Science & Technology Class Descriptions

In this course, middle schoolers will expand their understanding of how AI works and begin to evaluate its role in the real world. They will explore core concepts behind AI systems, improve their ability to communicate with AI tools, and examine important topics such as fairness, bias, and ethical use.

How do you move from basic questions to powerful, precise control of AI? Second quarter, students take their skills to the next level by learning advanced prompting techniques and how to evaluate and refine outputs. They will design multi-step prompts, experiment with different approaches, and optimize results for clarity, accuracy, and creativity. Through prompt engineering challenges and hands-on workshops, students will test what works, improve what doesn't, and create original content using AI.

Technology access in this class will include both instructor-led demonstrations with classroom projections, and hands-on individual laptop use with safety constraints and limited distractions.

Topics in this series include: Inside the System (Quarter 1), Ask, Refine, Realize (Quarter 2), Truth or Manipulated? (Quarter 3), and Build for Impact (Quarter 4).

This class moves students beyond basic understanding and into actively using AI as a tool for learning, problem-solving, and creativity. Students will explore how AI systems work, practice writing more precise prompts to improve results, and learn to identify errors and bias in AI responses. Through hands-on activities, students will strengthen their critical thinking while gaining practical experience.

How can you get better results from AI? Second quarter, students learn how to communicate clearly and effectively with AI by crafting strong prompts. They will explore how small changes in wording can lead to big differences in output and begin to understand the cause-and-effect relationship between input and results. Through engaging activities like prompt battles, rewriting challenges, output comparisons, and an AI-themed escape room, students will practice refining their questions to guide AI more successfully.

The focus is on helping students become thoughtful, confident users who can direct and evaluate AI effectively, rather than simply relying on it. Technology access in this class is instructor-led demonstrations with classroom projections, supported by small group stations with one laptops per 2 to 3 students.

Topics in this series include: How It's Built (Quarter 1), Ask Perfect Prompts (Quarter 2), Fair or Flawed (Quarter 3), and Real-World Solitions (Quarter 4).

What is the Great Red Spot? Which moons of Jupiter and Saturn could harbor life? Why is Pluto no longer a planet? Could there be a large ninth planet at the edge of our Solar System? Find out the answers to these mysteries and other great discoveries about our Outer Solar System comprised of the four gaseous planets- Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune-, their rings and moons, dwarf planets, Kuiper Belt, and more. Astronomy enthusiasts will enjoy exploring details about the outrageous workings of outer space with an amateur astronomer and engineer.

Each class will explore concepts relevant to our corner of the universe- the outer solar system- with supporting activities such as modeling to understand relative distance and sizes. Other activities will examine ring formation, atmospheres, magnetic fields, and comets. The class will debate the possible existence of Planet 9. Finally, students will discuss the exploration of our outer solar system through probe fly-bys, orbiters, landers, and telescopes.

Future themes in this series include: Inner Solar System (Quarter 1); Outer Solar System (Quarter 2); Stars, Galaxies, and the Cosmos (Quarter 3); and Exoplanets and the Search for Extraterrestrial Life (Quarter 4).

More than 70% of the Earth's surface is water! Understanding the planet's oceans and freshwater systems is critical to understanding life on our planet- from beginnings in the seas to the water cycle that supports ongoing life. The study of aquatic and marine biology provides a basis for understanding much of the chemistry, physics, biology, and meteorology on our planet. Budding marine biologists will travel inland to learn about freshwater systems like lakes and ponds, rivers and streams before returning to the coast to study marshes and estuaries followed by extreme marine environments. The focus will be on hands-on, dynamic learning, and students will engage in several demonstrations and experiments in each class.

Second quarter, students will learn the basics of Riparian Biology, the study of aquatic life in rivers and streams. The class will discuss differences in water flow, sedimentation, and hydrodynamics that are used to classify riparian habitats and will learn about the characteristic assemblages of organisms that occur in different flow regimes. Students will compare various major river systems around the world and study the diversity of riverine biomes and organisms.

Topics in this Series: Lakes and Ponds (Quarter 1); Rivers and Streams (Quarter 2); Marshes and Estuaries (Quarter 3); and Extreme Marine (Quarter 4). Lab/Supply Fee: A class fee of $20.00 is due payable to the instructor on/before the first day of class.

Bee-come a beginner beekeeper! This series introduces students to the fascinating world of honeybees, exploring their behavior, life cycle, and vital role in our ecosystem. Students will discover how a hive functions as a highly organized community and learn about the remarkable process by which bees transform nectar into honey, a natural sweetener prized for thousands of years.

Second quarter, learn the do's and don'ts of hive inspection, why bees swarm and how to manage it, and how to combat the archnemesis of honeybees- the varroamite! After a lively lecture, and under expert supervision, students will construct their very own hive equipment suitable for use in their own wooden apiary using hand tools! To top it off, they will even get elbow-deep in making food for the bees to survive the winter!

Note: Since beekeeping can be a family affair, this is a family style class. Students of all ages and parents may enroll. Children under age 8 must have a parent registered with them.

There is a $25.00 material fee due payable to the instructor on/before the first day of class. Topics in this series: Dive Into the Hive (Quarter 1), Busy as a Bee (Quarter 2), Hello Honey (Quarter 3), and Sweet as Honey (Quarter 4).

Discover the world of robotics using kids' favorite, interlocking building bricks! Students will build and program 3-4 different whimsical, mechanized projects each quarter using the WeDo 2.0 robotics system by LEGO Education.

Second quarter, students will build, program, and model fun and fantasy flying fliers wonders such as a helicopter, plane, a mythical bird, and a winged dragon.

Their robots will be built using special-shaped LEGO components from the WeDo Educational set, motors, motion sensors, tilt sensors and a programmable, Bluetooth control unit ("brain"). Student will use classroom tablets to program the control units using an intuitive drag-and-drop coding modules.

Prior experience with LEGO or coding is not required. All equipment is furnished.

Topics in this Series: Under the Sea (Quarter 1), Wings and Things (Quarter 2); Perfect Pets (Quarter 3), and Reptiles Robots (Quarter 4).

