Course Descriptions

Summer Immersion Program

Summer Course Description

BCSTEP offers an intensive three week summer program that allows students to explore, learn and be immersed in activities that encourage curiosity and broaden their horizons. Class offerings evolve and expand every year as our program grows.

Summer classes are FREE to BCSTEP students; all materials and snacks are provided.

See class descriptions below.

This course will translate complex financial concepts into simple and relatable terms. Students will develop strategies for managing their finances and their financial understanding through problem-solving, self-reflection, group development, interactive activities, and games that reflect real-life scenarios. Help your student make better financial decisions to promote financial well-being over their lifetime by learning the basics of money management - budgeting, saving, debt, investing, giving, and more!

This course is a broad introduction to robotics and elementary robot programming. A mix of lectures and labs allows students to experiment with elements of computer programming using a graphical interface (using Lego Mindstorms EV3 robot kits with EV3-G software). Topics include principles of robotics, construction, actuation, perception, control, and communication. Several short, fun projects based on potential robot applications in various contexts will be explored in the lab sessions.

One of the many forms of human intelligence we can each cultivate is material intelligence - our sense of knowing what a material can become or be used for. Making is a kind of deep thinking that leads to intuitive and cognitive understanding. Materials can show us a lot through handling, playing and testing them. This is a hands-on sculpting, engineering class with some drawing and primitive photography. Some of the materials we will investigate are: light, shadow, time, paper, pasta, stone, plastic, rope, twine, steam, wood, clay, and aluminum. No previous skills in art or engineering needed. Curiosity and a willingness to test, break, and repair are highly recommended. Humor, tenacity, and general urge to poke things rewarded.

This course focuses on using math skills in a fun, creative, hands-on way. Through various card, dice and board games, we will see math in action. Students will use “unusual” integers and non-traditional patterns, experienced through the challenges embedded in each game. And of course, any requested math review will be no-pressure and productive, as students lead (if interested) so the focus is on their needs. Enthusiasm, curiosity and creativity are most welcomed!

Explore how humans interact with and impact the urban ecosystem, and how it affects us in turn. Readings, experiments, independent observations, nature journaling, and field trips to NYC farms and composting sites will allow students to explore their local ecosystems to better understand the variety of life we coexist with. We will discuss how humans have both damaged and worked to improve urban environments, and how to build more diverse, equitable, and healthy ecosystems for all. Field trips will involve hands-on and outdoor experience with local composters and urban farmers.

This course takes important science ideas and brings them to life! Daily hands-on activities and experiments focus on creativity and generating an interest in science. Students will apply aspects of the scientific method to the different tasks and challenges posed. Working on these tasks will allow students to develop teamwork and collaborative skills, while also learning the importance of science in our everyday lives and the future.

This course is an introduction to coding. If you're curious about coding and dream of developing your own animations and games using programming logic, this course will teach you the basic building blocks of code using a block-based programming language. Students will leave this course with the ability to use programming constructs such as "for loops" and "if statements" and gain the tools required to think in code. RISING 10th graders will be given priority for this class; remaining slots will then be opened to other grades.