Technology: 

• Core 1: With Scratch Jr. students form an understanding of the basic skills for computational thinking. They will learn how to use code blocks to interact with characters in a 2D environment and how to begin prototyping their ideas into virtual realities. While programming is an essential skill that all students should develop, there is the added excitement of having their code come to life with a programmable educational robot right in their hands. With their ideas becoming realities, students begin understanding the connections between the physical and digital world that STEM learning will teach them.

• Core 2: Scratch remains one of the greatest tools for educators to teach the basics of programming languages. Its visual interface allows students to quickly create and test their designs, allowing them to focus on the end goal of their own projects. STEM learning is best represented when students are able to bridge the gap between digital and physical learning. With this in mind, the combination of Scratch and educational robotics makes it easier for students to create advanced routines for robots to perform in the students' physical learning space.

• Core 3: SNAP builds upon visual programming languages by allowing students to develop more in depth experience with text based coding. Having first hand knowledge of the text based programming languages that control robots is also becoming a necessary skill in many STEM fields. To help form lifelong memories, students will use virtual robots in Minecraft to execute the programs they have written in Minecraft. This learning will then be transitioned to the programming of education robots to execute similar programs in the students’ physical learning space. (Program requires Java version of Minecraft)

• Core 4: Using virtual computers in Minecraft provides immediate feedback for students to create programming solutions for virtual problems. Students programming goals can further be enhanced by the various devices that students will use, such as virtual robots and remote sensors. To complement this learning, students will be using 3D engine software to design and create their own games. Understanding how to create programs in 3D space will help prepare them for the virtual and augmented reality today's most demanding STEM applications focus on. (Program requires Java version of Minecraft)

 

Animation: Stop-motion animation and claymation are the trademark techniques for this talent development class, led by expert animators. This summer, kids will learn digital animation to bring their storytelling ideas to life on screen. Children learn impulse control, attention-focus, and teamwork while exercising their creativity to create original screenplays from writing, to creating, and shooting with different types of film. 

 

Improvisational Theater: reading body language and facial expressions during acting exercises. 

 

Quad Prods: Different from the original theater class at Quad Manhattan, Quad Productions, or “Quad Prods,” offers more time to delve into the different aspects of production from costume-design, script-writing, set-design, lighting, sound, acting, and more--depending on student interest! Students who chose this elective engage in a summer-long project, further practicing their executive functioning and social skills needed to collaborate for a common goal. Quad Prods is modeled after Enrichment Clusters, yet bears a different name for its unique goals of targeting the skills of future Quad thespians! 

 

Strategy Games: Led by DM Danielle Dube, strategy games explores the social, emotional, and executive functioning aspects of playing games like checkers, chess, Dungeons and Dragons (D&D), Magic the Gathering, and more. This high-interest class uses games to allow students to practice their social/emotional and executive functioning skills such as turn-taking, attention focus, thinking about others (perspective taking), predicting (reading social cues), and communication skills for example. 

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Reader’s Workshop: Another trademark of TQM programming, Reader's Workshop engages both avid and reluctant readers in high-interest texts in a non-pressure environment. Students enjoy read-alouds as well as project-based activities to supplement comprehension without even knowing they're doing it!

 

Fine Arts: Whether TQM sends materials straight to your home or ​kids work on digital design, this has to be the most creative summer yet! Display artwork in online galleries and interact with artists all over the country!

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Capoeira: Keep on moving! With just an internet connection, children can learn the language of Portuguese while moving to the beat of the berimbau in perfect synchronicity.