Discover the world of robotics using kids' favorite, interlocking building bricks! Students will build and program 3-4 different whimsical, mechanized projects each quarter using the WeDo 2.0 robotics system by LEGO Education.

Second quarter, students will build, program, and model fun and fantasy flying fliers wonders such as a helicopter, plane, a mythical bird, and a winged dragon.

Their robots will be built using special-shaped LEGO components from the WeDo Educational set, motors, motion sensors, tilt sensors and a programmable, Bluetooth control unit ("brain"). Student will use classroom tablets to program the control units using an intuitive drag-and-drop coding modules.

Prior experience with LEGO or coding is not required. All equipment is furnished.

Topics in this Series: Under the Sea (Quarter 1), Wings and Things (Quarter 2); Perfect Pets (Quarter 3), and Reptiles Robots (Quarter 4).

The best way to understand a biome is to build (a model) one! A biome is a large zone on Earth characterized by its climate, soil, vegetation, and organisms with special adaptations for the unique environment. In modeling biomes, students will learn how they are different than similar ecological concepts like habitats and ecosystems. Students will discover how human activities, such as deforestation and habitat destruction, are transforming biomes.

In this science-themed diorama class, students will be exposed to concepts such as trophic levels, the water cycle, biological competition, geographic isolation, convergent evolution, species diversification, natural vs unnatural climate change, food webs, habitat loss, and ecological niches, while they are working on their models.

Marshlands are dynamic ecosystems found along the edges of lakes, rivers, and coastlines. They are distinguished by their waterlogged soils, which support the growth of diverse, soft-stemmed vegetation such as grasses, rushes, and reeds. These plants play a critical role in stabilizing the shore, filtering water, and providing habitat and food sources for a diverse population of birds, amphibians, insects, and small mammals.

Each student will create an individual diorama. Students will craft and hand-shape their scene on a 10 x 14 inch foam board using artistic, model-making techniques. They will customize their dioramas with landforms, waterways, plant life, and paint. Once individual projects are constructed, students will populate them with miniature figures and combine their dioramas alongside those of their classmates to create a larger terrain. Students will then compete in a zoology-based survival strategy game. Each student will create one board and receive a set of miniatures to take home with them. Course documents such as maps, game rules and all other instructional media will be available via a Google Drive link which will be emailed to parents. There is a $25.00 materials fee payable to the instructor on the first day of class.

Topics in this series include: Mangrove Swamps (Quarter 1), Marshlands (Quarter 2), Coral Reefs (Quarter 3) and Deep Sea Trenches (Quarter 4).

Enter the BuildZone and step into a world of endless possibilities, where over 10,000 building components are at your fingertips! From Keva Planks to K'Nex, Magnatiles to Marble Runs, Tubelox, Chaos Tower, and Pipe Builders-this is the ultimate mash-up of all things construction.

Here, you're the architect, the engineer, the mastermind. Stack it, snap it, connect it- then remix it! What happens when you combine pieces from totally different sets? You get taller towers, stronger structures, and mind-blowing mega builds! Build solo masterpieces or team up for cool collaborations. Every session is a chance to dream big, build bigger, and let your imagination break all the rules.

This is a hands-on afternoon lab intended to provide opportunities for kids to socialize and tap into their creative energy in a relaxed club setting. No formal curriculum or lessons are provided. This is a supervised free-build session. All participants are expected to help pick up and to follow all Compass rules on indoor behavior including respecting materials, supplies, and furnishings.

Enter the BuildZone and step into a world of endless possibilities, where over 10,000 building components are at your fingertips! From Keva Planks to K'Nex, Magnatiles to Marble Runs, Tubelox, Chaos Tower, and Pipe Builders-this is the ultimate mash-up of all things construction.

Here, you're the architect, the engineer, the mastermind. Stack it, snap it, connect it- then remix it! What happens when you combine pieces from totally different sets? You get taller towers, stronger structures, and mind-blowing mega builds! Build solo masterpieces or team up for cool collaborations. Every session is a chance to dream big, build bigger, and let your imagination break all the rules.

This is a hands-on afternoon lab intended to provide opportunities for kids to socialize and tap into their creative energy in a relaxed club setting. No formal curriculum or lessons are provided. This is a supervised free-build session. All participants are expected to help pick up and to follow all Compass rules on indoor behavior including respecting materials, supplies, and furnishings.

Enter the BuildZone and step into a world of endless possibilities, where over 10,000 building components are at your fingertips! From Keva Planks to K'Nex, Magnatiles to Marble Runs, Tubelox, Chaos Tower, and Pipe Builders-this is the ultimate mash-up of all things construction.

Here, you're the architect, the engineer, the mastermind. Stack it, snap it, connect it- then remix it! What happens when you combine pieces from totally different sets? You get taller towers, stronger structures, and mind-blowing mega builds! Build solo masterpieces or team up for cool collaborations. Every session is a chance to dream big, build bigger, and let your imagination break all the rules.

This is a hands-on afternoon lab intended to provide opportunities for kids to socialize and tap into their creative energy in a relaxed club setting. No formal curriculum or lessons are provided. This is a supervised free-build session. All participants are expected to help pick up and to follow all Compass rules on indoor behavior including respecting materials, supplies, and furnishings.

Kids are naturally curious about chemistry! Chemistry explains the properties, behaviors, and interactions of materials around us: things we eat, drink, clean with, wear, drive, and even play with. Kids can use chemistry to understand how things taste, smell, mix, melt, combust, feel, and whether they are recyclable or rubbish, helpful or harmful, nutritious or not. Chemistry is key to understanding the world around us, including other areas of science. In this class, kids begin to use scientific words to describe their observations and will become familiar with some science apparatuses.

Second quarter, kids will discover chemistry in action and in industry. They will grow great crystals and test how to treat tarnished metal. Our chemists will discover how cabbage juice can be used to check for acids and bases. They will discover how to melt ice with salt and how to remove salt from solution (desalinization). Students will make simple cell batteries to power a small light bulb. What shines brighter- a potato or a pomelo- and why? The class will learn to use basic chemistry to do copper plating and explore the properties of paint.

There is a lab fee of $25.00 due payable to the instructor on/before the first day of class. Topics in this series include: Chemistry in the Kitchen (Quarter 1), Chemistry in Action (Quarter 2), Chemistry at Home (Quarter 3), and Chemistry of Toys (Quarter 4).

