After School Activities

Lauren Baker our new art teacher in Upper School is offering an ASA Art Class for students in Grades 4 & 5.

Semester 1: Mondays from 3:30 to 4:30 PM

A little about the class, in Lauren's own words:

• A basic art class that will focus on the elements and principles of art.
• Every week, students will learn about one of the elements of art and do a project incorporating that element.
• We will also be learning about several different art materials and how to use them.
• We include vocabulary words, English skills, and movement activities in each lesson, as well as reflection time in which students will learn how to talk about art while showing respect towards their classmates' differing opinions. 

Come Paint with Me

• A kitchen is a learning lab for children that can involve all of their senses. While kneading, tossing, pouring, smelling, cutting, and feeling foods they have fun and learn without being aware of it.
• Children learn life skills by practicing basic math skills such as counting, weighing, measuring, tracking time; they also gain social skills by working together and communicating in the kitchen.

Dash and Dot are robots that can sense, act and think! Students use block coding on four different iPad apps to control their robots. The durable and child-friendly robots are a safe and easy way to encourage STEAM learning.

About FIRST

FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) was founded in 1989 to inspire young people's interest and participation in science and technology. FIRST designs accessible, innovative programs that motivate young people to pursue education and career opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and math, while building self-confidence, knowledge, and life skills.

FIRST LEGO League (FLL)

Ages 10 - 16

Tomorrow’s innovators practice imaginative thinking and teamwork. Guided by two or more adult Coaches, FIRST LEGO League teams (up to 10 members, ages 10-16) research a real-world problem such as food safety, recycling, energy, etc., and are challenged to develop a solution. They also must design, build, program a robot using LEGO MINDSTORMS®, then compete on a table-top playing field.

FIRST LEGO League - Team Wild Mustang - National Moroccan Competition 1st Place Robot Design

FIRST LEGO League - Team Mustang Pride - Madrid Competition Global Innovation Award

FLL Core Values

Jr. FLL

Ages 6 - 10

It’s never too early to discover STEM! FIRST LEGO League Jr. is designed to introduce STEM concepts to kids ages 6 to 10 while exciting them through a brand they know and love − LEGO®.

Turning “look at me” into “look at US!” Junior FLL offers students an amazing experience as they celebrate their hard work, have fun, make new friendships, and are exposed to ideas and ideology that will enhance their lives for decades to come. Kids realize more than ever that FIRST is all about teamwork, sharing, helping others, and respect.

What is FIRST LEGO League Jr.?

Guided by adult coaches and FIRST® Core Values, students build models using LEGO®Education WeDo 2.0 and create Show Me posters to present what they learned. The program focuses on building interest in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) through a real-world challenge – to be solved by research, critical thinking, and imagination. 

Is it fun to be on a FIRST LEGO League Jr. Team?

Join our mission into the 30th season of FIRST! Discover your sense of wonder during the 2018/2019 FIRST® LEGO® League Jr. season, MISSION MOONSM.

Students will transport to a place where they make the rules, learn to thrive in a new environment, and explore all that is around them.

George Washington Academy 2017-2018 FIRST LEGO League Jr. 

Coding and digital animation creation, build and innovate controller devices  

GINGA Foot

Why Gymnastics Is Great For Kids

Tumble Tots

DISCOVERY-PRE KINDER-KINDER

Skills for Life! Designed to develop children's physical skills of agility, balance, co-ordination and climbing.The program is structured to develop children's positive personality traits including confidence and self-esteem. Each weekly session combines fun, excitement and challenge in a safe and caring environment. Child psychologists and educators agree that a structured program in movement should be a part of every child's education.

Gym Club

LOWER SCHOOL - (Kinder, Grades 1 - 5)

A Positive Progression! Our age-appropriate activities for kids are designed to facilitate maximum fun and ongoing skill development through movement, exercise, music, learning and laughter. Your child progresses at their own pace, having fun and building confidence as they make new friends and develop new skills. Most gymnasts with aspirations to join the Performance Gymnastics Team get their start here.

Performance Gymnastics Team

LOWER SCHOOL and MIDDLE SCHOOL (Kinder, Grades 1 - 8)

Performance Gymnastics is the place to be! Our staff has decades of gymnastics experience as coaches, judges, and competitive gymnasts. We are dedicated to helping each student achieve his or her potential, have a successful experience, and have fun. Gymnasts in this program have prior training and have successfully meet all requirements laid out by the head coach. A minimum of 3 hours training required per week.

ASA Performance Gymnastics 2015 - 2016

Performance Gymnastics - Festival of the Arts Performance

Hip Hop - Festival of the Arts Performance

Kids Yoga class is FUN! Children learn by using their bodies through play. This will not look like a regular adult class with the children being told exactly what to do. Instead, the children will interact in different games and activities that help them learn poses, build strength and confidence, and learn how to be a positive part of a community.

