Inside the Curriculum Kit

Designed for libraries, camps, schools, and community programs serving mixed-age groups.

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Questions before purchasing? We’re happy to help you choose the best fit.

Here’s a look at what you’ll receive

Workshop Leader Resource Guide

Simple guides that help facilitators present concepts, support troubleshooting, and manage workshops confidently, even with no STEM background. Includes suggested timelines for flexible schedule formats.

Challenge Slide Decks

Clear, engaging decks for eight challenges that introduce engineering concepts, quick-build activities, challenge videos, and guided brainstorming prompts.

Workshop Quick Reference Sheets

One-page summaries and slide deck talking points for workshop leaders to reference during activities. Includes leveled ideas to support mixed-age groups.

Other Items You’ll Receive:

  • Classroom Portal Access
  • An optional tool to help you track attendance, upload challenge entries, and help students earn points and prizes through our summer contest system
  • Virtual Facilitator Training Session
  • Optional live, online training in May or June to help your team feel confident and prepared before workshops begin.

Helpful Materials to Have on Hand

Common Recyclables

  • Paper towel tubes
  • Cardboard boxes
  • Yogurt/food containers
  • Plastic bottles
  • Foil

Basic Supplies

  • Tape
  • Scissors
  • String
  • Glue or hot glue
  • Pencils

Optional Extras You May Already Have

These are just examples. Not every challenge uses these materials. Many can be substituted based on what you already have available.

  • Craft sticks
  • Wooden/plastic spoons
  • Paint sticks
  • Clothes pins
  • Toothpicks
  • Beads
  • Bottle caps
  • Straws
  • Plastic/paper cups
  • Food boats
  • Felt or fabric scraps
  • Rubber Bands
  • Pipe cleaners
  • Brass fasteners
  • Zip ties
  • Twist ties
  • Binder clips
  • Paperclips

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. The curriculum is designed to be flexible and can be used once a week, once a day, or whenever it fits your program schedule. Some organizations use challenges as planned workshop sessions, while others save them for rainy days or special enrichment activities.

Most challenges work well in a 90-minute to 2-hour session, but they can also be broken into shorter blocks over multiple days. Many summer school and classroom programs divide one challenge across two or three sessions depending on their schedule.

No. Each challenge is self-contained, so participants do not need to complete one before moving to the next. If you plan to enter our optional weekly online contests, you will need to follow the weekly calendar, since each challenge has a specific entry period and deadline.

The curriculum is designed for children ages 12 and under, but the open-ended challenge format works well across a much wider age range. We have successfully used these same challenges with teens and adults, often by adjusting discussion depth, pacing, or expectations.

Each challenge is designed to work well with mixed-age groups. The workshop guide includes practical suggestions for leveling activities up or down based on age, ability, or experience, allowing participants to engage with the same challenge at different levels.

No STEM background is required. The curriculum was intentionally designed so that a wide range of facilitators can lead meaningful workshops with confidence, including librarians, camp staff, classroom teachers, counselors, and other program leaders. Resource guides and presentation notes help support facilitation at every step.

Yes. The curriculum includes suggested timelines for several common formats, including 120-minute sessions, 90-minute sessions, and shorter block-based schedules such as 2 × 45 minutes or 3 × 45 minutes.

Yes. Each curriculum purchase includes a single-site license, so multiple staff members at the same location may share access and use the materials. If you would like to use the curriculum across multiple locations, we ask that you contact us for additional licensing.

No. Contest participation is completely optional. Many groups enjoy the added motivation of seeing participant videos shared online and exploring creative solutions submitted by children from other locations, while others choose to participate selectively or skip it entirely depending on their goals and available time.

Curriculum access will be available by June 1. We also offer a free virtual facilitator training in late spring to help staff feel confident and prepared before launching workshops.

Still have questions? We’re happy to help you decide what fits your setting best.

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