Celebrate National Video Games Day on September 12th. While the date and origin of this holiday are unclear, many Americans have decided to designate this day for video games. Why pass up the opportunity to celebrate with them? Here are three ways to enjoy honor this holiday.
Play from home.
Take a cue from gamers all over the world in 2020. Last year, millions turned to video games to have fun and stay connected during the pandemic. According to MarketWatch, video games became a bigger industry than film and North American sports combined due to the pandemic.1
Go old-school.
While video games are now dominated by at-home gaming consoles like the XBox or Playstation, now is a great time to revisit the classics. Gather friends and visit an arcade to bask in the nostalgia of timeless games like Pac-man, Space Invaders, and Pong.
Create with your favorite video games.
Games like Minecraft, Roblox, and Animal Crossing have exploded again in popularity this year. These games all have something in common: the creative element. Within these games, players have the freedom to create their own mini-games, whether it’s roleplaying, designing your own worlds, or even coding your own add-ons. Collaborate with other players to use video games as a creative outlet, or even learn to code your own games!
Join millions of chess fans in their love for the world’s most popular board game to celebrate American Chess Day on September 1st!
Chess tournaments, clubs, and classes continue to attract devoted members of the chess community. Whether you’re a professional or a beginner, there’s something for everyone.
Chess is one of the most ancient, intellectual and cultural games, with a combination of sport, scientific thinking and elements of art. As an affordable and inclusive activity, it can be exercised anywhere and played by all, across the barriers of language, age, gender, physical ability or social status.1
2020 was a huge year for chess.
While people were staying at home during the pandemic, chess was the perfect way to connect with others online. Chess enthusiasm in the US spiked even more with the release of the incredibly popular Netflix Series, The Queen’s Gambit.
With no in-person events to attend, chess masters streamed themselves playing chess. Online chess platforms were overwhelmed with new players. The number of games played on online in 2020 were up 66% from pre-pandemic times.2
Computers are now better than people at chess.
In the late 1980s, computers became capable of beating strong chess players. In 1988, the computer Deep Thought became the first computer to defeat a grandmaster in a tournament game.3 Now, even the world champion doesn’t stand a chance against the leading computer.
All schoolchildren learn chess in Armenia.
Starting from 2011, chess was taught as a school subject just like reading or math in Armenian schools. It’s the first country in the world to include chess as a subject in primary schools. With all the benefits that chess has for kids—creative thinking, spatial reasoning, and concentration—it’s no wonder that this country has made chess a compulsory class for everyone.
There are over 2,000 variations of chess.
Most believe that chess began over 1400 years ago in India.4 However, as it’s spread across the world, games like Chinese chess and Japanese chess have evolved to become popular games as well. Today, international chess is standardized by the International Chess Federation, which was started in 1924.
Ben Franklin loved chess!
You can thank founding father Ben Franklin for American Chess Day. Although the United States Chess Federation started in 1939, Ben Franklin was an avid chess player and even published an essay about the benefits of chess in 1786.
Celebrate American Chess Day by joining a community of chess players, whether you’re just beginning or an experienced player.
boy student video conference e-learning with teacher and classmates on computer in living room at home. Homeschooling and distance learning ,online ,education and internet.
The Fall Activity Guide:
Online Classes Edition
The best online classes & activities for kids in Fall 2021 - including after school, weekend, and drop-in programs.
The Official Fall Activity Guide 2021 features our most popular and trending classes on ActivityHero that can be attended from home – including academic support & tutoring, music, coding, art, LEGO®, and more! Learn more about updated programs for Fall 2021 – including curriculum, group sizes, and flexible schedules.
The New York Society of Play provides online game workshops over zoom, focusing on social and emotional development for kids ages 6-13. Come play Dungeons and Dragons, Minecraft, Pokemon Battles, and more! Our childcare specialists are experts at fostering growth through cooperative gameplay.
Choreography by Rae is a performing arts & creative arts educational center that has provided self-confidence boosting programming since 2015. Founded by Rae Wilson (aka Ms. Rae) in New York City, as a way to help people of all ages amplify their voice through movement. Our motto is anyone can dance, even if you have 2 left feet. This 100% female-owned, black-owned business is proud to now offer more than dance.
Founded by former Google Product Director and Stanford graduates, Create & Learn is an award winning online computer science education program for grades K-12. We offer 25+ fun topics including Scratch coding, Minecraft coding, Python, Robotics, AI, Arduino, Cloud Computing and many more. Save 25% off, ending soon!
Experience Galileo-style innovation all year long with our online after-school club for Kindergarten – 5th graders. Designed to complement school-day learning with fun, hands-on projects, Innovator’s Club delivers joyful enrichment on a convenient weekly schedule. Give your kids something new to craft, construct or invent every week. Now through September 10, save 30% off the Fall session!
VoicED offers public speaking, grammar and academic writing classes, and SAT/ACT/PSAT preparation classes. All classes are led under the instruction of the CEO and Founder, Ava – Mariya Gencheva. Mrs. Gencheva has been an educator for the past 18 years, graduating thousands of students as a director and empowering a countless number of her students to debate, speak, write, publish, win competitions and get into Ivy League schools.
The Art in Science was developed by a scientist and an artist to Instill a love of science in young kids (ages 4-12) via an innovative curriculum. In this unique program, the kids learn various science topics (Astronomy, Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Engineering, and more) with hands-on activities that turn into interesting artworks pleasing to the eye and intriguing to the mind.
Join forces with international award-winning astronomer and consultant to NASA, Kevin Manning, a man on no ordinary mission. Kevin founded Look Up to the Stars with a mission to generate interest and foster scientific literacy in students nationwide through the delivery of awe-inspiring, educational and entertaining astronomy programs.
Kiddy School offers one-on-one and group online classes for K-12 kids for the following programs: Programming (Scratch, Roblox, Minecraft, Python, Mobile App Development, and more), Math, Digital and fine art, Photo and Video Editing, Computer Science, SAT Prep, and so much more. Our teachers are regularly trained by our Lead teachers who are Google and Microsoft certified specialists.
Communication Academy offers specialized enrichment courses to grade K-12 students, including: Public Speaking, Debate, Writing, Reading and Math courses. Classes offer a new curriculum every week with experienced professional instructors in a small 12:1 ratio so that students can receive individual attention.
BrainStorm provides educational programs focused on creating the next generation of innovators and thinkers by allowing kids to explore the wonders of STEM during their critical formative years from 1st Grade through High School. BrainStorm’s programs allow students imaginations to come to life as they discover mechanical and structural principles of simple machines, build robots, create code or make their own video game.
Pretty Pony Pastures offers high quality, interactive programs for Scouts and anyone who enjoys being outdoors. Ms. Linda, lead instructor at Pretty Pony Pastures, is dedicated to encouraging children to learn about nature. She is a Project Wild, Wild Turkey, and Aquatic Wild facilitator as well as a life member of Girl Scouts. Virtual Scout Badges include topics such as Junior Gardener Badge, Brownie Bugs Badge, Junior Animal Habitats, and so much more.
NR Computer Learning Center (NRCLC) provides hands-on and online afterschool/weekend computer training to kids in coding, programming languages, Robotics, Video Editing, and Website design. NRCLC also offers live online exam prep classes for AP Computer Science and Microsoft certification exams.