Ready, set, code! Young learners will jump into the world of coding as they explore block-based programming and early concepts inspired by JavaScript and Python. Through hands-on challenges and simple game creation, students will discover how code turns their ideas into interactive fun.

Digital Clubhouse is a computer lab environment in which students work through the Black Rocket curriculum under the direction of computer science coaches. The lab environment allows students to enroll at any quarter, fosters brand new coders, and encourages those with prior coding experience. All digital tools and software used in class are safe, locally installed educational editions accessed only by the student and not connected to any public platforms.

The class tuition includes a student technology fee that covers the use of instructor-provided classroom laptops loaded with the required software, applications, and licenses. At the end of the class, students will receive access to Black Rocket's interactive learning platform to continue their coding journey at home.

Topics in this Series: Young Game Designer (Quarter 1), Young Coders (Quarter 2), Young Animators (Quarter 3), Young Sound Mixers (Quarter 4)

Code it. Change it. Play it. Transform Minecraft through coding as you use scripting and logic to create original mods, new gameplay features, and custom world elements.

Digital Workshop is a computer lab environment in which students work through the Black Rocket curriculum under the direction of computer science coaches. The lab environment allows students to enroll at any quarter, fosters brand new coders, and encourages those with prior coding experience. All digital tools and software used in class are safe, locally installed educational editions accessed only by the student and not connected to any public platforms.

The class tuition includes a student technology fee that covers the use of instructor-provided classroom laptops loaded with the required software, applications, and licenses. At the end of the class, students will receive access to Black Rocket's interactive learning platform to continue their coding journey at home.

Topics in this Series: Minecraft Designers (Quarter 1), Minecraft Coders (Quarter 2), Roblox Designers (Quarter 3), and Roblox Coders (Quarter 4).

Meet Stegosaurus, Allosaurus, and Brachiosaurus! Travel millions of years back in time to the Jurassic period, when towering giants dominated the landscape.

Second quarter, students will dive into the environments these dinosaurs ruled and learn how paleontologists uncover their stories. Each class will feature a dynamic lesson and hands-on activities like creating imaginary dinosaurs, a dinosaur egg hunt, or fossil digs. Students will continue their "field explorer" journal, sketching each dinosaur and noting fun facts to expand their bestiary.

There is a $25.00 supply fee payable to the instructor on/before the first day of class. Topics in this series include: Triassic Time Travel (Quarter 1), Jurassic Jam (Quarter 2), Cretaceous Creatures (Quarter 3), and Museum Makers (Quarter 4)

Become a world-traveling eco adventurer and earth scientist without leaving Compass! Study the world's most exciting and diverse ecosystems and learn about the incredible biologic and geologic phenomena that shape them. Venture into caves and coasts, tundra and taiga, and forests and fjords. Each week, student scientists will begin by locating the fascinating features on a map before learning about these incredible habitats from the ground-up, starting with the geology of a place, then working their way through the climate, biome, flora, and fauna. Hands-on labs and in-class activities will reinforce regional and ecological diversity by examining rock types, classifying plants, observing insects, or modelling weather phenomena.

Bundle up! Second quarter, students will journey to the northern latitudes. The class begin in the frozen north of the Arctic Circle, then travel south through Greenland, Russia, and Europe. Students will see how some animal and human populations deal with environmental extremes through seasonal migrations. Along the way, the class will learn about cold weather phenomena, polar ice, tundra and taiga (coniferous forest) biomes, inland seas, and the seasonal effects of polar nights and midnight sun.

Topics in this Series: The Americas and Antarctica (Quarter 1); Northern Latitudes (Quarter 2); Africa and Asia (Quarter 3); and All About Islands (Quarter 4). Lab/Supply Fee: A class fee of $20.00 is due payable to the instructor on/before the first day of class.

Focus on the "E" in STEM- Engineering! Discover the everyday challenges we can solve through engineering in this hands-on, project-focused class! Students will tackle simulated challenges that span a variety of engineering disciplines and practice the three main steps of the engineering design process by asking, "What is the problem?", "What are possible solutions?" and, "How can I improve on the design?"

Second quarter, the class will learn about the careers of Civil Engineers and their responsibility for designing, constructing, and maintaining public infrastructure such as dams, bridges, tunnels, roads, airports, subway systems, and water supply systems. Students will model civil engineering challenges with projects such as the newspaper bridge challenge, spaghetti skyscraper, a geodesic dome, and earthquake-proof structures.

Students will work together to solve problems and brainstorm options given a variety of project materials. For each project, students will be challenged to adjust their designs, make modifications, re-design to optimize their creations, and retest performance. Basic building, measuring, data collection, and equations will be used to challenge all minds in engineering!

There is a $25.00 supply fee due payable to the instructor on/before the start of class. Topics in this Series include: Electrical Lab (Quarter 1); Civil Lab (Quarter 2); Mechanical Lab (Quarter 3); and Green (Sustainable) Lab (Quarter 4).

Welcome to the Extreme Animal Kingdom, where the most incredible creatures on Earth push the limits of life itself! In this thrilling, hands-on exploration, students will encounter animals with jaw-dropping abilities and unbelievable adaptations. Some glow in the dark, lighting up the ocean depths like living lanterns, while others thrive in boiling, toxic waters near undersea volcanoes. Tiny organisms can freeze solid or dry out completely-then come back to life years later. Some animals can live without oxygen or regrow entire body parts, while others can change color in an instant or turn nearly invisible. Lightning-fast predators can run as fast as a car or punch with the speed of a bullet, while ingenious builders create intricate homes and traps. From animals smaller than a speck of dust to giants larger than a bus, students will discover how life survives, adapts, and thrives in the most extreme environments on Earth. Get ready to explore the strange, the surprising, and the truly wild!

Step into the tiny but mighty world of arthropods, where strength, speed, and survival take on incredible forms. Students will explore insects, spiders, and crustaceans that can lift many times their body weight, build intricate structures, and undergo dramatic transformations. With exoskeletons and extraordinary abilities, these creatures dominate nearly every habitat on Earth. Get ready to be amazed by the small creatures that make a big impact!

opics in this Series: Microscopic & Marine Marvels (Quarter 1); Amazing Arthropods (Quarter 2); Remarkable Reptiles & Relatives (Quarter 3); Marvelous Mammals (Quarter 4). Lab/Supply Fee: A class fee of $20.00 is due payable to the instructor on/before the first day of class.

