Our After-School Program Themes
NASA Academy of Future Space Explorers
NASA and Mad Science collaborate to educate the next generation! Children go on a voyage of discovery with unique hands-on activities, and amazing demonstrations that explore the sun and stars, space technology, rocket science, the atmosphere, planets and moons, and more!
Crazy Chemworks
Welcome to the world of chemistry! Children make gooey slime, experiment with different reactions and learn to use the tools that chemists use. Polymers and catalysts are only two of the fascinating concepts young scientists explore in this thrilling trip through the chemistry lab!
STEM Odyssey
What makes your hair stand up? Is it a magnet or magic? And just what are carbs, anyway? Kids explore a variety of introductory topics about the wonders of both the life and physical sciences.
Fantastic Forces
Ever wonder how bridges stand up over water? Or how gravity works? Kids explore a variety of introductory topics in engineering, physics, and chemistry, as they learn how science can impact our everyday lives.
Science Suprise
Experiments are the best part of being a Mad Scientist! In this program, kids learn about several specialized areas of science, including forensics, geology, meteorology, entomology, and mechanical engineering.
Ready, STEM, Go!
Kids find out how science is at work in the world around them! They learn about the animal kingdom, both on land and under the sea. They make mixtures and explore the science of motion and energy. They also discover the technology that powers our modern world and keeps us connected.
Atmosphere and Beyond
We’re on a mission to explore the atmosphere on Earth, and beyond! Travel to the end of the rainbow and make a sunset. Mix up various planetary atmospheres, one molecule at a time.
Living in Space
Experience the life of an astronaut as you suit up for space flight! Use teamwork to complete an important space mission. Bring home the challenge of repairing a solar panel on the ISS with your very own Mad Science Spacewalk Mission.
Planets and Moons
Explore the farthest reaches of our solar system and create a lunar eclipse on our home planet. See the size difference between the Earth and its moon. Build your very own Mad Science® Gravity Assisted Launcher to simulate gravitational pull.
Rocket Science
This is your chance to be a rocket scientist! Investigate the four forces of flight with the help of a Unique Flying Object! Explore the science involved in rocket construction as you build your own Skyblazer II Rocket that you can take home!
Space Phenomena
Probe the mysteries of meteors and bounce around satellite light in this phenomenal program on space events. Take home a Mad Science® Space Telescope to explore faraway objects just like the satellites orbiting around the Earth!
Space Technology
Discover technology that’s out of this world! Steer a laser beam through a maze, and discover everyday objects originally designed for use in space! Take home a Mad Science Stereoscopic Viewer and observe actual 3-D images from NASA’s probe transmissions.
Space Travel
Learn what it takes to be a true globetrotter! Race a balloon rocket and design your own balloon powered car engine as you learn about thrust. See the principles of propulsion at work in a real rocket launch and discover how we really get rockets moving.
Sun and Stars
This stellar program leads you through the life cycles of the stars! Learn about our star; the sun, and see stardust form. Use your Mad Science® Cosmic Disk and new found knowledge about the constellations to navigate the night sky!
Harnessing Heat
Children learn about the science of heat and heat transfer. They get energized and learn about molecular motion by acting like hot and cool molecules. Things really heat up as children explore insulators and conductors, temperature-sensitive equipment, a tactile temperature test, and a sand-shaking experiment with frictional heat.
Lights, Color, Action!
In this investigation into optics, children explore the science of light & color. They observe how colored lights can blend to make white light, & how a prism can separate white light into colors. A hands-on chromatography investigation reveals how inks can be separated into pigments. Experiments with filters & UV light provide a deeper understanding of our vision & the electromagnetic spectrum.
Magnetic Magic
Magnetic Magic reveals the science behind the mysteries of magnetism. Children explore magnets and their properties and learn about their forces of attraction and repulsion. They use magnetic wands, visualize magnetic fields, and magnetize paper clips. From exciting electromagnets to gravity-defying magnetic levitation, to the poles of the planet Earth, magnetic magic is all around us!
Mission: Nutrition
Children focus on nutrition and fitness, including the essential components of a healthy diet and lifestyle. They learn how to read nutrition labels, and sort foods according to their nutrient contents. An experiment with emulsions shows them how bile helps our bodies digest fats. Children conduct a variety of hands-on experiments to understand how food fuels our bodies.
Optical Illusions
Children explore the physics and psychology of optical illusions. They learn how our eyes can trick our brains as they observe and interact with objects that seem to change right before their eyes! Children manipulate flexible mirrors and explore the world with inverted vision. They explore the optics of classic mirror illusions, and experiment to create illusions of their own.
Sonic Sounds
By exploring the science of sound, children learn about sound waves & how our ears perceive them. They model the way sound moves through solids, liquids & gasses, & then experiment with making \nsound travel through different shapes & materials to create cool sounds with different frequencies & tones. They interact with sound-sensitive lights, & \nre-engineer their voices with voice-distorting tec
Smelly Science
The science of scents is in the air! Children will learn about our sense of smell and put their noses to the test as they experiment with the chemistry of aromas. From human nasal passages to animal adaptations, from enticing aromas to stinky stenches, the nose knows!
Watts-Up
Children discover the world of static electricity. They explore electroscopes, and experiment to make feathers levitate within a static field. From lightning storms to wireless lighting, the Van de Graaff generator reveals the exciting and invisible actions of electrons in a brilliant, hair-raising display!
