HomeWorkshop: Junior Scientists

2026-2027 After School Junior Scientists grades 1-3

Quicklink: https://nescitech.org/JS

For students who love science in grades 1 through 3, the After School Junior Scientist workshops are fun and educational enrichment activities. A different topic every WEDNESDAY 4:00-5:00 pm. Space is limited. We will accept 6 students in each workshop. Each workshop is $20. We also have After School Workshops for older students.

+ Register for any SINGLE workshops according to your schedule and your child's interests.

JS-01, Sep 09: Liquid Nitrogen experiments, super conductors experiments, phases of matter, extreme temperatures.
JS-02, Sep 16: Astronomy, planetarium show, learn about Galileo, space telescopes, Jupiter, the Moon.
Sat, Sep 19: Meet Galileo "in persona" from 6:30-7:30 pm. Free public event.
JS-03, Sep 23: Space science, learn about rockets, Mars, the Moon, build a paper rocket and launch it outside.
JS-04, Sep 30: Physics of light and color, use a spectroscope to learn about elements like Hydrogen, Helium, Neon.
JS-05, Oct 21: TBA.
JS-06, Oct 28: TBA.
JS-07, Nov 04: TBA.
JS-08, Nov 18: TBA.
JS-09, Dec 02: TBA.
JS-10, Dec 09, TBA.
JS-11, Dec 16, TBA.

+ Sample STEM activities from last year are listed below. Our selections depend on supplies, weather, and other variables. Activities will be an exploration of STEM topics that will introduce students to new concepts and challenge them to think and learn.

+ The lead instructor has been a teacher for 47 years and has taught math, algebra, Latin, English, chemistry, astronomy, electronics, coding, woodworking, graphic design, photography, amateur radio, archery. Adult instructors are CORI/SORI checked.

+ Parents are encouraged to stay during the workshop to assist their own children, particularly those who are new or have difficulty paying attention or using tools.

In addition to registering for this workshop, please fill out the Workshop Student Permissions Form.

For proper planning of lessons and allocating materials, please register and pay at least 3 days before the first class of a session starts, or call to inquire about late registration. No, we do not take walk-ins.

Please schedule a tour and interview before registering. We want to be sure there is a good match with your child's interests and temperament to the program. This is not a program for children who need extra supervision or behavioral correction. Sign up for one of our regular open houses. We want you and your child to be comfortable with our facility and program.

NOTICE: For safety and proper supervision, NO OTHER CHILDREN may be in the facility except those registered and participating in the classes.

Junior Scientist Workshop - Themes and Topics

RADIO - Exploring Radio Waves (2025-12-09) – talk through portable radios, understanding the speed of light and astronomical distances.

RADIO - Exploring Communications (2025-12-02) – how Morse Code works, how to send by light or sound. Make a portable Morse Code keyer.

RADIO - Learn about Amateur Radio – how people communicate through radio, how waves travel, how radio works.

SPACE - Exploring Rocketry (2025-09-03) – building air-powered paper rockets, launching them outside and learning about propulsion and physics.

SPACE - Exploring Rocketry (2026-03-24, 2026-05-12) – building air-powered paper rockets, launching them outside and learning about the Artemis Mission and NASA’s return to the Moon.

SPACE - Exploring Earth-Sun Motion – solar system, apparent motion vs. real motion, how we get day/night. Make a portable sun dial.

SPACE - Exploring Gravity (2025-09-09) – use a Gravity Well to see how a large MASS (star) can warp space and cause smaller masses (planets) to orbit it. Journey to a Black Hole in a planetarium multimedia show.

SPACE - Exploring Star Patterns (2025-09-16; 2026-02-03) – constellations and how they got their names, mythology vs science. Design your own constellation and myth. Explore Stellarium, a planetarium software you can use at home.

SPACE - Exploring Meteorites – rocks from space, experiment with them to see what they’re made of. Hold a rock from the asteroid belt, a rock older than the Earth.

SPACE - Exploring The Moon (2026-01-20) – scale modeling activity, size-distance, craters, hold a rock from the moon. Planetarium show.

SPACE - Exploring The Solar System – scale modeling, size-distance, names and order of the planets, rocky vs gaseous. Make a scale model.

