Spark Curiosity in YOUR Classroom

In-School

STEM Experience

Discover our innovative in-school STEM programs that spark students’ curiosity and love for learning. Our hands-on, interactive activities and projects provide students with an engaging educational experience that prepares them for future careers.

For Grades K-6

Our Partners in Education

We Come To You!

We are teachers too!
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Welcome to our In-School STEM Experience program, where learning becomes an unforgettable adventure! We’re excited to bring the wonders of science, technology, engineering, and math directly into your classroom through our engaging and interactive lessons. With our hands-on experiences, we aim to inspire young minds, foster curiosity, and cultivate a passion for STEM subjects — without the hassle of an off-campus field trip.

Eliminate the hassle of off-campus field trips.

  By bringing our expert instructors directly to you, we eliminate the hassle of off campus field trips, making it easy to integrate STEM into your curriculum.

Keep that familiar envirionment for the kiddos.

Our In-School STEM program offers a unique opportunity for students to explore STEM concepts in a familiar and comfortable environment—their own classroom!

All the value, with none of the prep, work, and clean up!

We get it. The flashy science and STEM lessons are SO much work to prep, but we all know they are so important and make the kids exclaim, “Best day EVER!” Let us handle the tech and mess and chemical safety.

Range of Arizona standards aligned, hands-on topics.

Our In-School STEM experiences cover a range of topics, from robotics and 3D printing to bubble science and chemical reactions. Each lesson is carefully designed to align with AZ Science and Technology Standards and spark curiosity in students of all ages. Through hands-on experiments, interactive demonstrations, and collaborative activities, we aim to make learning both fun and meaningful.

School staff and kids love us!

Book Your Experience

Pricing

  • 1st STEM Experience $250
  • Each additional experience of same topic scheduled on the same day, $200.
  • Each session is for one classroom or approx 30 kids.

Contact Nerding

OR CALL
(833) NERDING

Scheduling Requirements

Each STEM Experience is 55-60 minutes. Ideally for multiple back to back experiences, Nerding can set up in one classroom and have each class rotate to us for maximum efficiency and minimum downtime. We understand that school schedules and spaces can be tricky, so we work with you on what’s best. Experiences that have specific classroom needs are noted in the descriptions.

Technology Needs

The Nerding teacher will also have a Google Slide Deck to use during the lesson for visual aids. We can login to the Nerding Google Suite via the teacher computer in the classroom or bring our own laptop and HDMI to plug directly into the classroom display. 

Choose YOUR Experience.

Bubble Science

Grades K, 1

In primary science, students use their senses to help them make observations about the world around them, recognizing patterns and the structures and functions of living and non-living things. To work on this, kids participate in a bubbles investigation, blow their own bubbles and make observations, create jumbo bubbles, and even hold CO2 bubbles in their hands!

AZ Science Standard Core Ideas for Using Science: U1: Scientists explain phenomena using evidence obtained from observations and or scientific investigations. Evidence may lead to developing models and or theories to make sense of phenomena. As new evidence is discovered, models and theories can be revised.
Will need access to an outdoor area and 1-2 tables where students will do bubble testing for approx 15 min. This area would be left set up for multiple sessions.

Robotics with Indi

Grades 1, 2

In 1st-2nd grade technology, one of our goals is to become innovative designers who to solve problems by creating new, useful, or imaginative solutions. To work on this, kids participate in a robotics and programming investigation where they will use color sensor inputs to give their robots commands. As we work, students observe and explore how to code Indi using color tiles, test their code, and make changes or redesign their code to work better. Those little science brains will be on fire!

AZ Technology Standard K-2.4.c. Students with guidance, use a design process to develop ideas or creations, test their design, and redesign as necessary.
Lots of empty floor space is ideal for this experience. Even an empty classroom with no furniture is great as long as it still has a projector or display to use for the lesson.

Forces and Motion

Grades 2, 3, 4

Using tubes, marbles, and loops, students embark on hands-on experiments to understand how forces influence the motion of objects. From building marble tracks to exploring centrifugal force, this engaging Experience encourages curiosity and discovery!

AZ Science Standard Grade 2: Strand 4: Forces and Motion FM2.C2.PO2: Describe how the force exerted on an object can cause it to move. Grade 3: Strand 4: Forces and Motion FM3.C1.PO1: Demonstrate and describe how objects in motion change direction and speed when a force is applied. Grade 4: Strand 6: Physical Science PS4.C1.PO1: Analyze and interpret data from an investigation to explain the effects of balanced and unbalanced forces on the motion of an object.
LOTS of floor space is ideal for this experience, but if needed, obstacles will become part of our tracks. We will also be using easily removable masking tape to affix tracks to walls and floors.

Sound Lab

Grades 3, 4

Kids will explore sound as a wave and experiment with how sounds can change. They will do sound investigations like creating a DIY record player (real record, paper cone, pin), as well as several other investigations to manipulate sound vibrations.

AZ Science Standard Concept 3: Energy and Magnetism – Investigate different forms of energy. PO 3. I can demonstrate that vibrating objects produce sound. PO 4. I can demonstrate that the pitch of a sound depends on the rate of the vibration.
Standard classroom. Access to the projector/display.