Firecracker Math enrichment program offers kids Grades K – 11 a broad variety of age-appropriate yet challenging math topics and activities and enhances their natural abilities and understanding of mathematics. In our math classes, we will show your child that math can be incredibly creative, exciting, and fun. The Fall Term starts the week of September 13th.
Pintsize Fitness & Sports was developed in order to introduce children to exercise in a positive, fun environment where they will gain the skills to build healthy habits that will last them a lifetime. Studies show that children who begin exercising at a young age have increased self-esteem, earn better grades and continue to lead healthy, active lives into adulthood! Now offering virtual Sports, Martial Arts and Fitness classes for children age 2 to age 12.
Kodeclik is an online coding and math academy for kids and teens, offering online live and video classes in Scratch, Python, JavaScript, Minecraft, Roblox TinkerCAD, and more. The company was founded in 2015 by two parents who were teaching their 5 year old to code with Scratch Jr. Kodeclik shows kids the exciting and endless possibilities there are once they learn to code.
Give them something to look forward to after school! Dragonfly Designs offers virtual Afterschool Art Camps for ages 5 to 12 that let kids unwind, unplug and use their imagination. You (and they) will be amazed at what they learn to create. With projects in Tie Dye, Cartooning, Painting, Fashion Design, Clay, Jewelry Making and more, there’s something for every interest!
At ClasShare, we believe that every kid has the potential to become an author, a speaker, an entrepreneur, a leader, or an actor! Our classes have been carefully designed to help master skills and promote confidence, with offerings such as Public Speaking, Creative Writing, Acting, Money and Time Management, establishing friendships, filmmaking, and more!
At Toc Toc, we believe in learning Spanish the way we learn our first language: through games, music, having fun and getting fascinated by the sound of words. Our class is the perfect opportunity to expose your baby to a second language right when the “language learning window” opens – starting at 2 years old. Accompanied by parents or caregivers, children start learning Spanish through a variety of activities such as singing simple, rhythmic songs and dance, all from the comfort of home!
Cooking Round the World is delighted to be able to offer your children engaging, fun and delicious online classes. An online class includes map education, fun facts about the country or state selected, a slide show showing cultural nuances, cooking dishes representative of the country or state, and ending with a lively rendition of a country’s folktale.
Talentnook is a platform where you can find all the help and learning resources you need to guide your child towards success. We are here to be the personal guide for every learner, providing them with resources like tutors, programs, advice, consultation – helping them every step of the way to advance in their learning journey. Talentnook has tutors for different subjects like Math, creative writing, English, Spanish, vocal and so much more.
Classes and Camps at Young Creatives School of Art are designed to teach young artists how to create and learn skills in an encouraging, fun-filled environment. We explore favorite themes that include pets, wildlife, aquatic life, drawing inspiration from nature as well as kid friendly themes such as sweet treats and exploring imagination. We offer live online after school classes and semester art classes.
Evolution Academic Speaking Excellence offers virtual public speaking classes for kids after-school and during school holiday breaks. We are an educational institution focused on working with every student on their path and journey towards mastering the art and skill of communicating effectively. Class topics include TED Talk & Debating, Entrepreneurship, Project Management, and more.
Art~Design~Creativity offers meaningful experiences and services for the community. We are unique in our industry, with programs that bring art, design, and creativity to be incorporated into real life. Virtual classes include Art & Creativity Club and Spanish Club.
Super Skills with a Real Life Twist! In today’s busy world kids need a special place where they can learn, practice, and develop the leadership skills needed for a successful life. Kid Power Academy Coaching Center provides this opportunity! Our kids build confidence in their ideas and themselves during our “learn as you lead” program. Our experience-driven method literally transforms shy kids into confident kids as they eagerly exchange ideas as: Entrepreneurs, Senators, Authors and more!
At ALOHA Mind Math, we are passionate about visual math and inspiring kids to develop confidence and agility in math. Did you know math is rooted in our visual neural networks? This STEM program will present math in a hands-on, engaging and fun environment. Your child will learn to do math on the abacus and mental math techniques. Watch your child develop confidence and agility with numbers. This class will broaden your child’s understanding of math as they realize they can be math rock stars. Small, instructor led classes online.
InternMart cultivates high school students academically and professionally by connecting them to real-world internship experiences near them. We strive to offer quality learning opportunities for the youth of today, the future of tomorrow.
Wiz Kid Coding is one of North America’s leading Coding and STEM education companies focused exclusively on creating and delivering innovative coding and digital literacy programs for kids between the ages of 3 to 17. Our programs have won great reviews from parents, educators and, most importantly, many of the children who participate in our programs! Virtual classes include Roblox, Minecraft, Scratch, and more.
Code Wiz offers a wide range of individualized STEM programs for kids aged 7-17, each tailored to the students’ skill level. Watch your kids expand their creativity through computer science! Our approach is student-driven, project-based learning. We offer classes for Robotics, Minecraft modding, Roblox, Game design, Animations, Digital Art, Mobile app development, Java, Python, and more.
The road of American ingenuity runs through Silicon Valley, where the tech experts and thought leaders of today shape the future of the nation’s tomorrow. The camps and classes of Siliconvalley4u help aspiring engineers and seasoned tech professionals alike stay ahead of the ever-accelerating pace of technological development. Whether they’re learning to build apps in Java, Python, Mobile apps, operate 3D printers, or build robots from scratch, youngsters benefit from personalized, hands-on instruction from the center’s resident experts.
Founded in 2012, Coderise focuses on Software development training. It is our mission to teach kids age 8-12 the digital skills they require in today’s digitized world. They learn basic programming skills by creating websites and online games – including Minecraft, Roblox, and web development.
At Firefly Dance, we’re always grooving! There’s such an inherent joy in moving, one children can easily tap into. I strive to highlight that joy through imaginative games, songs, and stories while learning technique in a structured setting. Whether it’s your toddler or tween -or any age in between- we’re bound to get a little silly and make it incredibly fun to dance from your home!
With its high-end training, performance, structured, and progressive curriculum, One Voice Institute of Music and Art (OVIMA), is a global and full-scale complete performing and visual arts institute. OVIMA has three main divisions – Western Music, Indian Music and World Music, offering classes in all instruments, as well as in musicianship subjects such as music theory, sight reading, and more.
StudyPlum offers affordable online classes for K-12 with licensed teachers, small class sizes and live instruction. Classes include academic topics such as 1st Grade Reading, 6th Grade Math, 7th Grade Social Studies, American History, Geometry, and more. Get a heads start on the new school year with 20% off, ending soon!
Beyond the diverse set of online programs we have to offer, what is special about Ivy Camps USA Online is that we take an interdisciplinary approach to remote instruction whereby we foster growth, encourage exploration, and sustain motivation through play and thought-provoking games. Classes include a wide range of topics, including: outer space, public speaking, backyard biology, acting, and more.
Learn to Design, Build, Code, and build Cognitive and Soft Skills! at Wize Computing Academy offers a comprehensive and scalable form of coding education that encourages creativity and builds and strengthens logical reasoning in young learners. Classes in Scratch, Python, Vex Robotics, Roblox Game Design, and more are all fun and project-based.
