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In-house youth workshops are happening during Memorial Day weekend, from 5/23-5/25! Reserve a spot for your child today!
The Rhode Island Computer Museum (RICM) has an extensive catalog of different programs, which address subjects such as 3D modeling, coding, robotics, circuitry, animation, arts and crafts, and more. We offer youth enrichment programs online, at our Learning Lab, and at off-site locations with partner organizations in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
The Rhode Island Computer Museum (RICM) has an extensive catalog of different programs, which address subjects such as 3D modeling, coding, robotics, circuitry, animation, arts and crafts, and more. We offer youth enrichment programs online, at our Learning Lab, and at off-site locations with partner organizations in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
The following is a list of our current program offerings.
The following is a list of our current program offerings.
Find a Program
Find a Program
3D Printing, Coding & Design
Grades 3-5 or 6-8
Multi-Week Class | Camp | Workshop
Digital Design & CAD • Coding & Programming • Math • Emerging Tech
See how the seemingly impossible is achieved with BlocksCAD, a digital platform that introduces kids to 3D modeling through blocks-based coding! Coding may sound complicated, but you will dabble into the basics using drag-and-drop coding commands. Just click and drag, it’s that easy! You will explore key principles of computer-aided design (CAD) by manipulating simple geometric shapes in a 3D environment to make lots of amazing projects, like a robot, fidget toy, and name tag! While you’re having fun creating all sorts of unique designs, you’ll also learn about primitive 3D shapes, corresponding vocabulary terms like "face" and "radius", Cartesian coordinates, sequencing, and code organization techniques. And, one of your projects will be transformed into a real object that you can hold in your hand!
* Each student will receive one complimentary 3D print of their choosing after the program concludes. The Rhode Island Computer Museum will print the selected design for eventual pick-up.
* Complimentary 3D prints are not available for 90-minute-long workshops or for virtual programming occurring on Outschool.
3D Printing, Coding, & Design: Minecraft Makery
Grades 3-5 or 6-8
Multi-Week Class | Camp | Workshop
Digital Design & CAD • Coding & Programming • Math • Emerging Tech
Get your pickaxe and shovel ready, and get crafting! If you love all things Minecraft, this class is for you! With the BlocksCAD software, you will manipulate simple 3D shapes to transform them into your favorite Minecraft objects and characters! You’ll use a colorful menu of coding commands called “blocks” to adjust your design and make it your own. This will be a highly interactive course where you will learn primarily by building, eventually turning a series of cubes into a fearsome Creeper, friendly Axolotl, or valiant diamond sword. Through short in-class challenges, you will dabble into fundamental areas of math, design, and computer science. You will finish the class with several projects that you can continue to access and show off at home, or import into Minecraft! And, one of your designs will be brought to life using a 3D printer!
Each student will receive one complimentary 3D print of their choosing after the program concludes. The Rhode Island Computer Museum will print the selected design for eventual pick-up.
* Complimentary 3D prints are not available for 90-minute-long workshops or for virtual programming occurring on Outschool.
Video Game Design with Scratch
Grades 3-5 or 6-8
Multi-Week Class | Camp | Workshop
Digital Design • Coding & Programming • Math • Storytelling
Have you ever wondered how the designers of your favorite video games work their magic? Put down your controllers and join us as we dive into Scratch, a beginner-friendly coding platform developed by MIT that allows kids to make stories, games, and animations! Discover how to set the scene with fantastic backdrops, sound effects, and dialogue! You will learn the basics of character development and create a video game sample to share with your friends and family. Come “crack the code” of video games, and unleash your creativity!
BioDesign
Grades 3-5 or 6-8
Multi-Week Class | Camp | Workshop
Liffe Sciences • Visual Arts • Crafts • Critical & Creative Thinking
Delve into the wonders of the natural world through interactive, hands-on activities! This class encourages curiosity and creativity, as we learn from the ingenious designs found in nature! Students will experiment with different materials—like paper, recycled bottles, and toothpicks—to design and build animal-inspired shelters, moisture-collecting contraptions, and geometric art pieces. Students will draw from a variety of topics to fuel their creative processes, such as buoyancy, plant pigmentation, and extracting moisture from the air. By the end of this class, students will have a deeper appreciation for the brilliance of nature, plus their own bio-inspired creations that they can take home with them!
All crafting supplies shall be provided by the instructor.
STEAM in Space
Grades 3-5 or 6-8
Multi-Week Class | Camp | Workshop
Space Sciences • Visual Arts • Crafts • Engineering Design • Critical & Creative Thinking
Put on your helmets, and prepare for takeoff! This hands-on class offers a glimpse into the many mysteries of outer space by combining science and art. You'll focus on several fascinating subjects, such as NASA's space missions, rocketship prototyping, how nebulae form, or the distinctive traits of planets within our solar system. Using a kit of materials provided by the Rhode Island Computer Museum, you will create spin art, construct your very own spacecraft, and make a scale model of the solar system. Embark on an unforgettable space adventure, and create projects that are truly out of this world!
All crafting supplies shall be provided by the instructor.
Artists and Inventors 2
Grades 3-5 or 6-8
Multi-Week Class | Camp | Workshop
History • Visual Arts • Crafts • Engineering Design • Critical & Creative Thinking
Discover the brilliant minds behind some of history’s greatest innovations! In this exciting, hands-on class, we will explore the groundbreaking work of visionaries like Ada Lovelace, Grace Hopper, John Augustus Roebling, and David Brewster—pioneers who transformed the fields of computing, engineering, and optics. With a custom kit of materials provided by the Rhode Island Computer Museum, you will dive into interactive activities that put the ideas of these prominent figures into action. You will build a sturdy bridge that can support weight, construct a kaleidoscope to experiment with the properties of light and symmetry, and craft a coded bracelet using binary numbers. Get ready to be inspired by history’s greatest artists and inventors, and become one yourself!