Welcome to the Extreme Animal Kingdom, where the most incredible creatures on Earth push the limits of life itself! In this thrilling, hands-on exploration, students will encounter animals with jaw-dropping abilities and unbelievable adaptations. Some glow in the dark, lighting up the ocean depths like living lanterns, while others thrive in boiling, toxic waters near undersea volcanoes. Tiny organisms can freeze solid or dry out completely-then come back to life years later. Some animals can live without oxygen or regrow entire body parts, while others can change color in an instant or turn nearly invisible. Lightning-fast predators can run as fast as a car or punch with the speed of a bullet, while ingenious builders create intricate homes and traps. From animals smaller than a speck of dust to giants larger than a bus, students will discover how life survives, adapts, and thrives in the most extreme environments on Earth. Get ready to explore the strange, the surprising, and the truly wild!

Step into the tiny but mighty world of arthropods, where strength, speed, and survival take on incredible forms. Students will explore insects, spiders, and crustaceans that can lift many times their body weight, build intricate structures, and undergo dramatic transformations. With exoskeletons and extraordinary abilities, these creatures dominate nearly every habitat on Earth. Get ready to be amazed by the small creatures that make a big impact!

opics in this Series: Microscopic & Marine Marvels (Quarter 1); Amazing Arthropods (Quarter 2); Remarkable Reptiles & Relatives (Quarter 3); Marvelous Mammals (Quarter 4). Lab/Supply Fee: A class fee of $20.00 is due payable to the instructor on/before the first day of class.

Welcome to Fun with Physics, where the world around you comes alive! Physics is happening everywhere- when you push a swing, roll a ball, or watch something fall. In this hands-on class, students will explore how things move, what makes them stop, and how energy is all around us. Get ready to experiment, explore, and discover the science you can see, feel, and play with every day!

Second quarter our young scientists will dive deeper into matter by exploring solids, density, and the surprising properties of polymers and non-Newtonian fluids. They will observe how materials change through heating, cooling, and mixing. Sample projects include making slime and other polymers, testing melting and freezing points, and experimenting with oobleck and bubble structures.

Topics in this Series: Messy Matter & Mixtures (Quarter 1); Squishy Science & Solids (Quarter 2); Mighty Motion & Energy (Quarter 3); Wacky Waves & Wonders (Quarter 4). Lab/Supply Fee: A class fee of $20.00 is due payable to the instructor on/before the first day of class.

Geo-Detectives discover the many mysteries of Earth Science. From large-scale disasters that come from inside the planet to microscopic contaminants in the water and soil, Geo-Detectives look high and low to understand the forces, systems, and cycles that continue to shape the Earth, its climates and ecosystems. Geo-Detectives will explore concepts as diverse as fossils to fault lines, ozone to ocean trenches, and trade winds to tundra. Hands-on labs and in-class activities will reinforce geological phenomena such as examining fossils, classifying rocks, reading the seismographic charts, or modeling the water cycle.

Second quarter, students will learn the physics behind air and water circulation, and how they combine to form wacky weather phenomena such as hurricanes, tornados, hail, fog, and even regular old rain showers. The class will see how air and water systems on earth govern global climate systems as well as local and regional weather patterns. Kids will learn how meteorologists and climatologists examine data from a variety of sources, such as ice cores, sediment cores, the fossil record, and historic records to trace large-scale changes in climate and sea level over geologic time.

Topics in this Series: Between A Rock & A Hard Place! -Geology (Quarter 1); When It Rains, It Pours! -Wacky Weather (Quarter 2); What a Disaster! Volcanoes, Tsunamis & Earthquakes (Quarter 3); and What Goes Around Comes Around!- Cycles & Seasons (Quarter 4). Lab/Supply Fee: A class fee of $20.00 is due payable to the instructor on/before the first day of class.

Rovers roam, rockets rise, and researchers reveal remarkable results. Viral videos and bold breakthroughs flood the feed, but what is solid science and what is sensational spin? In this class, students become critics and commentators on science in the news. Each week, they will examine recent discoveries, products, and claims drawn from headlines and social media, digging into the science behind the stories. Is a breakthrough truly groundbreaking, or just overhyped? Who is behind the research- a reputable institution or a questionable source? And what real impact might these ideas have?

From AI-guided Mars rovers to scientists tackling microplastics and next-generation energy, students will investigate fascinating topics while learning to evaluate the strength of scientific evidence. They will consider testing methods, sample sizes, and sources in order to separate solid science from speculation and become thoughtful consumers of scientific information.

This class is especially well suited for students who enjoy reading, discussion, and current events, including those who may not be drawn to traditional lab-based science classes. It also offers a valuable perspective for science-minded students who want to engage more deeply with real-world applications of science. Students should be reading at or above grade level and can expect to spend 30 minutes to one hour each week engaging with assigned articles or videos.

Topics: This is a quarter-long class that examines new claims and scientific announcements in the news. Each quarter is unique, and students can take all four (4) quarters with no repeated information.

Credit: Homeschool families may wish to count this course as a partial credit in science for purposes of a high school transcript.

Students will use LEGO to design and build simple engineering projects out of everyone's favorite building toy! In this 90 minute class, students will explore concepts and vocabulary in physics, mechanical engineering, structural engineering, aerospace engineering, and architecture while playing with their creations.

Second quarter, junior engineers will get "wild" and build a zoo of articulated animals! Using mechanical concepts like rachet, linkage, and levers, and the fantastic diversity in the animal kingdom, our creators will build leaping dolphins, towering giraffes, swinging monkeys, jumping grasshoppers, and more!

Each class begins with 10-minutes of free build from tubs of LEGO components followed by a short discussion and demonstration of the day's project and concepts. Students build individually or in groups. Instructors will provide individual assistance, facilitate challenges, performance testing, competitions, and modifications to projects. Some projects may have been introduced in prior year's sessions, but each new build is unique, and student's building skills and understanding will have grown.

