classwork: None
Instructor: TBD
3rd-6th Grade
Tuesdays 2:30-3:30
6 Weeks: January 12, 19, 26, February 2, 9, 16
Location: Jewish Community Center (JCC)
Tuition: $315
We will be exploring simple machines: wheel and axle, pulley, inclined plane, wedge, lever, screw and then will combine them together to make working models of real-life machines like catapults, stationary bikes, helicopters, and more. At the end, students will get the chance to come up with their own crazy and complicated contraptions.
Outside Classwork: None
Instructor: TBD
NEW! Engineering with LEGO: Robo Olympics
3rd-6th Grade
Tuesdays 2:30-3:30
6 Weeks: February 23, March 2, 23 April 6, 13, 20 (No class March 9, 16, 30)
Location: Jewish Community Center (JCC)
Tuition: $225
It’s Robo Olympics! This fun twist on the Olympics will have students challenged and thinking as they engineer “bots” in order to compete in different Olympic Games such as high jump, basketball, soccer, discus throw, and boxing. Concepts taught will include compression springs, levers, gears and energy.
Outside Classwork: None
Instructor: TBD
3rd-6th Grade
Tuesdays 2:30-3:30
6 Weeks: February 23, March 2, 23 April 6, 13, 20 (No class March 9, 16, 30)
Location: Jewish Community Center (JCC)
Tuition: $225
It’s Robo Olympics! This fun twist on the Olympics will have students challenged and thinking as they engineer “bots” in order to compete in different Olympic Games such as high jump, basketball, soccer, discus throw, and boxing. Concepts taught will include compression springs, levers, gears and energy.
Outside Classwork: None
Instructor: TBD
Thursdays Jewish Community Center (JCC)
NEW! Engineering With LEGO: Machines in Motion
1st-3rd Grade
Thursdays 10:00-11:00
6 Weeks: January 14, 21, 28 February 4, 11, 18
Location: Jewish Community Center (JCC)
Tuition: $225
Join us as we explore the world of machines! Students will be learning concepts such as gears, levers, basic electronics and mechanical advantage while building projects such as a mechanical golf club, a spinning top machine, and Snappy the Alligator! This is a fun and challenging class and is recommended for students 1st grade and up.
Outside Classwork: None
Instructor: TBD
1st-3rd Grade
Thursdays 10:00-11:00
6 Weeks: January 14, 21, 28 February 4, 11, 18
Location: Jewish Community Center (JCC)
Tuition: $225
Join us as we explore the world of machines! Students will be learning concepts such as gears, levers, basic electronics and mechanical advantage while building projects such as a mechanical golf club, a spinning top machine, and Snappy the Alligator! This is a fun and challenging class and is recommended for students 1st grade and up.
Outside Classwork: None
Instructor: TBD
Thursdays YMCA
NEW! S.T.E.A.M. Series - Weather Watchers
4th-8th Grade
Thursdays 2:15-3:30
6 Weeks: January 14, 21, 28 February 4, 11, 18
Location: Mission Viejo Family YMCA
Tuition: $225
Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (S.T.E.A.M.) is a deliberate integration of different areas of study to create more authentic learning experience. It is not just about temperature. Come learn how winds form on a global and local scale. Explore the effects of temperature on air and water currents and how that impacts climate. In this class, students collect data about their local climates and learn about ways that scientists collect and assess data to predict weather and forecast climate change.
Outside Classwork: May include online research to prepare for class, collecting data or samples, and completion of art or engineering projects started in class. About 1 hour.
Instructor: Laura Wong
4th-8th Grade
Thursdays 2:15-3:30
6 Weeks: January 14, 21, 28 February 4, 11, 18
Location: Mission Viejo Family YMCA
Tuition: $225
Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (S.T.E.A.M.) is a deliberate integration of different areas of study to create more authentic learning experience. It is not just about temperature. Come learn how winds form on a global and local scale. Explore the effects of temperature on air and water currents and how that impacts climate. In this class, students collect data about their local climates and learn about ways that scientists collect and assess data to predict weather and forecast climate change.
Outside Classwork: May include online research to prepare for class, collecting data or samples, and completion of art or engineering projects started in class. About 1 hour.
Instructor: Laura Wong
NEW! S.T.E.A.M. Series - Plant Science
4th-8th Grade
Thursdays 2:15-3:30
7 Weeks: February 25, March 4, 25, April 1, 15, 22, 29 (No class March 11, 18 April 8)
Location: Mission Viejo Family YMCA
Tuition: $265
.
Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (S.T.E.A.M.) is a deliberate integration of different areas of study to create more authentic learning experience. In this class students will dive into the anatomy of a variety of different plants and learn about how structure determines the ways that plants get energy and water. Students will use their knowledge of what plants need to design an ideal growing platform for a variety of plants.
Homework: May include online research to prepare for class, care for their plants, and completion of art or engineering projects started in class. About 1 hour.
Outside Classwork: TBD
Instructor: Laura Wong
4th-8th Grade
Thursdays 2:15-3:30
7 Weeks: February 25, March 4, 25, April 1, 15, 22, 29 (No class March 11, 18 April 8)
Location: Mission Viejo Family YMCA
Tuition: $265
.
Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (S.T.E.A.M.) is a deliberate integration of different areas of study to create more authentic learning experience. In this class students will dive into the anatomy of a variety of different plants and learn about how structure determines the ways that plants get energy and water. Students will use their knowledge of what plants need to design an ideal growing platform for a variety of plants.
Homework: May include online research to prepare for class, care for their plants, and completion of art or engineering projects started in class. About 1 hour.
Outside Classwork: TBD
Instructor: Laura Wong
Thursdays Jewish Community Center (JJC)
Note: Classes that do not meet the 8 student minimum may need to be cancelled or rescheduled.
NEW! Engineering with LEGO: Crazy Contraptions
1st-3rd Grade
Thursdays 10:00-11:00
6 Weeks: February 25, March 4, 25 April 8, 15, 22 (No Class March 11, 18 April 1)
Location: Jewish Community Center (JCC)
Tuition:$225
We are engineering some “crazy” things in this class! From mechanical golf clubs to scissor lifts to designing a Rube-Goldberg contraption, we will be learning about crazy contraptions that are super fun to build. Concepts taught include force, Newton’s Law of Motion, gearing, and more.
Outside Classwork: None
Instructor: TBD
1st-3rd Grade
Thursdays 10:00-11:00
6 Weeks: February 25, March 4, 25 April 8, 15, 22 (No Class March 11, 18 April 1)
Location: Jewish Community Center (JCC)
Tuition:$225
We are engineering some “crazy” things in this class! From mechanical golf clubs to scissor lifts to designing a Rube-Goldberg contraption, we will be learning about crazy contraptions that are super fun to build. Concepts taught include force, Newton’s Law of Motion, gearing, and more.
Outside Classwork: None
Instructor: TBD