Pixical Piano Learning strive to remove barriers of distance, time & boredom to help children enjoy the process or learning piano. We do this by delivering a masterclass experience through our empathetic & inspiring teachers, modern pedagogy, handcrafted product experience combined with loads of fun. The Pixical Curio online program offers 1:1 instruction, studio performance class each week, exclusive access to a community to discuss all things piano, and much more!
Lady V’s Finishing School believes that manners are a very important life skill. In the Manners Matter class, children will learn manners appropriate for the 3-10 age range. This will include what etiquette/manners are, what words are used to express our good manners, making introductions, and talking on the telephone. We will learn about setting a table, thank you notes, and much more.
The best classes, workshops & activities for kids in Fall 2021 - including after school, weekend, and drop-in programs.
The Official Fall Activity Guide 2021 features our most popular and trending classes on ActivityHero in the San Francisco East Bay area – including academic support & tutoring, music, coding, art, LEGO®, and more! Learn more about updated programs for Fall 2021 – including curriculum, group sizes, and available schedules.
Set in a fun, non-competitive environment, Super Soccer Stars, offers the nation’s most popular children’s soccer program for kids ages 1-18. Super Soccer Stars offers a unique, age-specific curriculum that is crafted to improve soccer skills, build self-confidence, and develop socialization skills. Check out one of our in-person classes, camps, or soccer pods this fall.
Here at Mathnasium of Newark-Union City, we help kids in grades 1-12 understand math by teaching the way that makes sense to them. Our specially trained math instructors will teach your child how to understand math in an individual setting – our unique approach enables us to effectively explain math concepts and lend a helping hand to every student. Our tutors foster a caring, encouraging environment that helps kids thrive and learn!
Firecracker Math enrichment program offers kids Grades K – 11 a broad variety of age-appropriate yet challenging math topics and activities and enhances their natural abilities and understanding of mathematics. In our math classes, we will show your child that math can be incredibly creative, exciting, and fun. The Fall Term starts the week of September 13th.
Next Level Sports operates locations throughout California – including Berkeley, Castro Valley, Moraga, and more . Our flag football, basketball and volleyball programs are available to all youth participants from Kindergarten through 8th grade. Prior experience is not required! We offer community centric league programs where kids play with their friends, classmates and/or buddies.
Whether you’re a beginner or intermediate artist, The Artist Center has an art education for you! Our students receive quality instruction that is sound in structure and unique in its training. We give the artist an opportunity to explore their skills, ideas and talents and grow throughout each class. They will also benefit by receiving individual guidance from professional instructors in all projects.
GrowFit Camp provides a safe place for children to learn and play. Our campers discover new passions, engage in a variety of sports and group games and learn the value of teamwork and sportsmanship. Our unique, age-appropriate games and challenges help children build self-confidence, develop relationships and have lots of fun!
Enjoy the benefits of playing tennis with Euro School of Tennis, located in the beautiful San Francisco Bay Area. We offer a full array of tennis programs for children and adults including: Group Tennis Classes, Junior Tennis Development Programs, School Break Camps, and Private Tennis Lessons.
The best classes, workshops & activities for kids in Fall 2021 - including after school, weekend, and drop-in programs.
The Official Fall Activity Guide 2021 features our most popular and trending classes on ActivityHero in Dallas, TX – including music, coding, art, sports, fitness, and more! Learn more about updated programs for Fall 2021 – including curriculum, group sizes, and available schedules.
Next Level Sports operates locations in Dallas, University Park, and West Lake Hills, TX. Our flag football, basketball and volleyball programs are available to all youth participants from Kindergarten through 8th grade. Prior experience is not required! We offer community centric league programs where kids play with their friends, classmates and/or buddies.
Wize Computing Academy offers coding and robotics online classes, camps, after-school, in-school and weekend classes for kids 4-16. We are a project-based and student-orientated program that follows computer science standards and adopts best practices for creative learning used by MIT Media Lab.
Stage Notes is the highest-rated music school in the Hurst/North Richland Hills and Keller/N Ft Worth areas! We offer private lessons in a large variety of instruments as well as voice lessons, group classes, summer camps, and art!
MPM Conservatory (Music Place Mansfield) provides music lessons and acting lessons beginning age 5 through adult! Our goal is to help our students grow their gifts and talents, while encouraging a life long love of music, theatre, and the performing arts!
Our wide range of lessons include: Group Piano, Group Voice, Musical Theatre, Acting, Group Drums, Group Ukulele, and Private music lessons.
Urban Youth Park Denton is an an indoor recreation center and family fun center in Denton, TX.
We provide a great place where family and friends can try out the many fun activities we have on offer to stay active and fit – including Parkour, Bootcamp, and Educational Fitness for youth and adults. We have day care services where kids can enjoy our indoor playground or have a private and quiet space for themselves.
Pandemonium Music Academy offers Music Lessons, Summer Camps, RockStar Birthday Parties at our Keller Tx Studios. Our degreed instructors know their music and impart that on our students. We also know that an element of fun will foster their love for their instrument and a passion for music.
The best classes, workshops & activities for kids in Fall 2021 - including after school, weekend, and drop-in programs.
The Official Fall Activity Guide 2021 features our most popular and trending classes on ActivityHero in Los Angeles and Orange County – including academic support & tutoring, music, coding, art, sports, and more! Learn more about updated programs for Fall 2021 – including curriculum, group sizes, and available schedules.
Next Level Sports operates locations throughout California – including Bellflower and Santa Barbara. Our flag football, basketball and volleyball programs are available to all youth participants from Kindergarten through 8th grade. Prior experience is not required! We offer community centric league programs where kids play with their friends, classmates and/or buddies.
Set in a fun, non-competitive environment, Super Soccer Stars, offers the nation’s most popular children’s soccer program for kids ages 1-18. Super Soccer Stars offers a unique, age-specific curriculum that is crafted to improve soccer skills, build self-confidence, and develop socialization skills. Check out one of our in-person classes, camps, or soccer pods this fall.
The Los Angeles Music and Art School (LAMusArt) is a nonprofit arts organization whose mission is to offer young people throughout LA’s Eastside and beyond, primarily its K-12 population, with equitable and affordable access to multidisciplinary arts education programs. LAMusArt offers over 30 different classes within the disciplines of music, art, dance and drama. Programs start at age 4.
Jeanette Airen Performing Arts Studio is an award-winning music and drama studio that offers in-person and online classes including singing, acting and dancing. This session we will travel back in time to the 80’s for our production of Fame Jr.! Our small class sizes make it possible for more one-on-one attention and solo opportunities! Learn from professional performers in an encouraging and safe space while building self-esteem, teamwork skills, and most importantly, having fun!
4Kids Worldwide’s mission is to provide athletic, academic, mentor services to enhance our student-athletes, especially those living in economically deprived areas.
The Los Angeles School of Music offers fun and engaging music lessons and classes on piano, voice, guitar, and more! Our online classes are always live and interactive.
Our music teachers are professionals with at least a Bachelor of Music, and most have a Master of Music degree, from schools such as CalArts, UCLA, and USC. All instructors have years of teaching and performance experience.
Camino De Santiago Nature School provides parents of Orange County and the areas around Nevada City an alternative and unique educational resource where children can maximize their time outdoors and learn in a holistic manner. The students are immersed in nature all day, everyday.
Geek Girls Society is an after-school program for geeky girls ages 8-18. We are an elite group of girls who celebrate our fandoms, share them with one another, and learn all about what it takes to be an AMAZING Geek Girl.