Notes:(1)Students must be minimum age 5 and able to separate from their parents for this class. (2) Projects are built from shared, Compass-owned components, so students will not bring completed projects home. Parents, however, can step into class 15 minutes before the end of each session to photograph their child's construction.

Topics in this Series: Fantastic Fliers & Space Racers (Quarter 1); Articulated Aniamls (Quarter 2); Winter Wonders (Quarter 3); Construct a Carnival (Quarter 4)

Students will use LEGO to design and build simple engineering projects out of everyone's favorite building toy! In this 90 minute class, students will explore concepts and vocabulary in physics, mechanical engineering, structural engineering, aerospace engineering, and architecture while playing with their creations.

Second quarter, junior engineers will get "wild" and build a zoo of articulated animals! Using mechanical concepts like rachet, linkage, and levers, and the fantastic diversity in the animal kingdom, our creators will build leaping dolphins, towering giraffes, swinging monkeys, jumping grasshoppers, and more!

Each class begins with 10-minutes of free build from tubs of LEGO components followed by a short discussion and demonstration of the day's project and concepts. Students build individually or in groups. Instructors will provide individual assistance, facilitate challenges, performance testing, competitions, and modifications to projects. Some projects may have been introduced in prior year's sessions, but each new build is unique, and student's building skills and understanding will have grown.

Notes:(1)Students must be minimum age 5 and able to separate from their parents for this class. (2) Projects are built from shared, Compass-owned components, so students will not bring completed projects home. Parents, however, can step into class 15 minutes before the end of each session to photograph their child's construction.

Topics in this Series: Fantastic Fliers & Space Racers (Quarter 1); Articulated Aniamls (Quarter 2); Winter Wonders (Quarter 3); Construct a Carnival (Quarter 4)

Little Bot Builders is a busy, bouncy robotics and maker lab where our youngest engineers, ages 5-6, build, tinker, test, and discover how things work.

Second quarter, students will explore power, energy, and creative engineering design. Young builders will experiment with different power sources, including making a simple battery with a potato and constructing a wind-powered generator to learn about alternative energy.

Students will also build simple cars using everyday materials such as boxes and pencils. As they design and test their creations, they will practice explaining their ideas and preparing a poster presentation for a classroom Demo Day, helping them build early confidence in both STEM and communication skills.

There is a $25.00 supply fee due payable to the instructor on/before the first day of class. Topics in this series include: Motors & Makers (Quarter 1), Power & Prototypes (Quarter 2), Circuits & Controllers (Quarter 3), Waves & Wonders (Quarter 4).

A powerful hurricane season forecasted. Polar ice caps receding. Hydraulic fracking. Solar power. Everywhere we look, environmental science is in the news! Living Planet is a middle school environmental science class which merges the fields of geology, biology, chemistry, and meteorology to explain the earth as an interconnected system with both natural and human-made influences. This year middle schoolers will sample environmental science topics in a lab-based investigation.

Second quarter, students will embark on the study of our atmosphere, including global weather patterns, climate studies, and air pollution. The group will learn about the methods scientists use to study these phenomena, including satellite monitoring, air sampling, and chemical analyses. Students will do in-class labs to make predictions, collect and graph data, draw conclusions, and develop models of key Environmental Science processes.

Topics in this series include: Geology & Soils Lab (first quarter); Atmosphere Lab (second quarter); Water Lab (third quarter); and Climate Patterns Lab (fourth quarter). There is a $20.00 lab fee due payable to the instructor on/before the first day of class for consumable materials.

Students will tackle a variety of puzzles, games, and riddles each week that will develop their critical thinking, logic, math reasoning, and problem-solving skills while having loads of fun in class! Hands-on activities may use cards, dice, coins, cubes, toothpicks, math board games, math card games, and of course, lots of numbers. Every activity is in essence a math problem, and students will learn tips and techniques for tackling the challenges.

For each new puzzle, game, and riddle, students will learn concepts and strategies that they can apply to solving ANY math challenge, such as: the phases of solving a problem, what to do when you get stuck, how to make predictions, how to generalize from specific cases, and what questions to ask yourself. Example activities include the game of Thirty One, logic grids, cryptograms, and deduction games. Through these weekly activities, students will learn that math isn't just something done at a desk with pencil and paper, but is present everywhere you look, and that the ability to think mathematically can be not only useful, but also fun!

Students can take this class each quarter as a different selection of puzzles, games, and activities will be introduced each session. Topics in this series include: Brain Boosters (Quarter 1), Brain Builders (Quarter 2), Brain Benders (Quarter 3), and Brain Busters (Quarter 4).

LEGO Mindstorms components and motors are not just for building robots! These interconnecting pieces can be constructed into an infinite number of unique, mechanized machines- much like an erector set!

Each quarter, students will build three unique inventions like forklift, walking robot, and flapping wings. Students will incorporate simple machines, complex machines, and small motors into their projects. They will work with wheels, axles, beams, pulleys, tracks, gears, and specialty components used only in these classes.

Topics in this Series: Inventions (Quarter 1); Creations (Quarter 2): Innovations (Quarter 3); and Apparatus (Quarter 4).

Can you crack the case before time runs out? Each week, students are presented with a new medical mystery. Armed with clues like a patient's age, symptoms, and history, they must ask the right diagnostic questions to uncover what is really going on. Has this patient traveled out of the country? Has he eaten a new food? Does she have a fever, rash, or weight loss? As they narrow down the possibilities, students will determine whether the illness is bacterial, viral, fungal, or parasitic while learning how diseases spread, how they are treated, and how they can be prevented.

Second quarter, the mystery patients will be suffering from fungal infections. A partial list of featured diseases includes: Ringworm (Tinea), Candidiasis (Candida albicans), Valley Fever (Coccidioidomycosis).Lab activities will utilize safe, lab-friendly organisms (e.g., non-pathogenic bacteria, yeast, and prepared slides).

Topics in this series include: Baffling Bacteria (Quarter 1), Foul Fungus (Quarter 2), Vile Viruses (Quarter 3), and Pesky Parasites (Quarter 4). There is a $25.00 lab fee due payable to the instructor on/before the start of class.