All crafting supplies shall be provided by the instructor.
Curious Science
Grades 3-5 or 6-8
Multi-Week Class | Camp | Workshop
Visual Arts • Crafts • Engineering Design • Critical & Creative Thinking
Ever wondered how we hear sound, or how pictures come to life as animations? Curious about electricity, or what makes magnets work? Science is full of surprises, and this class lets you uncover them all! Let your curiosity take the lead as you experiment, build, and create. Build circuits that light up, mix up slime, and see motion and magnetism come alive before your eyes. Each session invites you to explore big science concepts through playful discovery. Come explore and discover how science and creativity come together in the coolest ways!
All crafting supplies shall be provided by the instructor.
Young Engineers Society
Grades 3-5 or 6-8
Multi-Week Class | Camp | Workshop
Get ready to geek out as we dive into the exciting world of engineering! This hands-on class offers an exciting mash-up of STEAM-related topics, perfect for young innovators who are keen on discovering how they can bring their engineering ideas to life! We will kick things off by exploring the basics of circuitry, where you will discover how to harness electricity and make a traffic light. Then, you will learn to command your very own interactive robot using the power of code! Make your bot go, and take it for a spin through an obstacle course! We will explore the various kinds of bridges, before you construct a model bridge out of popsicle sticks and skewers that's designed to bear weight. We will also uncover the science behind renewable energy, focusing on the mechanics of wind turbine design. Working in teams, you will tackle the engineering challenges of building your own wind turbine!
With a dynamic mix of activities, this class will be sure to encourage the budding engineer to put on their thinking cap and turn imagination into innovation!
* The subject matter that is addressed during this program can be customized. The default subject areas are circuitry, robotics, and wind turbine construction.
Creating Sparks: Crafting Stories with AI Technology
Grades 6-8
Multi-Week Class | Camp | Workshop
Storytelling • Emerging Tech
Step into the next era of storytelling! This immersive class explores the intersection between storytelling and cutting-edge AI technology. You will discover how AI, augmented reality, and digital media can revolutionize the way we create and share stories, unlocking new possibilities for narrative expression. You will learn to integrate these tools into your storytelling process, crafting compelling narratives in innovative ways. This experience will challenge traditional storytelling methods, opening doors to new, tech-driven possibilities. Get ready to ignite your imagination and redefine how stories are told!
Electricity and Circuits / Building Basic Circuits
Grades 3-5 or 6-8
Workshop
Classical Mechanics • Critical & Creative Thinking
Why does a light turn on with the flip of a switch? How does a motor spin? Electricity is all around us, and now you get to understand how it works! Through hands-on activities, you will apply your math skills to explore how elements like resistors, capacitors, LEDs, sensors, and motor driver boards perform specific roles within a circuit. You'll build your own circuits on a breadboard, use a multimeter, and make cool projects like blinking lights and a traffic signal. You’ll learn how electricity flows, how to measure it, and how to troubleshoot when something doesn’t work.
Wind Turbines – Engineering Renewable Energy
Grades 3-5 or 6-8
Workshop
Engineering Design • Classical Mechanics • Critical & Creative Thinking
Are you ready to harness the wind and engineer a cleaner future? Get ready to geek out as we dive into the spectacular science of engineering! This dynamic workshop dives into the world of renewable energy, with a special focus on the fascinating mechanics of wind turbine design. You’ll uncover how wind is transformed into electricity, while learning the real-world engineering principles that make it all possible. You will experiment with gear ratios, blade pitch, and configurations with turbine structure, discovering how each component impacts energy output. Working in teams, you’ll tackle the engineering challenges of constructing your own working wind turbine!
Robots on the Run
Grades 3-5 or 6-8
Workshop
Coding & Programming • Robotics
Bring a robot to life—one line of code at a time! In this high-tech workshop, you will learn to program a robot and make it respond to your every command! You will utilize a visual, easy-to-understand coding software called mBlock to write code for your robot. You will learn how to program the robot to execute maneuvers, like turning left and right, moving forward and backward, stopping and going, and even blinking its lights! Then, put your robot to the test by having it navigate a thrilling obstacle course! Using your newfound skills, you’ll experiment with a variety of hands-on challenges, such as line-following and obstacle avoidance, to push the limits of your robot’s abilities. The workshop culminates in an exciting "Robot Wars" challenge, where your robot will face off against others to pop balloons in a fun and competitive setting!
Rube Goldberg and Marble Roller Coasters
Grades 3-5 or 6-8
Workshop
Engineering Design • Classical Mechanics • Critical & Creative Thinking
Get ready to take a marble on the ride of a lifetime as you design, build, and test your very own marble roller coaster inspired by the wild and whimsical world of Rube Goldberg! Discover the story of Rube Goldberg—the cartoonist who turned simple tasks into crazy chain reactions, and how his playful machines connect to real-world science.
Through hands-on building and playful experimentation, you’ll learn how energy changes form: from the moment you lift your marble to the thrilling drop where it zooms into motion. Discover how energy is stored, transferred, and transformed—all while building creative contraptions that twist, turn, and surprise. You'll also explore fun physics concepts like gravity and friction, and learn how the height of your coaster can change how fast and far your marble goes! You will assemble your roller coaster using simple, everyday materials like tubes, tape, and cardboard. Work on your own or team up with others as you build, test, and fine-tune your creative coasters, each one a unique ride from start to finish.
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