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:

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!

  • 3rd & 4th Grade  The Mystery of the Magic Marker – What if your marker could do something amazing? In this hands-on STEM adventure, students will investigate mysterious markers that change color right before their eyes. They’ll explore the chemistry behind these surprising color changes, experiment with different solutions, and discover how acids and bases can transform color. Then, they’ll become engineers and design their own color-changing marker before putting it to the test in a creative art challenge. Will their colors change the way they expect? There’s only one way to find out! Get ready to experiment, engineer, and create some colorful chemistry magic.
  • 5th & 6th Grade Is My Picture Sunburned? – When we think of colors associated with sunburns, many people think of tan or red—but what about blue? In this hands-on STEM experience, students will explore how sunlight and chemistry can work together to create art. They’ll use chemical processes to create cyanotypes and anthotypes, investigating how sunlight, including UV light, can trigger chemical changes that produce visible images. As they experiment with light, materials, and chemical reactions, students will discover how chemistry can leave its mark on a page—and even a tote bag they can take home. Get ready to experiment with light, chemistry, and creativity to create art you can see!
  • 7th & 8th Grade  The Chemistry of Creativity – How can chemistry turn an idea into a work of art? In this hands-on STEM experience, students will investigate how chemical reactions and material properties can be used to create unique and functional artwork. They’ll explore physical and chemical changes, mixtures, curing, and material properties as they create a mold for an object they will later paint. Along the way, students will discover how artists, designers, engineers, and manufacturers use chemistry to transform materials and bring ideas to life. Once their molds are complete, they’ll use them to create and paint a final artistic piece. Get ready to experiment with materials, explore the chemistry of making, and turn an idea into something tangible!
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.