SPACE - Exploring Telescopes – refractor vs. reflector, how does light travel? Watch planetarium show about photons and the human eye.

SPACE - Current Events in Space (2026-01-28) – learn about the Artemis Mission and NASA’s return to the Moon. Hold a rock from the moon. Experiment with a gravity well. Watch Journey to the Center of the Milky Way in the planetarium.

ENERGY - Exploring Temperature – (2026-02-24) motion of molecules, what is heat, what is cold, phases of matter. Experiment with Liquid Nitrogen, magnets & superconductors, a mag-lev superconductor train track, and make solid nitrogen.

ENERGY - Exploring Temperature - Endothermic and Exothermic reactions. Conduction and Insulation. Make an Ice Pack.

ENERGY - Exploring Energy - What is hotter, red star or blue star? Yellow flame or Blue flame? Make a ... (TBD)

LIGHT - Exploring Light and Color – understanding the visible spectrum, refraction, and color. Make a kaleidoscope.

LIGHT - Exploring Mirrors and Lenses (2026-01-06) – learning how light reflects and refracts, how microscopes and telescopes work. Make a periscope.

LIGHT - Exploring Spectroscopy (2026-01-13) - learning about the colors of the rainbow, spectra, diffraction, and prisms. Make a spectroscope.

LIGHT - Exploring Solar Cells (2026-03-31) - learning about solar cells and panels, generating electricity from light. Make a solar powered car.

CHEMISTRY - Exploring Atoms and Molecules (2025-10-07) – what things are made of, reactions, compounds. Make molecules of H₂O, CO₂, and O².

CHEMISTRY - Exploring Chemistry (2025-09-30) – chemical reaction of baking soda and vinegar. Make exploding baggies, a CO2 fire extinguisher, and mini soda rockets.

CHEMISTRY - Exploring Oobleck (2025-12-09) – experiment with a non-newtonian fluid (cornstarch & water), make it come alive with sound, take some home.

CHEMISTRY - Exploring Polymorphism (2025-09-23) – experiment with a plastic material that changes phase so you can mold it, insert an LED, and make beautiful light-up ornaments to take home.

ELECTRICITY - Exploring Static Electricity – explore +/- charges, make static using balloons and friction, use a Van de Graff generator.

ELECTRICITY - Exploring Electricity and Magnetism – create an electromagnet and lemon battery, understanding electromagnetism.

ELECTRICITY - Exploring Electric Circuits – understanding current electricity, voltage, LEDs, and resistance. Make an LED nightlight.

ATMOSPHERE - (2026-03-03) Exploring Air Pressure – atmospheric pressure, suction cups and hovering beach balls, Bernoulli principle, and more.

ATMOSPHERE - Exploring Tornadoes – how tornadoes form, air vs. water, tornadoes on other planets. Make a tornado with bottles and tornado tube.

ATMOSPHERE - Exploring Weather – how winds travel in the atmosphere, how rain and snow forms, make clouds in a bottle.

PHYSICS - Exploring Physics of Collisions – how to land a rover on Mars, or drop a rover with an egg from 3 stories up and have it survive.

PHYSICS - Exploring Friction – concept of aerodynamics with vehicles, friction of moving air and tires. Build a pinewood race car.

PHYSICS - Exploring Geometry – shapes and angles, identifying regular polygons, angles of reflection. Play a billiards game and practice angles.

GEOLOGY - (2025-10-01) Exploring rocks and minerals, learn about metamorphic, vs. sedimentary vs. igneous, start a rock collection from ones we give you.

GEOLOGY - (2025-10-14) Exploring gems and crystals, learn about quartz, amethyst, citrine, and diamonds, start a collection with ones we give you.

GEOLOGY - (2025-10-21) Exploring fluorescent minerals, understanding UV, InfraRed, and visual spectrum, experiment with invisible ink and UV light.

WOODWORKING - (2025-10-28) Make a glowing pumpkin ornament for Halloween. Learn to use the laser cutter, drill press, and sand paper.

WOODWORKING - (2025-11-11, 11-18) Make a pinewood derby car. Learn to use a saw, sandpaper, glue, hammer, nails, then decorate and race your car.