Geek Girls Society Houses meet twice a month to discuss all things geeky, make fantastic crafts, play games, and explore the pop culture universe.
The mission of Strategic Kids is to be a positive impact on our community by teaching life strategies through games.
We believe there are games and activities that can naturally teach us valuable life skills. From problem-solving through teamwork, patience through visualizing results, confidence through achievement and sportsmanship through defeat, games and the strategies behind them have a way of teaching these life skills while having fun and exercising the mind.
Hero City Arts & Crafts LLC was created so that kids can get back to playtime without digital screen time. Imaginative and creative play activities that are influenced by the world’s best comic book characters and movies ever made. Our platform is about self-expression, educational learning from STEM workshops to exploring art and crafts.
Our philosophy at Pamper & Play is simple: parents need help and kids need entertainment and FUN on their days off during the school year! We know that parents want fun, enriching and most of all FLEXIBLE activities for their little ones while they are on break. That’s why we have jam-packed the school break camp with fun arts, crafts, games, music, dance, messy science and more.
Teach Communication through Science (TCTS) was established in 2018 as a private STEM educational company with the mission of inspiring and nurturing kid’s innate curiosity by giving personalized care to its students age 4 to 14. TCTS offers in-person programs like Tinker Club and hands-on STEM classes in Glendale, CA.
Role-playing is a fully immersive creative blend of game, improv, and writing. It’s not just fun – Luck of Legends games are Common Core aligned and designed to teach, emphasizing non-violent problem-solving, teaching kids to out-talk, out-think, or out-maneuver challenges as heroes on a fantastic adventure. The format lets kids experience powerful and dramatic moments together, which can do something that’s usually impossible online: allow for genuine relationships to grow.
Gymboree Play & Music offer a wide range of play-based classes for infants to experience and explore with mom and dad. Our dynamic classes support social, physical and intellectual development and give your infant the earliest start for the brightest future.
The Fall Activity Guide:
San Francisco & Marin Area
The best classes, workshops & activities for kids in Fall 2021 - including after school, weekend, and drop-in programs.
The Official Fall Activity Guide 2021 features our most popular and trending classes on ActivityHero in San Francisco & Marin area – including academic support & tutoring, music, coding, art, sports, and more! Learn more about updated programs for Fall 2021 – including curriculum, group sizes, and available schedules.
Mathnasium of Pacific Heights SF is your neighborhood math-only learning centers. We help kids in grades 1-12 understand math by teaching the way that makes sense to them. Mathnasium instructors use our unique assessment process to determine (with great accuracy) exactly what each child knows and what they need to learn. Next, we design a customized learning plan for teaching the concepts the student needs to master.
Set in a fun, non-competitive environment, Super Soccer Stars, offers the nation’s most popular children’s soccer program for kids ages 1-18. Super Soccer Stars offers a unique, age-specific curriculum that is crafted to improve soccer skills, build self-confidence, and develop socialization skills. Check out one of our in-person classes, camps, or soccer pods this fall.
Next Level Sports operates locations throughout California – including San Francisco, Mill Valley, Larkspur, and Greenbrae. Our flag football, basketball and volleyball programs are available to all youth participants from Kindergarten through 8th grade. Prior experience is not required! We offer community centric league programs where kids play with their friends, classmates and/or buddies.
Pinecone Active Learning provides after-school programs in Math, Reading, and Writing for students from three years old through high school. The younger students start by learning numbers and letters, then progress at their own pace through daily work and twice weekly classes to master concepts presented in step-by-step booklets.
It’s Yoga Kids® is a premier provider for quality enrichment, education and publishing. The IYK® System builds healthy habits to overcome challenges and increase confidence, resilience and JOY for all ages, abilities, identities and colors.
Firecracker Math enrichment program offers kids Grades K – 11 a broad variety of age-appropriate yet challenging math topics and activities and enhances their natural abilities and understanding of mathematics. In our math classes, we will show your child that math can be incredibly creative, exciting, and fun. The Fall Term starts the week of September 13th.
Rock Band Land is a unique creative arts program based in San Francisco that focuses on artistic collaboration through rock music, storytelling, visual arts, video production, and comedy. The program is wildly creative and wonderfully crazy. No prior experience necessary.
Always Learning and Growing provides outdoor camps and classes for children and families with the goal of giving children the developmental benefits of a significant nature experience.
Children hike, learn about nature and science, and learn new physical and social skills. Small group sizes and highly trained teachers. Classes for ages 18 months to 6 years and camps for ages 3-8 years.
The Fall Activity Guide:
Peninsula & South Bay Area
The best classes, workshops & activities for kids in Fall 2021 - including after school, weekend, and drop-in programs.
The Official Fall Activity Guide 2021 features our most popular and trending classes on ActivityHero in the San Francisco Peninsula & South Bay area – including academic support & tutoring, music, coding, art, LEGO®, and more! Learn more about updated programs for Fall 2021 – including curriculum, group sizes, and available schedules.
At Best in Class, our mission is twofold: build better teachers; build successful students. Best in Class Education provides math and English enrichment and private tutoring for K-12th grades. We promote critical thinking & problem solving, and build strong foundation skills. We also equip students’ strong writing skills. Your child excels because we use active teaching, university-educated tutors, individualized curriculum, weekly tests, and small classes.
Set in a fun, non-competitive environment, Super Soccer Stars, offers the nation’s most popular children’s soccer program for kids ages 1-18. Super Soccer Stars offers a unique, age-specific curriculum that is crafted to improve soccer skills, build self-confidence, and develop socialization skills. Check out one of our in-person classes, camps, or soccer pods this fall.
At Code Ninjas North San Jose, kids learn to code while building video games. They gain vital skills like problem solving and critical thinking in a fun, safe, and inspiring environment. Programs include after school, camps, birthday parties, and more.
Communication Academy offers specialized enrichment courses to grade K-12 students, including: Public Speaking, Debate, Writing, Reading and Math courses. Classes offer a new curriculum every week with experienced professional instructors in a small 12:1 ratio so that students can receive individual attention.
Fox Equine Rescue & SEL Solutions delivers fun & exciting programs that leverage the therapeutic nature of horses along with high performance coaching to draw out the best in everyone. We are dedicated to rescuing and caring for unwanted horses and educating the youth on horsemanship, leadership, values, and trust. This combination creates the optimal environment where you can plan your future and gain a deeper understanding of who you are, your strengths, and what you want in life. These opportunities allow you to discover your own values and challenge yourself in new ways that develop your skills Physically, Intellectually, and Emotionally.
Unified Studios offers dance classes starts at age 2. In our Toddler Turn Up (adult participation) and Preschool Dance classes we will focus on rhythm, coordination, musicality, and textures of movement. In our Rhythm & Vibes (Hip Hop) classes we will focus on foundations of hip hop, choreography, rhythm, coordination, musicality, and textures of movement.
Young Builders is a way to get your child to build a plane, boat or electric motor among many things while building self-esteem and confidence. Working with their hands with parts that can be picked up at any home improvement store will give them a sense of pride while building skills. The knowledge they get from building these models will help with math, geometry through the need for measurements and an introduction to engineering while having fun. A memory that will last a life time and a pride of saying “I made that.”
