What to Expect from STEM Prep's After-School & Saturday Programs This Fall
A warm, honest look at what a typical week looks like at STEM Prep — from Monday coding challenges to Saturday maker sessions. Everything Philadelphia parents want to know before enrolling.
If you're a Philadelphia parent considering STEM Prep for your child this fall, you probably have questions. What does a typical day look like? What will my child actually be doing? Is it really hands-on, or is it just more screen time? We're answering all of that here.
A Typical After-School Week
Monday — Coding Studio
The week kicks off with coding. Depending on your child's age and level, they might be using visual block-based coding tools (perfect for Pre-K and Kindergarten) or writing actual code in Scratch or Python. The goal isn't to memorize syntax — it's to think like a problem-solver.
Tuesday — Robotics Club
Tuesday is when things get loud (in the best way). Kids build, program, and test robots using age-appropriate kits. They learn about motors, sensors, and logic — and they get to watch their creation actually move. When something doesn't work, they figure out why. That's engineering.
Wednesday — Maker Lab
Maker Lab is pure creative engineering. Kids design and build with materials ranging from cardboard and tape to circuits and LEDs. Projects change every session, so there's always something new to create. This is often the session kids talk about most at home.
Thursday — Science Experiments
Thursday brings out the scientist in every child. Experiments are designed to be genuinely surprising — the kind that make kids say "wait, how did that happen?" and immediately want to try it again. We connect every experiment to real-world science concepts in a way that's age-appropriate and memorable.
Friday — STEM Showcase
Friday is show-and-tell for the whole week. Kids present what they built, explain how it works, and celebrate each other's projects. It builds communication skills and gives children a real sense of accomplishment before the weekend.
Saturday STEM Sessions
For families who want more, our Saturday sessions offer a deeper dive into a single topic — a longer build, a bigger experiment, or a collaborative challenge. Saturday sessions are a great option for kids who are especially passionate about a particular area, or for families whose weekday schedules make after-school tricky.
What Parents Tell Us
Philadelphia parents consistently tell us two things: their children come home excited, and they start noticing their kids thinking differently — more patiently, more creatively, more willing to try and fail and try again. That's exactly what we're going for.
Ready to See It for Yourself?
Fall programs at STEM Prep start Monday, August 24. We serve children Pre-K through 4th grade at our Philadelphia location, with after-school slots Monday–Friday (2:30–5:30 PM) and Saturday sessions available.