They will also learn how to practice stillness in meditation and breath work in an age-appropriate way. There is no competition or judgment in the games or poses. Kids yoga is not about perfection, but to help each child have a better awareness of themselves and others, and to express themselves in positive ways. Each class will have a theme that the postures, games, and meditations relate to.

Let’s have a fun adventure together!

Language Arts

• Arabic
• French
• Spanish 

Mad Science Maroc

Mad Science after school programs offer children a chance to see just how cool science can be!

Extraordinary Laboratory

We spark imaginative learning after school!

Mad Science has created a vast library of unique after-school programs. Our spectacular demonstrations, hands-on activities, and real-world discussions make learning about science fun for kids!

Our interactive, one-hour after-school science programs are themed around particular areas of science and include such topics as rocketry, magnets, polymers, and even the science of toys.

In each class, children are encouraged to give science a try and build their very own model rockets, periscopes, Mad Science putty, and more. Children even get to take home their science experiment to show Mom and Dad!

Children will be amazed when they:

• Create an indoor storm with thunder and lightning
• Bend light to see all the rainbow colors
• Alter their voices and learn that sound travels in invisible waves
• Make magic mud, soda pop, and learn how matter can change physically and chemically!
• And much more!

Mad Science after-school programs…

• Are hands-on and focus on science and engineering practice
• Are aligned to STEM objectives
• Are led by trained, qualified, and dynamic instructors
• Follow professional lesson plans
• Use unique equipment and original materials
• Are loved by children, and are ideal for children in Kindergarten to Grade 6

 

TinkerLab

• Creative, hands-on activities that help students explore the world through science, art and more; encourage tinkering, curiosity and creative thinking.
• Students gravitate toward sensory experiences (paper marbling), figuring out how things work (taking toys apart), and testing the limits of materials (making a bridge out of Popsicle sticks).
• They don't see the lines between disciplines; rather, they notice interesting materials and ideas that are worth exploring.

MakerLab

• Students learn about science and the basics of the scientific method through practical, hands-on experiences.
• Students begin finding out for themselves answers to questions about science: how to make a sturdy bridge, how DNA works, and how paper airplanes fly, among others engaging projects that value process over product.

MakerSpace:  E-Textiles/E-Crafts

• Combine traditional craft processes (sewing, textile design, paper craft...) with digital die-cutting (Cricut) to make soft, colorful, decorative and useful items
• Use sewable electronics (Lilypad) and crafting materials to make wearable, flexible projects that make lighting effects and sounds
• Project examples include: sparkling bracelet, glowing pin, illuminated musk, night-light pennant
• Along the way, learn how to sew, design electric circuits, write computer programs and learn hardware skills
• More activities include: screen printing, scrapbooking, bookbinding, making stickers and decals, decorative stencils, cards, wall art

MakerSpace: Physical Computing

• Build a computer (Kano): plug together bits, boards, buttons, and cables
• Explore how they work!
• Learn how to code through step-by-step challenges and earn medals (Projects with Python, Javascript and more)
• Make art, games, and music
• Hack games like Minecraft and Pong, build apps, data visuals, and animations
• Use electric circuit boards (Circuit Playground, Microbit) to create interactive devices that can make beautiful lighting effects and sounds, detect touch, sense the temperature, motion and more
• For instance, make a watch that you can play rock-paper-scissors against just by shaking your hand!

MakerSpace: 3D Design / Printing / Model Making

• Learn 3D drawing techniques (use isometric 3D drawing paper and a tool like this)
• Learn basics of 3D digital design with Tinkercad
• Create/customize 3D designs (toy, sculpture, furniture, structure, mechanism, architectural model...)
• Learn basics of 3D printing, how the printer works, how to 3D print models
• Combine prototyping techniques, use materials (cardboard, foam..) and tools to work on a final 3D model

What is robotics?

Essentially, a robot is a mechanical device that can be programmed to follow a set of instructions.

The robot has a processing unit, sensors to perceive its environment, and motors and actuators to move its limbs or wheels. It may speak, make other sounds, or flash with lights and colors in response to the environment as per instructions.

Robots need the ability to follow programmed instructions and not just be controlled remotely.

Why should it be taught in schools?

Here are five reasons to teach robotics in schools:
1. Children find it fun
2. Effective way of introducing programming to students
3. Provides skills useful in future employment
4. Suitable for children with a range of abilities
5. Demystifies a complex technology

How to get involved:

• LEGO EV3 Robot Design & Engineering, instructional sessions taught by Play Academy. If you are a beginner this is the class for you! Students in this offering are not required to participate in competitions, however, first-time robotics students are required to complete this class in order to compete.
• FLL (FIRST LEGO League) Robotics-Tomorrow’s innovators practice imaginative thinking and teamwork. Guided by a Coach, FIRST LEGO League* teams (ages 9 - 16 years old) research a real-world problem and are challenged to develop a solution. They must design, build, program a robot using LEGO MINDSTORMS®, then compete on a table-top playing field.

Snack Art