At BEan In Nature, our mentors facilitate activities that lead kids to love, care and connect with nature. We do this not by using a ‘teach at the child’ didactic model, but instead we use the skillful art of questioning, creative guiding and mentoring. We have an experiential child-led focus and facilitate learning by doing. We share our contagious enthusiasm, our imagination, and our own love of nature.
We help students develop the skills and knowledge they need for a bright future. Best in Class students benefit from individual attention, active instruction in small groups, and engaging course material aligned with common standards.
Our programs move K-12 students of all abilities towards the top of their class, but our mission doesn’t end there.
Super Skills with a Real Life Twist! In today’s busy world kids need a special place where they can learn, practice, and develop the leadership skills needed for a successful life. We provide this opportunity! Our kids build confidence in their ideas and themselves during our “learn as you lead” program. The Kid Power Academy Coaching experience-driven method literally transforms shy kids into confident kids as they eagerly exchange ideas as: Entrepreneurs, Senators, Authors and more!
Next Level Sports
Next Level Sports operates locations throughout the Bay Area – including San Jose, Los Gatos, Mountain View, Atherton, and more. Our flag football, basketball and volleyball programs are available to all youth participants from Kindergarten through 8th grade. Prior experience is not required! We offer community centric league programs where kids play with their friends, classmates and/or buddies.
GrowFit Camp provides a safe place for children to learn and play. Our campers discover new passions, engage in a variety of sports and group games and learn the value of teamwork and sportsmanship. Our unique, age-appropriate games and challenges help children build self-confidence, develop relationships and have lots of fun!
Pinecone Active Learning provides after-school programs in Math, Reading, and Writing for students from three years old through high school. The younger students start by learning numbers and letters, then progress at their own pace through daily work and twice weekly classes to master concepts presented in step-by-step booklets.
A TEAM has supported and encouraged homeschooling families for 7 years! We make it possible for families to homeschool, K-12th grade. With classes in core subjects and a wide variety of electives, students have plenty of choices to explore. Our Choir with Music Foundations class is held safely outdoors in San Jose, CA. If you love to sing, come join others and learn how to sound great together!
Carnatic music is one of the traditional music frameworks originating from South India having a rich repertoire of ragas and talas. We, at PrarambhCarnatic, strive to lay a strong structured musical foundation amidst making the musical journey a fun and joyful environment.
KCAT Channel TV15 is a non-profit public TV station and digital media center serving Los Gatos and Monte Sereno.
We proudly give voice to our citizens young and old, provide professional video production services to non-profits and small businesses, and teach filmmaking and broadcast media skills to all. Classes for kids include learning to podcast!
Evolution Academic Speaking Excellence in Redwood City, California offers public speaking classes for kids during school holiday breaks. We are an educational institution focused on working with every student on their path and journey towards mastering the art and skill of communicating effectively.
The seasonal change from summer to fall for you and your family can be overwhelming. Here are some quick tips to help make the transitional period more smooth (and even a little fun) for everyone.
1. Bike, walk, or scooter to school.
If you live nearby, beat the morning traffic by walking, biking, or scootering to school together. Start the morning with some exercise and burn some energy before getting to the classroom.
Quick Tip: Find neighbors and classmates to walk with to make it fun both before and after school!
2. Keep a checklist on the door.
Create a picture “checklist” on your kid’s door to review before school each morning: brush your teeth, make your bed, check your backpack, get your shoes on, feed the dog, etc. It’s really helpful in building personal responsibility and will minimize your having to say reminders like, “put your shoes on!” a hundred times.
Download our checklist >
3. Wear school clothes to bed.
Here’s a hack not many people think of! For younger kids or kids who are especially slow in the morning, put on your school clothes the night before. As long as the clothes are comfortable to sleep in, your morning routine will be faster with one less step. Forget about pajama tops and have kids sleep in the t-shirt that they are going to wear to school.
Quick Tip: This works really well in pre-school and before kids could dress themselves.
4. Keep a common calendar.
Make sure everyone knows what’s happening each day. Keep a calendar or schedule somewhere where everyone can see it easily, like on the fridge or the front door. Plan out lunch schedules, after-school activities, and special school projects. Use post-it notes or a whiteboard calendar to easily make changes and add reminders.
Quick Tip: For older kids, have a family calendar on your phone that you can all update!
5. Separate pre-packed bags for after-school activities.
Do your kids have a jam-packed after-school schedule? Save time by packing go-bags the night before and leaving them in a designated spot, whether that’s at the front door or in the car. If you have time in the mornings, you can add snacks to this go-bag and make the scramble of afternoon activities so much smoother.
6. Let your kids choose their own school supplies.
You may be tempted to shop alone and save yourself the trouble of searching for supplies with your kids there. However, bringing your kids along will help them organize their belongings independently and increase the chance that they’ll use all their supplies.
“They’ll be more excited about using the cool stuff they get to pick out.”
Marcella Moran, PhD, coauthor of Organizing the Disorganized Child
7. Use a portable homework station. Once you have your supplies sorted, make a caddy or use a wheeled cart to organize all your supplies at home. Easily bring all your supplies between rooms or on the go.
Quick Tip: For DIY options, use a muffin tray to organize small objects or arrange old tins and cups to hold your writing utensils.
8. Have your kids make their own lunches.
Let kids choose their own lunches, and they’ll be more likely to finish their meals every day. This is a great way to teach your kids how to be independent and start choosing their food for themselves. To make sure they’re still getting the right nutrients, have a designated food drawer or refrigerator section that you fill with the dairy, proteins, veggies, fruits, and grains that they need! Designate a space in your refrigerator or pantry for your kids to easily reach their snacks for self-service.
Quick Tip: Give your kids input on the weekly grocery list to better minimize food waste.
9. Start a file bin now.
Instead of waiting for the end of the year, start organizing finished projects and old handouts now! Decide which papers and projects are important to keep as they complete work during the school year. At the end of the year, the decluttering of old school supplies will be much easier.
Quick Tip: Organize for easy access: separate between long-term storage, frequent use (like a times table), and short-term storage (like handouts for each unit).
10. Sign up for online after school classes. Online after school classes are a great option for busy students. Instead of being shuttled from activity to activity, kids can join live online classes from home. Get access to the best instructors and classes that are available nationwide and have fun working with friends in online groups.
Create an account and profile for your kids to find personalized after school enrichment classes at ActivityHero.
Whether it’s gymnastics, soccer, or skateboarding, there’s something for everyone when it comes to the summer Olympics. Dive into a world of international sports, from table tennis to basketball. Feeling inspired by your favorite athletes competing on the world stage? Here are some beginner sports camps and classes for kids who are captivated by Olympic sports this year.
Soccer skills and fun games that kids can do from the safety of their own backyard, garage or patio. Your child will practice their individual gross motor skills, focus and agility to keep them sharp and ready for when the season begins!
With fun challenges they can practice at home, your child will gain new skills and develop their passion for new challenges.
Family Karate provides fun, fitness, karate, and life skills. Now your child can enjoy our unique blend of martial arts and character building in our live online classes with a Master Instructor.
They’re here to help your child become even more engaged, strong and optimistic during this unique time. Grit, resilience and laughter have never been more important than right now.
