Grades 5-8 Class Offerings
Current 4th - 7th Graders
All classes offered in Summer Experience fit within Academic, STEAM, Arts, and Skills Pathways.
ACADEMIC / Mathematics and English Language Arts: Grade level instructional standards. Placement in these classes are by teacher recommendation, and are for students who have demonstrated academic need during the school year.
STEAM / SCIENCE & ENGINEERING: STEAM classes integrate Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics into a cohesive learning experience. These classes encourage hands-on learning, critical thinking, and creativity, helping students solve real-world problems while developing skills in innovation and collaboration. By combining analytical and artistic disciplines, STEAM education fosters well-rounded thinkers who are prepared for a variety of career paths in a rapidly evolving world.
ARTS / FINE & CULINARY: Art classes offer a vibrant and diverse range of creative opportunities including Culinary Arts, Visual Arts, Mixed Media, Music, and Performing Arts. These classes inspire creativity, collaboration, and personal growth, providing students with a well-rounded foundation in both the technical and expressive aspects of the arts.
SKILLS /SPORTS: Skills classes focus on developing both physical fitness and hands-on, practical skills in a variety of engaging activities. Students participate in physical activities such as swimming and sports. In addition to physical fitness, Skills classes offer hands-on learning experiences like bike repair, where students gain technical skills. These classes foster a balanced approach to personal development, whether honing athletic abilities or mastering useful, tangible skills. Students gain confidence and independence in both body and mind.
Students will build upon learning experiences from previous years within each pathway.
Visual & Fine Arts
Art Lab: Mastering Mediums
Students will gain a strong foundation in the basic elements and principles of visual art, such as line, shape, color, value, texture (elements), and balance, contrast, emphasis, and pattern (principles). Working with a knowledgeable instructor, students will explore diverse techniques and mediums, moving beyond introductory concepts to develop a personal style. The flexible curriculum ensures all students receive guidance to elevate their artistic work while more advanced students will be challenged to build upon their existing skills and explore new techniques.
Ceramics: From Clay to Creation
Students can unlock their inner sculptor in this fundamental ceramics class. Students will gain hands-on experience mastering the essential hand-building techniques, including pinch, coil, and slab, to create original and functional pieces. The course introduces basic sculpture construction and design principles, followed by lessons on decorative and functional glazing. Students entering the class with prior knowledge will have the opportunity to move toward more advanced skills, including gaining introductory experience on the potter's wheel, under instructor supervision.
Global Chefs: Culinary Arts & Exploration
Prepare for an immersive and rewarding culinary experience! This dynamic, hands-on cooking class is designed for rising 5th through 8th graders who are ready to go beyond basic recipes and explore the fascinating world of food. Students will take a culinary journey to discover how food and regional cooking techniques connect us to different cultures, history, and traditions around the globe. They will investigate Food Science by studying the relationship between ingredients, our health, and the environment—moving from simply eating well to understanding why it matters. They will learn and practice real-world kitchen skills and techniques used by professional chefs and will gain the competence to confidently and safely prepare nutritious, delicious meals for themselves and their families.
Center Stage Stars
This dynamic performing arts class is perfect for upper elementary and middle school students who want to explore theater, whether they are total beginners or seasoned actors. This class uses fun, high-energy theater games and collaborative exercises to build essential stage skills like expressive improvisation, mastering voice projection, and engaging pantomime. Shy students need not worry! This is a supportive, judgment-free zone where everyone can have fun, experiment, and gain confidence.
Student Strummers: Learn to Play Guitar
Ready to rock? This class is the perfect spot for students to start their journey or level up existing guitar skills! They’ll learn the essential techniques needed to accurately play beginner-level music and easily read musical notation. This class focuses on building the skills for long-term success and provides fun performance opportunities to show off what you've learned. The best part? We provide the guitar free of charge! Students can show up ready to jam!
Strings: Hello, Cello!
Students dive into the world of string instruments (violin or cello) in this awesome class! Both new and seasoned string artists will learn essential skills necessary to become confident musicians and take their talent to the next level. The best part? We provide the instrument, free of charge!
Skills & Sports
Game On: Sports Science & Skill Builders
Get ready to move, create, and discover what makes the human body amazing! This high-energy class for upper elementary and middle school students uncovers the science behind sports and exercise through fun challenges, games, and hands-on experiments. To put the learning into action, half of every class is dedicated to playing exciting sports like Ultimate Frisbee, Spikeball, Pickleball, and more! While the other half, students learn how the muscles and heart work together, build working body models, and how to keep their body strong and healthy all summer long!
Swim Strong
This exciting class offers swim instruction for all abilities, teaching basic skills, essential water safety, and building lifelong fitness—all while playing skill-building water games each day! Last year, several students went from non to confident swimmers. With supervision from a teacher and certified lifeguards, students at all levels swim safely in our beautiful SLCUSD High School pools.