Natural Leaders is an outdoor education and leadership program. Each week, the group will venture into the woods surrounding Lake Fairfax for an authentic, immersive adventure featuring hiking, outdoor skills, leadership, and camaraderie. At each meeting, students take turns in different roles that are key to the group's success, safety, and fun such as: coordinator (plan out the group's schedule for the day); navigator (following the map, practice orienteering); naturalist (investigate and present a lesson about local plants, animals or ecology); skills coaches (research, practice, and demonstrate a skill to others, such as knot tying or whittling); game master (plan and teach an group game or challenge); and safety officer (present on a safety or first aid topic) They will also learn survival skills such as fire-building, outdoor edibles, building shelters, use of knives, and safety/first aid.

The student-led portions of the program promote group cohesion, cooperation, and friendship, while students benefit from the positive peer pressure to come prepared for their weekly roles and responsibilities. Tweens and teens will also become more confident and comfortable as leaders and outdoor adventurers as their self-reliance skills grow. Natural Leaders is supervised by an experienced Natural Leaders mentor, trained and supported in providing a positive experience and managing safety. They typically have a passion for sharing nature with kids, and may have a background in a range of skills such as wilderness first aid, survival skills, tracking, primitive skills, and experience in hiking, camping, rock climbing, water sports, etc. Natural Leaders meets weekly rain, snow, or shine, in all temperatures. Students should always dress is layers for the forecasted weather conditions. Registered students will receive more detailed instructions about what to wear, what to bring, and where to meet prior to the start of the program.

Step outdoors and into nature's living laboratory! This outdoor science class immerses students in real-world field study where the woods, streams, and wetlands become the classroom. Each week, explorers will practice the methods of natural scientists as they investigate ecology, geology, zoology (local wildlife), botany (plants), ornithology (birds), mycology (fungi), and entomology (insects), in our own suburban ecosystem.

Students will observe natural systems in action as they examine life cycles, the water cycle, and the local watershed; explore suburban wetlands; and uncover the balance between producers, consumers, and decomposers, as well as predator- prey relationships and food webs. Seasonal cycles will guide discoveries as young naturalists watch habitats transform and learn how plants and animals adapt throughout the year.

Each week, students will explore the southern section of Sugarland Stream Valley Park in Herndon with a senior naturalist and outdoor educator. This program offers a refreshing break from sit-down, indoor, and screen-based learning,encouraging movement, fresh air, curiosity, and hands-on discovery. Students will learn to stop, look, listen, smell, touch, turn things over, and peek beneath the surface to uncover nature's hidden wonders. A portion of every session will focus on developing confidence and comfort in the outdoors. Emphasis will be placed on safe, respectful, and responsible exploration, environmental stewardship, and appreciating what we find in nature. Students will also enjoy nature-based games that reinforce teamwork and exploration skills.

See Compass's Outdoor Classes webpage for more information on meeting location, what to bring, what to wear, inclement weather, and more.

Step outdoors and into nature's living laboratory! This outdoor science class immerses students in real-world field study where the woods, streams, and wetlands become the classroom. Each week, explorers will practice the methods of natural scientists as they investigate ecology, geology, zoology (local wildlife), botany (plants), ornithology (birds), mycology (fungi), and entomology (insects), in our own suburban ecosystem.

Students will observe natural systems in action as they examine life cycles, the water cycle, and the local watershed; explore suburban wetlands; and uncover the balance between producers, consumers, and decomposers, as well as predator- prey relationships and food webs. Seasonal cycles will guide discoveries as young naturalists watch habitats transform and learn how plants and animals adapt throughout the year.

Each week, students will explore the southern section of Sugarland Stream Valley Park in Herndon with a senior naturalist and outdoor educator. This program offers a refreshing break from sit-down, indoor, and screen-based learning,encouraging movement, fresh air, curiosity, and hands-on discovery. Students will learn to stop, look, listen, smell, touch, turn things over, and peek beneath the surface to uncover nature's hidden wonders. A portion of every session will focus on developing confidence and comfort in the outdoors. Emphasis will be placed on safe, respectful, and responsible exploration, environmental stewardship, and appreciating what we find in nature. Students will also enjoy nature-based games that reinforce teamwork and exploration skills.

See Compass's Outdoor Classes webpage for more information on meeting location, what to bring, what to wear, inclement weather, and more.

Step outdoors and into nature's living laboratory! This outdoor science class immerses students in real-world field study where the woods, streams, and wetlands become the classroom. Each week, explorers will practice the methods of natural scientists as they investigate ecology, geology, zoology (local wildlife), botany (plants), ornithology (birds), mycology (fungi), and entomology (insects), in our own suburban ecosystem.

Students will observe natural systems in action as they examine life cycles, the water cycle, and the local watershed; explore suburban wetlands; and uncover the balance between producers, consumers, and decomposers, as well as predator- prey relationships and food webs. Seasonal cycles will guide discoveries as young naturalists watch habitats transform and learn how plants and animals adapt throughout the year.

Each week, students will explore the southern section of Sugarland Stream Valley Park in Herndon with a senior naturalist and outdoor educator. This program offers a refreshing break from sit-down, indoor, and screen-based learning,encouraging movement, fresh air, curiosity, and hands-on discovery. Students will learn to stop, look, listen, smell, touch, turn things over, and peek beneath the surface to uncover nature's hidden wonders. A portion of every session will focus on developing confidence and comfort in the outdoors. Emphasis will be placed on safe, respectful, and responsible exploration, environmental stewardship, and appreciating what we find in nature. Students will also enjoy nature-based games that reinforce teamwork and exploration skills.

See Compass's Outdoor Classes webpage for more information on meeting location, what to bring, what to wear, inclement weather, and more.

Step outdoors and into nature's living laboratory! This outdoor science class immerses students in real-world field study where the woods, streams, and wetlands become the classroom. Each week, explorers will practice the methods of natural scientists as they investigate ecology, geology, zoology (local wildlife), botany (plants), ornithology (birds), mycology (fungi), and entomology (insects), in our own suburban ecosystem.