Hajime Judo (Beginning Judo) teaches judo technique, culture, and character. As kids learn basic judo techniques, they work on developing balance, coordination and confidence. Every class finishes with games that develop motor skills and ends with laughter and fun. This is an amazing place to get your kids active and introduce them to martial arts.
What is your favorite sport? Make it come to life during this week-long camp!
Explore and enhance your LEGO building skills making stadiums, gyms, courts, obstacle courses and fields. Learn how to make a round ball, a football, goals, or any other item you might use in your sport.
Join Fun & Fit TumbleBus for virtual gymnastics style fitness videos! They’re just created a NEW workout video. Get 2 warm up song videos, 1 gymnastics style workout, and free bonus videos!
Virtual TumbleBus videos are intended to promote a love of fitness in preschool and young elementary school age children. Videos work on children’s motor skills, listening & following directions, basic gymnastics, and balance, coordination & strength needed for all sports!
Access these on-demand videos with all sorts of soccer exercises and games! Go around the world with Mr. Matt, play soccer games with Smelli Elli, or go international with soccer in Spain or France. These videos can be viewed on your own time and are perfect for kids to try out soccer in the comfort of their own backyard.
Follow in the footsteps of Naomi Osaka with a tennis summer camp! Introduce your child to something new this year with an exciting day camp experience. Euro School of Tennis will help make your child’s summer action packed on the tennis court. This is a chance to learn about tennis from personalized instructors who can help your child attain new skills in a fun, safe environment. Full day sessions include swimming and games in the afternoon. Half day morning or afternoon is also available.
No Tennis Experience? No Worries. Beginner Kids Tennis Lessons are Here!
The perfect time to help your child learn more about tennis is right now with our beginning kids tennis lessons. Dubbed the Mini Aces program, this class is designed for kids 6 – 8. This intergrade tennis program is the ideal option for first through third grade kids who haven’t had any real exposure to the game. Every clinic is a great way to keep your child active while helping them understand the basics. From learning more about game play to serve and return skills, we’ll help your child learn what to do in a match while having a great time.
What a summer for soccer! Learn new and exciting soccer skills with Coach Ken. Coach Ken’s Soccer Camps have a proven record of helping kids achieve their full potential as soccer players. The coaches are knowledgeable and passionate about the game. All lessons are age-appropriate, challenging, and fun. All levels are welcome.
Try out the newly-reinstated Olympic sport: golf! All SPeeD Academy classes are taught by golf professional Roy Day, PGA. Roy has been named US Kids Top 50 Junior Instructors (2006-2008) and US Kids Master Junior Instructors (2009 to present). In addition to being extremely knowledgeable about golf, Roy makes learning FUN!!
This year, fencing consists of three separate events at the Olympics. Join in the fencing fun with this introduction fencing class. Learn to fence and have fun with peers in a safe way at Maximum Fencing Club. All equipment is provided.
Take after US flag bearer Sue Bird with basketball! At this camp, campers work hard and feel good about themselves in a safe, disciplined, highly structured and motivating environment. Players will learn to work together in a team setting while playing games and tournaments.
Camps are divided up by age and experience, keeping groups separated for the best overall camp experience. The equipment and curriculum for each age group is very different and age appropriate.
Join Little Twisters this summer for days full of Gymnastics, Games, Free Play, Dance, Snack Times, and an End of the Week Performance. The facility is the cleanest and kid friendly facility in Santa Clara County and our instructors are top-notch. Sign up for this camp for a week of fun and gymnastics that your children will love.
Beginners with no previous table tennis experience will engage in learning exercises designed to energize, entertain and build a strong table tennis foundation. Intermediate and advanced players, (competitive table tennis athletes who aim to take their game to the next level), will engage in rigorous training sessions that focus on technique, game strategies, skill reinforcement and physical conditioning. Players of all skills can join to try out ping pong and have fun practicing together.
New to the Olympics, skateboarding has swept the world as a fun and high-energy event. Try out skateboarding with Golden Gate Skateboarding. Start camp with an introduction to skateboarding specific stretching/yoga routines that improve performance and reduce injury probabilities. Cover beginner level skills all the way up to more advanced skills like Ollies, kickflips, 50-50 grinds, frontside 180’s and many more tricks. All skill levels are welcome!
Learn the fundamentals of shooting, passing, and dribbling. Understand the strategy of playing basketball. Have fun in one of KidzToPros’ most popular sports camps! Whether the camper is a first-timer or experienced player, they’ll learn skills that will carry them on to the next level. They’ll end each day engaged, passionate, and motivated for the next day of basketball camp!
This girls-only leadership and soccer summer camp is an opportunity for girls of all playing levels to refine and develop new soccer skills. Along the way, make friends and gain exposure to new experiences including dance, artistic expression, and leadership training.
When school is out, soccer is in! Super Soccer Stars and Soccer Stars United are kicking into this season with summer, holiday, and day-off soccer camps. Coaches work with 4-8 children to build skills and create a team atmosphere. Have fun with the FUNdamentals of soccer! Kids across the country can have a blast in a safe, high-energy soccer camp that will keep them active and allow them to socialize with friends.
The Devil’s Gate Wrestling Club is a youth wrestling club chartered by USA Wrestling in 2014 with the goal of introducing the local community to the sport of wrestling. Their coaching philosophy seeks to teach wrestlers how to motivate and challenge themselves. The Devil’s Gate Wrestling Club strives to implement and teach our youth wrestlers core values like hard work, dedication, goal-setting, and discipline.
Tiny Tees Golf Summer Camp is open to players of all skill levels from beginner to advanced, ages 3-13. Children will work on individual golf skills: full swing, putting, pitching, chipping, bunker play, golf course etiquette, and course play. Introduce your kids to golf through this fun camp designed for young beginners!
These classes teach Shorin-Ryu Karate, a traditional Okinawan martial art, and the complete system of self-defense. Beginning classes will teach basic blocks, strikes, and kicks, and the first form. Advance through these martial arts lessons with Wilmington Karate Club this summer.
Go for the gold in a triumphant Olympic journey. This camp combines art, science and outdoor challenges that build creative confidence, nurture social development and deliver the big summer fun they crave—all in small groups that put safety first. 75% of time is spent outdoors!
Get fired up to create mixed-media torches or glittering medals to light up the games. Master the mechanics of athletes and their equipment by designing high-flying archery bows, judo robots or a go-kart you can race in (a Galileo Olympic event only). Celebrate the Olympic spirit with a range of outdoor games!
This camp is focused on surfing, swimming, and playing at the beach. All surfboards and bodyboards are provided at camp. Experienced instructors will lead kids in swimming, basic surf techniques, and surfing etiquette. Learn about ocean safety and conservation while having safe play time in and out of the water! This is a great opportunity to spend time getting more familiar with our beautiful coast, and the power and fun of the ocean.
For more sports camps and classes near you, check out ActivityHero.com.
Summer camp is almost over and your kids had a blast! As proof of said fun, all the exciting activities have accumulated to become a large pile in your living room. Now what? Here are some creative ideas to manage the chaos.
1. Double down. When kids develop an interest in a certain type of medium, like clay, double down. Exhaust every facet of clay while you explore new techniques and test new projects.
Quick Tip: Once your kids tire of the medium, use the opportunity to have conversations about organization and material attachment. Together, you can discuss why they may want to keep something or whether they can find new use for their old items.
