Minnetonka Community Education

Build epic solar-powered cars and race into the future! Use toy construction kits to explore solar energy, tackle real-world challenges and spark your imagination through hands-on engineering fun.

Explore engineering with Bricktopia's Catapults! Build a catapult, dragster, and scale with LEGO bricks and challenge yourself to problem-solve and innovate. The {YEL!} Teach It!…Practice It!…Play It! method engages students to create and innovate. Sign up today! LEGO® is a trademark of the LEGO Group of companies, which does not sponsor, authorize or endorse this site or program.

Unleash your inner inventor in this exciting STEAM adventure! Dive into hands-on engineering, wild experiments and creative challenges that spark curiosity, fuel discovery and make learning seriously fun. In each session, we'll work on a diverse range of activities and challenges from different STEM disciplines, such as Aeronautics, Space, Marine, Eco and more. These engaging projects are designed to encourage critical thinking and teamwork, making it a fun learning experience for young STEAMers and inventors. Plus, you won't have to worry about repeated projects – every session offers something new and exciting!

Future engineers, this is your moment! Get ready to build, brainstorm and problem-solve your way through exciting challenges that sharpen your critical thinking, teamwork and real-world engineering skills. New, hands-on lessons from various engineering disciplines. Focusing on developing 21st Century skills such as problem solving, critical thinking and peer collaboration. These life skills provide students with the confidence to approach challenges in their lives and realize that they can succeed in almost anything! Engineering for Kids has a library of 300+ individual lessons which continues to grow so we never have to repeat lessons. Winter/Spring 1 Lessons (classes beginning in January): Order may vary. Aerospace Engineering Rocket Blast off into aerospace engineering! Students explore the principles of flight and build a paper cup rocket to launch high into the air Environmental Engineering Pinwheel Harness the power of wind! Students learn how moving air can create energy, then design and build a colorful pinwheel using the Engineering Design Process. Mechanical Engineering Sled Speed into transportation engineering! Students design and test a miniature sled, exploring friction, speed, and stability. Civil Engineering Bird's Nest Think like nature’s engineers! Students study how birds build nests, then design and construct a nest sturdy enough to protect a real or model egg. Mechanical Engineering Snowball Launcher Ready, aim, launch! Students learn how catapults work, then engineer their own snowball launcher for maximum distance and accuracy. Optical Engineering Kaleidoscope See the world in dazzling patterns! Students discover how mirrors and shapes create symmetrical designs, then build their own kaleidoscope. Winter/Spring 2 Lessons (classes beginning in March): Order may vary. Aerospace Engineering Boomerang It’s all about the return flight! Students explore the science of lift and spin before crafting and testing their own paper boomerang. Chemical Engineering Bouncy Ball Bounce into chemistry! Students learn about polymers by mixing and molding their own bouncy ball. Mechanical Engineering Mini Trampoline Spring into action! Students explore elasticity and energy transfer as they build and test a mini trampoline. Marine Engineering Self-Propelled Boat Make a splash with engineering! Students learn about buoyancy and propulsion, then create a boat that moves on its own. Mechanical Engineering Straw Grabber Grab, lift, and move like a pro! Students investigate simple machines, then build a straw-based grabber to pick up small objects. Electrical Engineering Constellation Projector Light up the night sky! Students learn about circuits and astronomy while creating a projector that displays constellations on the wall or ceiling.

Discover the thrill of growing a garden indoors using hydroponics! Learn how to grow food organically, year-round, without pesticides or dirt and take home your very own microgreen plant creation.

Design and construct impressive solar-powered robots, cranes and bridges while exploring the wonders of solar energy. Solve problems and push your imagination to new heights!