Enrollment is now open for the 2024-2025 Spring Semester!
We are now accepting applications for students in grades K-4.
What Makes Nerd Academy Different?
PetroSTEAM and CitySTEAM
Groundbreaking programs immerse students in real-world applications like energy and city infrastructure.
STEAM CURRICULUM
ChatGPT plus Digital Media
We empower students to explore AI, and develop digital literacy, preparing them for the jobs of tomorrow.
DIGITAL CURRICULUM
No Standardized Testing - Ever
Curriculum emphasizing meaningful learning over test prep, ensuring students master foundational skills.
LITERACY CURRICULUM
Building Empathetic Students
Through SEL, we teach students to navigate emotions, build relationships, and develop leadership skills.
SEL CURRICULUM
Nurturing Every Child's Potential
Teachers can tailor instruction to individual needs, ensuring every child receives the support they need.
PERSONALIZED LEARNING
We've Reimagined STEAM Education
At Nerd Academy, we’ve reimagined STEAM education to make it more relevant, engaging, and impactful. PetroSTEAM is our groundbreaking curriculum that combines Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math with a focus on the energy industry—one of the most critical drivers of our local and global economy.
But PetroSTEAM is more than just oil and gas. It’s about helping students understand how energy powers the world, explore the industries shaping their communities, and discover where their own talents and passions align with real-world opportunities. Whether it’s engineering, automation, entrepreneurship, or environmental science, PetroSTEAM inspires students to think critically, innovate boldly, and dream big.
PetroSTEAM CURRICULUM
Building Strong Foundations in Math, Reading, and Writing
- Math in Action: Students use math to design experiments, solve real-world problems, and analyze data in hands-on projects like PetroSTEAM and CitySTEAM. For example, they might calculate force and velocity for a science experiment or budget resources for a class project.
- Reading with Purpose: Reading is more than decoding words—it’s about understanding and applying knowledge. Whether students are researching for an experiment, exploring AI, or reading about historical innovations, they are constantly developing critical thinking and comprehension skills.
- Writing for Real Impact: Writing at Nerd Academy goes beyond essays. Students write scripts for videos, create presentations for their projects, and even draft proposals for community-focused initiatives. These activities teach them to communicate effectively and persuasively in the real world.
Developing Confident, Empathetic Leaders with Social Emotional Learning
- Building Confidence: Helping students understand their emotions and strengths empowers them to face challenges with resilience and self-assurance.
- Fostering Empathy: By teaching students to consider other perspectives, SEL builds a foundation of kindness and mutual respect, fostering healthier relationships.
- Enhancing Leadership Skills: Skills like conflict resolution, communication, and teamwork are essential for becoming future leaders in their communities and careers.
Empowering Students Through Real-World Innovation
At Nerd Academy, we believe that education should go beyond the classroom to inspire creativity, innovation, and problem-solving in real-world contexts. Our commitment to hands-on learning is exemplified by projects like the "Flying Reindeer" experiment, where students didn’t just learn science—they lived it.
The Flying Reindeer Experiment
Our fourth graders embarked on an exciting journey to transform a classic science experiment into something uniquely their own:
- Refining Ideas with AI: Using ChatGPT we explored how artificial intelligence can help organize and refine a step-by-step process to make instructions clearer and easier to follow.
- Scripting and Production: We used ChatGPT to reference the experiment's instructions and create a detailed script that our fourth graders could follow. We then handed them an iPhone and let them shoot the scenes and select the best ones before piecing them together in CapCut.
- Sharing Their Work with the World: The finished video was uploaded to Nerd Academy's YouTube channel, giving students a platform to share their innovation with the community and beyond.
- Community Engagement: Nerd Academy created and distributed science kits containing all the materials needed to replicate the project. These kits were handed out at a Nerd Academy-sponsored community event, encouraging hands-on STEM exploration for kids of all ages.
Why This Matters...
Projects like the Flying Reindeer experiment empower students to:
- Develop Critical Skills: From leveraging AI to crafting a narrative and editing videos, students build 21st-century skills that go far beyond the textbook.
- Engage with Their Community: By sharing their work online and at local events, they see the real-world impact of their learning.
- Foster Confidence: Completing a project from concept to public presentation gives students a sense of accomplishment and builds their confidence in tackling future challenges.
- Spark a Lifelong Love for Learning: Hands-on experiences inspire curiosity and encourage students to continue exploring science and technology.
See it For Yourself!
Curious about what our students created?
Click the button below and watch the Flying Reindeer experiment in action and see how Nerd Academy brings innovation to life.
Click the button below and watch the Flying Reindeer experiment in action and see how Nerd Academy brings innovation to life.
Enrollment is now open for the 2024-2025 Spring Semester!
We are now accepting applications for students in grades K-4.Recent Articles
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