Students will observe natural systems in action as they examine life cycles, the water cycle, and the local watershed; explore suburban wetlands; and uncover the balance between producers, consumers, and decomposers, as well as predator- prey relationships and food webs. Seasonal cycles will guide discoveries as young naturalists watch habitats transform and learn how plants and animals adapt throughout the year.

Each week, students will explore the southern section of Sugarland Stream Valley Park in Herndon with a senior naturalist and outdoor educator. This program offers a refreshing break from sit-down, indoor, and screen-based learning,encouraging movement, fresh air, curiosity, and hands-on discovery. Students will learn to stop, look, listen, smell, touch, turn things over, and peek beneath the surface to uncover nature's hidden wonders. A portion of every session will focus on developing confidence and comfort in the outdoors. Emphasis will be placed on safe, respectful, and responsible exploration, environmental stewardship, and appreciating what we find in nature. Students will also enjoy nature-based games that reinforce teamwork and exploration skills.

See Compass's Outdoor Classes webpage for more information on meeting location, what to bring, what to wear, inclement weather, and more.

Venture outdoors each week to explore the woods with a senior naturalist and mentor while learning valuable survival skills. Students will learn how to construct a temporary shelter, make cordage, craft a bow and arrow, identify edible plants, track animals, and purify water. The group will learn knife safety and skills like whittling a spoon and spatula; how to use maps and compass (orienteering), and basic first aid. Students will practice animal and plant identification and will catch and identify macro-invertebrates to determine stream health (outdoor temperatures permitting.)

Emphasis will be on becoming comfortable with things you encounter outdoors, safe exploration of the woods, how to be a good steward of nature, and what to do if you ever became lost or injured in the woods. Skills will be reintroduced and adapted each each quarter because the available plants, animals, materials, and water sources change with each season. Students will have a blast, develop greater self-confidence, and build a strong connection to nature and to the real world! Explorations in the woods is for enrolled students only, and tag-along parents and siblings cannot be accommodated. For information on where the class meets, what to wear, and inclement weather, see the webpage for Compass's Outdoor Classes.

See Compass's Outdoor Classes webpage for more information on meeting location, what to bring, what to wear, inclement weather, and more.

Venture outdoors each week to explore the woods with a senior naturalist and mentor while learning valuable survival skills. Students will learn how to construct a temporary shelter, make cordage, craft a bow and arrow, identify edible plants, track animals, and purify water. The group will learn knife safety and skills like whittling a spoon and spatula; how to use maps and compass (orienteering), and basic first aid. Students will practice animal and plant identification and will catch and identify macro-invertebrates to determine stream health (outdoor temperatures permitting.)

Emphasis will be on becoming comfortable with things you encounter outdoors, safe exploration of the woods, how to be a good steward of nature, and what to do if you ever became lost or injured in the woods. Skills will be reintroduced and adapted each each quarter because the available plants, animals, materials, and water sources change with each season. Students will have a blast, develop greater self-confidence, and build a strong connection to nature and to the real world! Explorations in the woods is for enrolled students only, and tag-along parents and siblings cannot be accommodated. For information on where the class meets, what to wear, and inclement weather, see the webpage for Compass's Outdoor Classes.

See Compass's Outdoor Classes webpage for more information on meeting location, what to bring, what to wear, inclement weather, and more.

Every parent knows that kids are curious, captivated, and quick to learn technology-based products. Programming Projects builds on that curiosity to introduce computer science basics, problem-solving, and computational thinking through play-based learning.

Second quarter, students will enjoy a fun, intuitive introduction to computer coding with Scratch. Scratch is an open source graphical programming language created by MIT. It uses 'blocks' of pre-written code that students rearrange and manipulate to customize their own interactive stories and characters. They will create short animations by learning to link blocks of script (programming instructions). Students will learn to compile the instructions to control and change onscreen elements such as graphics, text, photos, sound effects, and animated characters. Young coders will use logic and computational reasoning while learning to manipulate variables. They will be able to access this same platform at home and continue with what learned in class. Learn more about Scratch here https://scratch.mit.edu/parents

Note: Students must be minimum age 6. Kindergartners may not enroll.

There is a $20.00 technology use fee due payable to the instructor on/before the first day. Topics in this series include: Sphero indi Robotic Cars (Quarter 1), Scratch Coding (Quarter 2), Sphero Robotic Ball Quarter 3) and Tinkercad Design (Quarter 4)

Student engineers will be challenged to design, build, and program a Sumo robot to compete in compete in table-top combat. Will the robotic sumo wrestler be able to shove a full can or topple an opponent with the use of motors, sensors, and articulated components?

Student engineers will be challenged to design, build, and program a robot to complete several unique mazes in the fastest possible time. Students will learn to program their robots to make "decisions" when exploring an unfamiliar maze such as "go straight until you encounter a wall" and "turn to the right if you run into an obstacle."

Students will use the LEGO MINDSTORMS Education EV3 robotics sets. They will build with motors, wheels/axles, gears, levers, and special components. Students will have to install touch, sound, color, gyro, ultrasonic, and/or infrared sensors while also learning to program sequences and commands that use input/output devices for controlled movements and precise turns. Using the drag-and-drop EV3 programming menu, students will learn to program their robots while experimenting with key concepts such as fixed values, variables, loops, and logic constructs.

This course integrates science, engineering and computational thinking while introducing physical constraints, units of measurement, and coordinate systems. But, don't worry, this is a beginning robotics class. Prior experience is not expected, but returning students are welcome. Each student will build his/her own robotic project, so students can progress and customize at their own pace. In general, in this class, students will spend two weeks assembling, three weeks programming, and two weeks testing and re-designing. Topics in this Series: Maze Runner (Quarter 1), Sumo Bots (Quarter 2), Mars Rover (Quarter 3), and Explore Atlantis (Quarter 4).

Student engineers will be challenged to design, build, and program a Sumo robot to compete in compete in table-top combat. Will the robotic sumo wrestler be able to shove a full can or topple an opponent with the use of motors, sensors, and articulated components?

Student engineers will be challenged to design, build, and program a robot to complete several unique mazes in the fastest possible time. Students will learn to program their robots to make "decisions" when exploring an unfamiliar maze such as "go straight until you encounter a wall" and "turn to the right if you run into an obstacle."