2. Innovate. Continue learning! Kids can practice problem solving long after camp with a project that’s returned home. Using everyday household tools and materials available, your kids will think of new ways to improve a project by making it look and work better.
“My kid designed a backpack at an innovation camp this summer. He added small details after realizing the water bottle holder wasn’t strong enough. He also included a waterproof side pocket as a new feature.”
3. Repurpose. Channel your inner Marie Kondo. If it sparks joy, keep it to create a whole new personalized project. Finding new purposes for old items is a great way to give new life to items while preserving memories.
“I have a canvas in our living room that I decoupage paintings my kids did when they were toddlers. I also save artwork throughout the year to decoupage onto keepsake boxes and memory frames for our extended family.”
4. Personalize gifts. Kids’ art is great for everyday items like custom mugs, iphone/ipad cases, or mouse pads. It’s a quiet way to keep your loved ones close, wherever you go.
“My nephew took a lot of online art classes in 2020 and we used his drawings to create a custom iPhone case as a grandparent’s gift.”
5. Document the whole memory. Get pictures with your kids holding their designs. It documents the special creations and their ages of completion. It also offers the perspective of scale to show how large and small the items were.
This bridge lasted a while on his shelf but was eventually tossed to make room for LEGO builds. Looking back we’re so grateful to still have pictures of my son holding the special projects.
6. Practice postcards. Creating postcards or packages can be a fun project itself! Practice writing letters with old paper projects. Gather, cut and fold old projects to create a package for far away loved ones.
Quick Tip: Use this as a teaching opportunity about the postal service and how it works!
7. Host an art gallery. Celebrate a summer’s worth of artwork! Let kids choose their favorite pieces to display around the house for an art walk. Whether it’s with just the family or with more friends, a gallery day is the perfect way to give your art collection a send off.
Quick Tip: You can even make snacks and decorations to complete the “museum day” and spend time reviewing each piece of artwork.
Transform your kids collection of summer camp t-shirts into a quilt to use when they are cold or hang as a work of art to admire on the wall.
Breakdown and recycle the projects because there’s only enough room to keep a select few.
Now that all of your kids’ most recent art projects are organized, take some time to start planning their next round of enrichment camps and classes at ActivityHero.
Take advantage of free online classes and trials this year!
Looking for new online classes and activities? Take advantage of FREE trials and classes on ActivityHero! Discover new interests by joining free classes available for all. Whether it’s coding, baking, or karate, be sure to check out these live online classes, free of cost.
WhiteHat Jr’s mission is to empower a whole generation to become creators versus consumers of technology. They teach fundamentals of coding–logic, structure, sequence and algorithmic thinking to enable kids to generate creative outcomes like websites, animations and apps.
All of the WhiteHat Jr classes are taught live 1:1 with a certified teacher! They offer free trial sessions on ActivityHero in various topics – game development, UI/UX design, data modeling, AI & machine learning, and more! Check out all WhiteHat Jr free trial classes here.
The #1 goal: Learning should be fun and engaging. Learn the fundamentals of math and geometry while designing your favorite Pokemon.
Every Friday (excluding Holidays), 3D Printing & Design offers a free trial class. Each week is a new design that is custom-tailored to the skill level of the class. Every class has math and geometry questions relevant to your 3D designs.
This is a free class especially created for black students to interact with an experienced and engaging black educator. Research shows that black students are 19% more likely to attend college if they have just one black teacher.
In this interactive 55 minute class, students play a short game before Ms. Rae reads a book. Kids will use home supplies to create a fun art project related to their storybook adventure. Kids will be encouraged to share their art project with their peers and talk about what they drew.
Create & Learn offers small-group online classes on fun topics like coding, AI, data science, robotics and more, designed by Google and Stanford experts. Your child will not learn from a machine or video, but will interact with an experienced CS teacher in a small class. Join Create & Learn to try out a free intro class!
Let your kids’ creativity shine in this class, where students can code games, stories, buildings, and anything else they want to make happen in Minecraft and see them come alive in the game.
The Pintsize Karate online program offers a free two week intro, where your child can check out some classes to see how much fun it is! After 2 weeks, if you’d like to enroll, you can join the monthly membership program.
In this interactive class kids will learn how do safe warm up exercises and be introduced to karate kihon (techniques) through drills, games and challenges that can be done at home.
Join Ms. Eileen in a free activity every Thursday to learn basic baking skills. Each week features a different recipe and highlights new skills.
Baking builds confidence and teaches valuable skills that kids can carry with them through life. We’ll practice basic math when measuring ingredients and practice reading comprehension as we follow a recipe. All of these skills are mixed in with delicious food and fun.
Join a free 30 minute Demo Class with Español Latino! The online classes are live and one-on-one, meaning that you can actually see and talk to your teacher.
During the 30 minute demo session, you’ll be able to practice your Spanish and get a feel for what it would be like to learn via live online classes. Complete the reservation form to request your trial class. They will contact you in less than 48 hours to organize the day and time of the class.
These tech workshops are free, hands-on technology workshops for middle school girls. There are 50+ topics to choose from including coding, movie editing, jewelry design, digital marketing, cybersecurity, and more!
My daughter was totally into this class! You never know what resonates with your child until you give it a try. This activity sparked her interest and engaged her attention for 2 hours. We are signing up for more classes! Many thanks.
The Aerospace Academy is hosting a free STEM summer camp. The camps are one week in length (8-4pm), 100% online, packed full of hands on activities, and taught by STEM ISD instructors. They provide the supplies to the parents at designated San Jac campus pick up sites.
This is a free class especially created for black students to interact with an experienced and engaging black educator. Research shows that black students are 19% more likely to attend college if they have just one black teacher.
They’ll explore old school hip hop, new dance trends, and street jazz. Students will learn dance technique, dance studio etiquette, hip hop dance terminology, how to create their own freestyle, and how to follow choreography.
In this class, students will take their first dive into coding with Python. They will transition from block coding, which they learned in Scratch, to text-based coding. Students will learn how to animate and draw with Python, and will build their own story project. Basic topics include using Python syntax, drawing methods, and variables.
Create & Learn offers small-group online classes on fun topics like coding, AI, data science, robotics and more, designed by Google and Stanford experts. Your child will not learn from a machine or video, but will interact with our experienced CS teacher in a small class. Join them to try out the free intro class!
Extra curricular activities open kids’ minds to new interests. They help build skills outside of the classroom. They provide a productive break from study. And they open new social opportunities to grow a community. Here are editor’s picks for interesting new classes to try:
Foreign Language
The many cognitive benefits of learning languages are undeniable. People who speak more than one language have improved memory, problem-solving and critical-thinking skills, enhanced concentration, ability to multitask, and better listening skills.*
Learn Spanish through theatre games and music! We naturally learn language through trial and error and through play. In Theatre Games in Spanish, students learn to communicate in Spanish by playing games and having fun. We strive to joyfully instill a love of language through embodied learning and play.
In this fun and musical class, learners explore German greetings, keywords, introduction vocabulary and pronunciation – through music! Learning a language is fun and easy with Ms. Kelsey – let’s sing, dance and color!
Ms. Kelsey is a professional opera singer and language teacher, and she started Musical Learning in 2016. She has taught German, French, English and ‘Musical Science’ for the past 10 years both online and in person.
