Saturday STEM (Grades 3 – 8)

STEM Programs for Grades 3 – 8

Explore. Create. Discover. Innovate.

Saturday STEM is back for the 2026-2027 school year, with exciting new ways to experience STEM at IMSA! Designed for students in 3rd–8th grade, each Saturday program offers a hands-on opportunity to explore a new STEM topic through creative challenges, experiments, problem-solving, and discovery. Each grade band activity (3rd/4th, 5th/6th, 7th/8th) is tailored to support age-appropriate inquiry skills and developmental interests.

Each experience is a new STEM adventure. Families can register for one program, choose several throughout the year, or join us for all six. Each Saturday STEM is a unique academic-focused experience, so students can jump in whenever a topic sparks their curiosity.

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NEW: Record Your STEM Journey!

Each IMSA STEM experience now comes with a unique, collectible sticker inspired by that month’s theme. Students can collect their stickers throughout the year and add them to their IMSA STEM Passport—a fun way to celebrate the STEM adventures they choose to explore.

The more Saturdays you join, the more you can collect! Families who register for multiple Saturdays may also receive unique IMSA STEM gear!

NEW: Register for multiple Saturday’s at once and Save $$!

Students still have the option to sign up for sessions one at a time, but based on feedback, we are now opening registration for all six Saturday STEMs at once, with multi-session AND sibling discounts.

Multi-Session Discounts

  • 1 session: $75
  • 2 sessions: 5% off
  • 3 sessions: 10% off
  • 4 sessions: 15% off
  • 5 or 6 sessions: 20% off

Sibling Discounts

  • 2 siblings: 10% off
  • 3 siblings: 15% off
  • 4 siblings: 20% off

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School year 2026-2027 Saturday STEM Lineup:

October 03, 2026: DNA Detectives

Put on your detective hat and investigate the mysteries hidden inside DNA! Students will explore genetics through hands-on activities and challenges as they learn more about the code of life and uncover clues about how traits are passed from one generation to the next.

November 07, 2026: Creative Chemistry: Art by Design

What happens when chemistry meets creativity? Find out as we use chemical reactions, materials, color, and experimentation to create art. Students will discover that the chemistry lab can be just as creative as the art studio!

December 05, 2026: Inventor’s Workshop: Design & Build

Step into IMSA’s engineering toy shop! Students will use the engineering design process to design and build a creative toy to meet a customer’s needs. From brainstorming to building, this hands-on workshop puts students in the role of engineer, designer, and maker.

February 06, 2027: Game On! Math, Logic, and Strategy

Ready to play? Explore the mathematics hiding inside traditional games and puzzles. Students will use logic, probability, statistics, data, strategy, and problem-solving to investigate what makes games work—and maybe discover how to play them in a whole new way.

March 06, 2027: Technology Playground

A hands-on experience where technology is yours to explore, experiment, and create. In Technology Playground, students will explore some of the ways to utilize various technologies to ask questions, solve problems, and design solutions. Come play, tinker, create, and see what you can make!

April 10, 2027: Superhero STEM: Forces and Energy

What would it take to have superpowers? Explore the science behind the action as we investigate forces, motion, and energy through superhero-inspired challenges. Students will discover the real STEM principles hiding behind some of our favorite superhuman feats.

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*Applying and qualifying for a scholarship does not guarantee an award or registration into the program. To qualify for a scholarship, the student’s family is required to submit proof of financial eligibility: if you qualify for SNAP or Free/Reduced lunch, you qualify, but we need you to submit proof of eligibility. If you do not have a form in your possession or have difficulty getting it from your school or IDHS, you may submit a screenshot showing eligibility. Please contact us at studentenrichment@imsa.edu if you have difficulty with this requirement. Alternatively, a 2023 or 2024  federal tax return showing proof of family income may be submitted.

  • Scholarships are awarded on a rolling basis, so it is to your benefit to submit all supplemental forms as soon as possible.
  • WATCH YOUR EMAIL and CHECK YOUR SPAM FOLDER! Award recipients will be notified via email and must reply to the scholarship offers within the time period indicated in the email.
  • NOTE: You may choose to either pay for program registration OR apply for a scholarship and await award notification. Your scholarship application will not be considered if you also complete a paid registration.

No requests for a registration cancellation/refund will be accepted for all in-person Saturday STEM programming.