Space and Gravity

Grades 3, 4, 5

Students explore the concept of gravity using a hands-on approach. Using our 9’ round gravity well model, students observe how objects with mass, such as marbles, pull towards one another, simulating the gravitational forces present in space. Additionally, we will together create accurate size and distance models of planets, and all our minds will be boggled at how BIG space is!

AZ Science Standards 3.ESS3.C3.PO2: Strand 7: Earth and Space Science: Describe the interactions between Earth and other objects in space, including the moon and the sun. 4.PS1.C1.PO1 Properties and Changes of Properties in Matter: Students will understand how properties of matter can change through interactions at the atomic and molecular levels. Describe the basic structure of atoms and molecules and the forces that hold them together. 5.ESS2.C2.PO1 Earth and Space Science: Earth’s Place in the Universe.Identify and describe the characteristics of objects in the solar system, including the sun, planets, and moons.
Approx 15′ diameter empty area for the 9′ gravity well and students to stand around it.

Circuits with Makey Makey

Grades 4, 5

Enjoy shenanigans such as banana pianos while learning about circuits and electricity!

We will use Makey Makey, which is a device that acts like a computer keyboard but with access to the circuits that press the keys. We will hook up conductive items (even ridiculous ones like fruit) to use as the keyboard keys, and complete the circuits to press each key. 

AZ Science Standard 4.P4U1.2 Develop and use a model that explains how energy is moved from place to place through electric currents.
Standard classroom. Access to the projector/display.

Chemical Reactions

Grades 4, 5

Through captivating experiments like Elephant Toothpaste and AlkaSeltzer Rockets, students will investigate how substances combine to form new compounds with different properties or remain unchanged when mixed. Be fascinated by the world of chemistry!

AZ Science Standard 5.P1U1.2 Plan and carry out investigations to demonstrate that some substances combine to form new substances with different properties and others can be mixed without taking on new properties.
We will need a table at the front of the classroom for all our experiments and access to a sink! If the ceilings are low and we have easy access to an outside or gym space, we will use it for 5-10 minutes of AlkaSeltzer rockets. We can still do this inside the classroom if needed and the rockets will hit the ceiling but won’t cause damage.

3D Printing

Grades 4, 5, 6

In this computer-based STEM experience, kids will learn the basics of 3D printing and design using a kid friendly CAD program. They’ll have the opportunity to watch a 3D printer bring a full size classroom keepsake to life. **Each student will also receive a small pre-printed 3D “mini-print” to take home that corresponds to the lesson, however the designs they create in class won’t be printed. 3D printing isn’t fast enough for that… yet!

AZ Science Standard Grades 4, 5, 6 S6C2.1&2 Strand 6: Engineering Design and Application Students will demonstrate an understanding of the processes of technological design and the benefits and limitations of those processes. PO 1: Describe how technological design involves a problem, solution, and trade-offs. PO2: Recognize and describe examples of products designed by technology.
This experience requires computers and is best in the computer lab if your school has one. If not, we can use laptops, but mice are much better for design work than trackpads.

FAQs

Nerding is an approved vendor with ESA! The best way to use your ESA money when signing up for our summer classes is to use your ESA debit card (which might be the same as a ClassWallet debit card). You can also use your own form of payment—a credit card or debt card—and get reimbursed by ESA by using the PDF receipt we email to you after you check out on our site. The PDF has all of our company details, like EIN and address, and lists the classes you signed your kids up for! If you have any trouble, let us know. We know that navigating using your funds outside of the Classwallet system can be tricky. Rest assured, we will help you find a solution!

Nerding classes are for kiddos entering these grade levels next fall. For example, your nerd is currently in 3rd grade, register them for any 4-7 class.

As you may have noticed, our age groups are narrower than most other programs. It’s not an accident. This actually helps us maintain quality because the teachers have a narrower age range of students and the curriculum is designed specifically for those age groups. Meeting the needs of a wide range of abilities in a class is difficult, even for us veteran teachers. Also, a kiddo that is academically ready for more difficult content still may not have the maturity needed to be appropriate in a class of older kids. We know all kids are different, but this is something that helps us provide the best possible classes to all our nerds. We want all the nerds in our classes to get the most out of their experience. If your nerd is too young for a class, as a general rule, no they can’t enroll.

Prior classroom experience is important when deciding to let younger nerds into the K-1 or 1-3 graded classes.

If you feel your nerd would be more successful in a younger age group or has technically aged out, contact us first. We can discuss specific classes and work with you for proper placement.

Each nerd will want:

  • Water bottle
  • Snack(s)
  • Lunch if staying all day
  • Maybe- light jacket if we crank down the AC… for the morning classes
  • Optional! Other things we can always use to replenish our stash: Junk/recyclables/clean, flat cardboard, paper towel tubes, old electronics that we can take apart, random craft supplies

No, sorry. Nerding keeps all relatable age groups together. We have put many years of experience and a lot of consideration into grouping nerds at these grade levels. You may notice we go by grade level and not age. There are reasons behind that choice. Even though a 3rd grader might be able to handle the content of a 4th-7th grade class, it might be socially inappropriate to have them with 7th graders. Our curriculum is designed to allow individuals to explore their own potential. Keep in mind a lot of our nerds are gifted so they will still feel challenged amongst their peers.

In most cases, yes, kiddos bring home their projects! Only a couple of classes will have building materials we need to keep for future use. Other things like laptops, drones, robots, and other electronics can not be brought home.