Students will use the LEGO MINDSTORMS Education EV3 robotics sets. They will build with motors, wheels/axles, gears, levers, and special components. Students will have to install touch, sound, color, gyro, ultrasonic, and/or infrared sensors while also learning to program sequences and commands that use input/output devices for controlled movements and precise turns. Using the drag-and-drop EV3 programming menu, students will learn to program their robots while experimenting with key concepts such as fixed values, variables, loops, and logic constructs.

This course integrates science, engineering and computational thinking while introducing physical constraints, units of measurement, and coordinate systems. But, don't worry, this is a beginning robotics class. Prior experience is not expected, but returning students are welcome. Each student will build his/her own robotic project, so students can progress and customize at their own pace. In general, in this class, students will spend two weeks assembling, three weeks programming, and two weeks testing and re-designing. Topics in this Series: Maze Runner (Quarter 1), Sumo Bots (Quarter 2), Mars Rover (Quarter 3), and Explore Atlantis (Quarter 4).

Private Lessons with Suzan Park

Cancellation/Rescheduling: In the event of a change in your schedule, Compass requires 24 hours notice to reschedule the private lessons. Every effort will be made to reschedule the session at a time that is mutually agreeable to the teacher, the student/client, and Compass. In the event of a no-show or change/cancellation occurring less than 24 hours before the scheduled instruction session, pre-paid fees will be forfeited and no refund will be offered.

"S" is for science, and "A" is for art in the study of STEAM, but have you thought about the science in art? Artists must understand the science of the materials that the use: how they tint and texturize, mix and melt, dye and dry, blend or bend. There is a complex community of scientists and engineers with specialties in polymers, glass, chemicals, paper, and textiles who design the materials that artists use to create their art. This class will learn about the science and properties of some unique artistic processes and materials and how and why they work.

Second quarter, the class will experiment with the chemistry and behavior of paints and dyes. Students will work with dyes that float, suminagashi (Japanese ink marbling) techniques, and photoreactive paper. They will experiment with centrifugal chromatography and the science of colors. The class will discover where pigments come from- both natural and synthetic- and look at special types such as glow-in-the-dark pigments. Students will discover the difference and unique properties of oil paints, acrylic paints, and gouache paint with respect to blending, dry time, texture, sheen, etc. Other class activities include making and using your own paint, working with thermochromic pigments (change color based on temperature), and using photoreactive paper (chemical changes based on light exposure).

There is a $35.00 supply fee due payable to the instructor on/before the first day.Topics in this series: Resins & Polymers (Quarter 1), Paints & Dyes (Quarter 2), Optical Illusions & Color (Quarter 3), and Paper Engineers (Quarter 4).

The Science of Stuff takes students beyond observation and into understanding the powerful chemical and physical laws that govern the world around them. Through engaging, hands-on investigations, students will explore the field of physical science covering matter, molecules, forces, motion, chemical reactions, waves, electricity, and magnetism in ways that make complex ideas clear and tangible. Each quarter- CLICK!, CRASH!, FIZZ!, and SPARK!- builds a deeper understanding of how and why objects move, interact, and change. Students will test ideas, analyze results, and discover physics and chemistry at work.

Second Quarter, students will investigate how matter moves and interacts. The class will explore forces, inertia, Newton's laws of motion, momentum, energy transfer, collisions, friction, and gravity. Students will see how the physical properties of matter explored in quarter one connect directly to how objects accelerate, collide, and come to rest. Labs include inertia demonstrations and experiments with momentum and energy transfer.

Topics in this Series: CLICK! (Matter & Molecules)- Quarter 1; CRASH! (Forces & Motion)- Quarter 2 ; FIZZ! (Chemical Reactions)- Quarter 3; and SPARK! (Waves, Electricity & Magnetism)- Quarter 4. There is a $20.00 lab fee due payable to the instructor on/before the first day of class.

The Science of Stuff takes students beyond observation and into understanding the powerful chemical and physical laws that govern the world around them. Through engaging, hands-on investigations, students will explore the field of physical science covering matter, molecules, forces, motion, chemical reactions, waves, electricity, and magnetism in ways that make complex ideas clear and tangible. Each quarter- CLICK!, CRASH!, FIZZ!, and SPARK!- builds a deeper understanding of how and why objects move, interact, and change. Students will test ideas, analyze results, and discover physics and chemistry at work.

Second Quarter, students will investigate how matter moves and interacts. The class will explore forces, inertia, Newton's laws of motion, momentum, energy transfer, collisions, friction, and gravity. Students will see how the physical properties of matter explored in quarter one connect directly to how objects accelerate, collide, and come to rest. Labs include inertia demonstrations and experiments with momentum and energy transfer.

Topics in this Series: CLICK! (Matter & Molecules)- Quarter 1; CRASH! (Forces & Motion)- Quarter 2 ; FIZZ! (Chemical Reactions)- Quarter 3; and SPARK! (Waves, Electricity & Magnetism)- Quarter 4. There is a $20.00 lab fee due payable to the instructor on/before the first day of class.

A radiograph for a roly-poly rabbit, a healthy habitat for a hedgehog, or fortified food for a ferret. Sometimes even the smallest mammal pets need medical care! Lots of kids love animals, and some even think about becoming veterinarians and animal specialists.

During the second quarter, students will be introduced to the world of veterinary medicine through the lens of caring for small mammals. There is a lot of science in the care and keeping of these micro pets. Hamsters and gerbils, rats and mice, hedgehogs, rabbits, guinea pigs, and ferrets all have different needs in terms of diets, exercise, and habitats. Our budding veterinarians will learn to perform steps of a well-pet check-up and identify common medical
care needs and preventatives. Students will discover fun and fascinating facts, similarities, and differences in pocket pets.

Class meetings will include hands-on and interactive demonstrations, simulations, role-playing, activities, games, stories, or short video clips to convey the information. Each class will focus on a different pet with a corresponding project or activity. During the final week, students receive a "graduation" diploma.

A lab fee of $20.00 is due payable to the instructor on the first day of class. Topics in this Series: Discover Dogs (Quarter 1); Micro Mammal Pets (Quarter 2); Horse Healthcare (Quarter 3); Bird Buddies (Quarter 4)