Thornton-Donovan is excited to once again offer an after-school STEM program for Lower School students in grades K–5 for the 2025–2026 school year. This fun, project-based program includes new experiments each term (plus a few student favorites) across science, technology, engineering, and math. Students will take part in engaging hands-on activities paired with simple lessons that explain the scientific ideas behind what they are building and testing.

Students will also be introduced to the process of scientific research and experimentation and will begin developing lab skills in the Life Sciences Lab, including learning how to use lab tools and practicing the fundamentals of lab safety.

Projects may include:

Botany: planting and germinating seeds; separating leaf pigments using chromatography

Engineering: bridge-building challenges; designing a structure to protect a water balloon from a 10-foot drop

Biology: testing campus ponds for microorganisms; growing bacteria in petri dishes

Chemistry: mixing non-Newtonian fluids; testing the pH of common household items

Physics: streamlining paper airplanes; designing and building a catapult

Geology: identifying rocks and minerals
…and much more!