Ages 3 – 7
$100/ 8 session series that meets twice a week starting Feb 22
Skills attained through STEM education include problem solving, critical thinking, creativity, curiosity, decision making, leadership, entrepreneurship, acceptance of failure and more.*
In the first 4 weeks of the session, students learn about the electromagnetic nature of matter and energy, including: Magnetism, Magnetic Induction Electricity, Photons, Solar Energy. In the second half of the session, students are introduced to atoms, subatomic particles and the Periodic Table of Elements (Hydrogen to Xenon). They learn how atoms form molecules, and also learn about the structure of the Periodic Table. Class content is taught through engaging visual aids, physical demonstrations and thought-provoking discussion.
Python is one of the most feature-packed coding languages ever and today underlies the foundation of many websites, applications, and games.
This fast moving course assumes no prior experience with Python programming but rapidly takes you to high levels of functionality illustrating how you can write your own programs in Python!
With An Emphasis on the Homeric epics of The Iliad and the Odyssey, the Milesian School of Thought yielding Thales, Pre-Socratics highlighting Democritus and the Socratic Period illustrative of Socrates Philosophy in the Context of Innovation Ranging from The Theory of Everything to Einstein’s Unified Theory and Quantum Realms.
Digivations Institute has NASA award-winning curriculum and is an ActivityHero Best of 2020.
Join us online for S.T.E.A.M powered fun where you will explore the curious worlds of science, technology, engineering, art and math. Conduct experiments, create art, build, take things apart and enjoy learning how art, science, engineering and technology are connected.
Homeschool offers academic flexibility. During these ever-changing COVID times, many families have turned to this option. Try these classes for academic homeschooling and enrichment education!
Family Karate provides fun, fitness, karate, and life skills. Now your child can enjoy our unique blend of martial arts and character building in our live online classes with a Master Instructor.
In each class we’ll ask you to set a self leadership goal for your children, and in the next class we’ll follow up progress on those goals.
Ages 5 – 11 but fun for the whole family! Try it as a stress reliever!
$10/day trial classes or $20/day regular price ongoing throughout spring
This is a great introductory trial for parents thinking about homeschooling their kids.
In this curriculum which follows the Common Core State Standards, we dive into EVERYTHING your child should learn in First Grade WOW! See below for a snapshot of some of the covered content. In previous classes on different platforms– parents would RAVE how their child would not be able to read at all prior to Mrs. Hendricks Academy and by the end of the curriculum- they were reading whole sentences, creative writing on their own and excelling.
Each week we will have a different princess joining the class. After the princess arrives the children will perform their dance while the princess sings, Then they will sit with their favorite toy while the princess reads a fun book! After story time the children will have a chance to each personally interact with the princess! It’s not everyday your child will get to have a virtual Disneyland experience!
We bet your child loves going to amusement parks to experience the variety of fast, dropping, and spinning rides, but have they ever thought about the science that goes into building those rides and the people who are responsible for designing them? In Snapology’s Amusement Park Engineering class, students will become engineers building their own amusement park rides like roller coasters, Ferris wheel , Bumper Car and other awesome rides!!
Snapology of Los Gatos serves Almaden, Camden, Los Gatos, Saratoga and Cupertino.
Have you watched every family-friendly movie on Netflix, Hulu, and Disney Plus? Memorized every scene of Trolls World Tour? Eaten your body weight in popcorn? No judgement here – it’s been a long year!
Here are five alternatives to Family Movie Night at home that are just as fun!
There is something therapeutic about drawing or painting after a long week of work or school, even if you aren’t really an artist! On-demand art classes fit into your schedule and are fun for the whole family.
What’s better than a weekend night decorating cookies or cupcakes? Not only is it super fun, but you get a tasty reward at the end. Make it even more entertaining by creating a theme or game to your decorating – whether it’s Disney characters or seasonal holiday themes. On-demand cooking or baking classes are a good way to learn new skills together in the kitchen, too.
Change the perspective that science is all academic and boring. Getting hands-on with STEM projects at home with your kids can be fun for all ages. Instead of learning about weather science in a book, create clouds in a jar and queue the “wow, that’s so cool”. On-demand STEM activities are available for most ages and can be enjoyed as a family.
Roll up your sleeves and spend some quality time building something together. Working on a project as a family is a great way to connect and have conversations with your kids in a low-pressure environment. The best part is you will have a tangible item to remind you of the time you spent together.
If you have movie fatigue, break out the craft supplies. Instead of watching your kids favorite characters sing on-screen for the 2,536th time this year, create puppet versions of Poppy and Branch and have your kids put on a show! Or, use the time together to decorate for any seasonal holiday or make special gifts for family.
Sit still. Pay attention… These seem like easy concepts, but these days while kids are attending school or an online class from their bedroom or kitchen table, it’s especially hard for kids to focus and listen to a teacher who is online.
ActivityHero sought out the guidance of Chaia May, an early childhood educator and writer. Her daughter was also struggling with ADHD and was “intensely fidgety and anxious” as a child. Chaia gives us five easy ways to use sensory integration to help kids overcome wiggles and wandering thoughts.
Fiddle Away! Choose your “Tactile”
Give kids something in their hands to fiddle or squeeze. Very interestingly, pressure to the fingertips can help a child focus (imagine prayer beads) and also facilitates speech in speech-delayed children. Let them choose amongst things such as a double-balloon filled with cornstarch or a stress ball.
Push with your legs!
Tie an elastic band around the four legs of their chair. As the child pushes against it with his or her feet, they work their ligaments and muscles. It also gives kids who like to rock in their chairs an alternative so that they don’t fall over!
Sit on a bouncy chair
We have the fewest nerve endings on our bottoms, so we are most passive when sitting.
Use the bouncy ball chairs and build up their core muscles. If their core is strong, it helps their back and their shoulders. Supporting their weight helps keep their whole body strong and more alert. Also, a little bouncing break adds to vestibular stimulation.
Pedaling for mind power!
Get one of the mini-bicycles that you can peddle that fit under your table or take breaks every half hour or so and do the “bicycle” on the floor. Or use training wheels to prop up a kids bike like this clever mom on Facebook.
The magic of the bicycle is that when you are using opposing arms and legs, the mind cannot wander.
5. Carry a load and feed the muscles and mind!
Give children a load of books to carry or a few chairs to push in between classes. While they push, they are working their ligaments and large muscles. It organizes and calms the whole body and makes them stronger as well.
These tips utilize sensory integration to help the brain stay alert, calm down, re-focus on one particular thing or cancel out extraneous information.
Did you know there are three more senses in addition to the five senses we learned about in school? The first is tactile. It describes whatever sensory information is carried through our skin. Children can be either especially sensitive to touch (hypersensory) or not feel it at all (hyposensory.) Input into the tactile system can calm or stimulate as needed.
The second is proprioceptive. This describes what signals we get from receiving input into our ligaments and muscles (elbows, knees, for example.) Pushing into them can help children (particularly those who are lightweight and don’t get that input when they walk) regulate their nervous system and not bump into things or avoid things as they seek sensory input or avoid it, accordingly.
The third is vestibular. This is what we feel when we fight or resist gravity in any way: spin, twist, lean over, or rock. Children who love to spin, climb, or rock are self-stimulating to help organize their nervous system. Just leaning over can be enough to recalibrate and re-focus.