Athletic Edge
Ready to dominate the field and the court? This focused Athletic Edge class is designed for students ready to elevate their game and dive deep into four core sports: Flag Football, Soccer, Basketball, and Volleyball. Led by experienced coaches with specialized background knowledge, this class goes beyond the basics. Students will receive next-level instruction in strategy, position-specific skills, and team dynamics, followed by dedicated, competitive game time in each sport. If your student is passionate about athletics and seeking focused coaching to hone their skills, master advanced techniques, and develop a competitive edge, this is their training ground.
Outdoor Explorers
Outdoor Explorers empowers students to take an active role in caring for the planet,
learning about sustainability, conservation, and environmental responsibility. Through
STEM explorations, hands-on projects, and nature exploration, students will become
stewards of the environment, practicing mindfulness in how they interact with nature.
Alongside these explorations, they will also gain basic survival skills such as building
tents and shelters, knot tying, fire safety, and identifying local plants and animals, giving them practical tools to thrive outdoors with confidence and care. Leadership opportunities will be embedded as students guide eco-friendly initiatives and help educate peers about the importance of environmental care. These practical skills build confidence, teamwork, and resilience while nurturing respect for the natural world.
Outdoor Explorers combines fun, discovery, and environmental stewardship to create
lasting connections between students and nature.
Geared Up: Bike Repair & Maintenance
Students will learn everything about how bikes work, from the pedals to the gears! They will gain hands-on experience by refurbishing real bicycles, mastering maintenance and tuning techniques. Alongside repair skills, students gain crucial knowledge about how to use tools, bike safety, street smarts, and proper riding etiquette, enabling them to ride with confidence and skill.
Business Bosses: From Idea to Impact
This dynamic Entrepreneurship class for rising 5th through 8th graders utilizes VentureLab curriculum to teach students how to think like a professional innovator. They’ll start by mastering the entrepreneurial mindset—learning to identify real-world problems, needs, and challenges, then brainstorm ingenious ways to make things better! This is a highly hands-on course where students will: design & prototype, discover what customers really need by gathering essential feedback through market research, and learn core business concepts like revenue and how to structure a winning business model. Finally, students will develop the skills to give a compelling pitch and learn how to constructively judge others' ideas.
For students who love problem-solving and stretching their creative muscles, this is the class to turn their best ideas into reality!
Speak Up!
Should cell phones be banned for students under 12 years old?
SPEAK UP is a dynamic Speech and Debate class where students can
develop essential communication skills. Through fast-paced activities, short speeches, group discussions and structured debates around fun topics relevant to students, they will learn how to speak clearly, think critically and express their ideas with confidence and respect.
This class is a fantastic way to help students become better open-minded listeners and feel more comfortable when speaking in front of others.
For students who would like to improve their presentation skills, or for those students who enjoy engaging in challenging conversations, this class is for
you!
STEAM - Science and Engineering
Design & Drive: Automotive STEAM
Students will get ready to put their engineering skills to the test in this thrilling, project-based STEAM class that merges automotive design with high-speed testing! They will dive into the world of transportation by designing and building their very own air-powered racing vehicles. Through hands-on projects, students will learn crucial concepts in aerodynamics, materials science, and testing protocols. This class provides exciting, real-world connections for young students who are curious or passionate about bringing design to life, linking their classroom creations directly to inspiring careers in engineering and automotive innovation!
Robotics & Engineering: Code, Build & Automate
Dive into the powerful world of robotics and mechanical engineering in this hands-on STEAM class. Students will tackle exciting coding challenges that directly control real robots. They will explore essential concepts of data collection and engineering by putting their code to the test on physical machines.
Students will utilize Blueprint by Sphero, a unique, hands-on opportunity for students to understand how complex machinery is built and operated. They will build various everyday machines using electrical motors and connecting components, illustrating how these systems integrate to bring designs to life. This class fuses coding, building, and real-world engineering problem-solving!
Drones: Premier Pilots
Get ready to soar into the future! This exciting class utilizes the Drone Legends curriculum to transform students into skilled pilots and problem-solvers. They will learn the ins and outs of drone flying, mastering essential drone language like roll, pitch, and yaw. Working as teams, students will learn how drones are used in society while engaging in thrilling aerial expeditions and adventures designed to solve real-world problems. A major focus is coding and planning missions: teams will strategically program drone flights, put their code to the test, and rework their solutions until the mission is a success! With building challenges and extension activities adding to the fun, this course builds teamwork, critical thinking, and advanced technical skills.
Academics - Math and Language Arts
Please note: Academic classes are by invitation only and are being offered to students who have demonstrated an academic need during the school year.
English Language Arts
Students will learn the core concepts and skills of English Language Arts. Students will spend time practicing reading and writing strategies that lie within their grade level band of core instructional standards.
Mathematics
Students will participate in a unique blend of problem solving and skill building activities that reinforce essential mathematical concepts needed for success inside and outside the classroom.