Lab Works
Kids experience what it's like to be real Mad Scientists in this whirlwind class on how a lab works! They learn to manipulate laboratory equipment and practice using it.
Junior Reactors
Children create a tiny world of atoms! They learn to recognize chemical reactions and mix up a few reactive ingredients for some sensations results.
pH Phactor
Kids slide down the colorful pH scale and dip into the world of acids and bases! They explore pH extremes and discover whether liquids found in their homes are acids or bases using pH paper!
Slime Time
Ooze into a gooey hour of sliming around! Create slime using the Mad Science recipe, and then enter the Slime Olympics! Take home your own concoction of Mad Science Slime!
Chem in a Flash
Children hop on board the chemistry express for a high-speed science experience! They perform instantaneous experiments in this fast-paced class about split-second reactions that go like mad!
Glow Show
Students discover amazing things that glow bright in the dark! They probe the properties of light and explore some unusual application of glow-in-the-dark technology! They learn to make secret messages that only they can see!
Super Sticky Stuff
Kids stick it to the walls and push the power of tape to the limits in this hour-long class on things that cling! They build a bond with glue and learn about the properties of different adhesives!
Dry Ice Capades
Students manipulate matter in all of its three states! They watch metal become a liquid using boiling water and see water become a solid as it comes into contact with dry ice. Coolest of all, they get to learn about dry ice's ability to sublimate - go straight from a solid to a gas!
All About Animals
Children go beyond feathers, fins, and fur to find out more about the habitats, anatomy, and life cycles of amazing creatures. They experiment with camouflage and learn to identify and imitate sounds that animals make.
Life in the Sea
Children learn about the vast range of life found in the sea - from plankton to sponges to whales! They learn how living things are adapted to their ocean habitats and find out what humans can do to protect ocean life.
Energy Burst
Children experiment with potential and kinetic energy as hopping and spinning toys pop, jump, and flip. They also will learn about the potential of stored energy in wind-up gadgets.
Get Connected
Children take on telecommunications! They chat over cables, link to a network and work with radio signals. They learn about the technology developed to allow for long-distance communication and investigate the electromagnetic spectrum.
Mix It Up
Children shake up solutions and make mixtures with common household elements. They learn about the different types of mixtures and how to separate solutions. Children explore filtering technology and follow a color-changing experiment to see how useful suspensions can be. Children also try out the tools and techniques of mixture sorting.
Moving Motion
Children learn all about the forces behind the movement of plains trains, and automobiles. They explore Newton's laws of motion and get a feel for frictions, inertia, and gravity. They see how mass effects movement and try out some physics tricks!
Radical Robots
Children explore how robots make our lives easier. They program a robot to move through an obstacle course and then control and automaton through sound and light.
Super Power Sources
Children check out power generation using both mechanical force and chemical reactions. They turn on light bulbs and fans, find out what makes a battery work. They learn about renewable and non-renewable energy sources and just how much effort it takes to power machines.
Walloping Weather
Kids get weather wise and a uncover the reason for seasons. They create three-day weather forecasts, stage statistically-charged indoor storms, and spot the sun’s invisible UV rays.
Bugs!
Kids engross themselves in entomology! They inspect authentic insect specimens. They update their insect anatomy know-how and match up insects with their habitats.
Detective Science
Kids play detective and help crack a case! They inspect fingerprints, mystery powders, ink samples, and DNA. Then, they create a composite from memory.
Earthworks
Kids dig into Earth Science! They uncover rock samples and discover how they formed. They inspect fluorescing minerals, model the moving plates that cause bends and breaks, and learn how sediment stacks.
Mad Machines
Kids see how simple machines lighten their load! They launch with levers, secure with screws, and work with wedges. Then, they use pulleys to move heavy objects with ease.
Movie Effects
Kids discover why science is the real star on the big screen. They create cool sound effects and toy with 3-D technology. They make motion pictures come alive and sketch a short feature.
Science of Toys
What makes toys work? Kids learn about motorized toys and take a spin with kinetic tops. They balance a bird to reveal its center of gravity.
Kitchen Chemistry
Kids cook up a chemical reaction! They blow up a balloon using yeast and go on a nutrient hunt. They act out digestion from start to finish and get a glimpse of their guts in action.
Che-mystery
Children encounter the mysterious wonders of chemical science. They discover the difference between physical and chemical changes through exciting, hands-on experiments.
Current Events
Children investigate conductors, insulators, and other elements in the world of circuit electricity. They connect with circuits and discover the wonders of technology!
Fun-damental Forces
Kids find out about forces by doing experiments on gravity, centripetal force, and inertia. They check out a gyroscopes, bike wheels, rotating platforms revealing the concepts of precession and centripetal force as they discover how forces affect motion.
Science of Magic
Children discover the magic of science and learn the science behind some well-known magic tricks! They untangle Houdini's chains and learn how mirrors and optics can make things disappear.
Fantastic Fliers
Children discover how the four forces of flight help things soar into the sky. They build all kinds of paper aircraft to help them understand in a tangible, hands-on way!
Super Structures
Kids test out the basics of architectural design and structural engineering in this hands-on class about structures. They explore how triangles, arches, and bridges give strength to structures.
Under Pressure
Kids discover how Bernoulli's principle can keep things in the air and how air pressure can be used to move things. We'll make ping pong balls float and water rise!
Wacky Water
Children explore the amazing properties of water – density, solvency and surface tension – in this hands-on look at how water works.
BRING MAD SCIENCE AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS TO YOUR SCHOOL
