Join us and explore the “living laboratory” of the Edison and Ford Winter Estates. Our Wild Wizards will challenge your mind and foster collaboration in this homeschool science and engineering series. Classes take place in an outdoor classroom environment (weather permitting). Homeschool classes at Edison Ford are aligned with Next Generation Science and Florida State Standards. Classes are a combination of instruction and hands on activities that are designed to facilitate homeschool or virtual science education. Become a family member of Edison Ford and receive discounted registration!
2025 – 2026 Curriculum
Homeschool Science and Engineering Series
All classes are from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Cost per class: Members: $15; Non-Members: $25
Cost for Series: Members: $100; Non-Members: $180
Physics: forces and motion
September 10 (grades 1-3)
September 11 (grades 4-6)
Students explore Newton’s laws of motion, gravity, mass, volume, speed, and acceleration with a series of demonstrations and hands-on activities. Potential and kinetic energy are investigated with a marble roller coaster that uses marbles of various mass and volume.
Chemistry: matter and reactions
October 8 (grades 1-3)
October 9 (grades 4-6)
This class covers the states of matter, the structure of atoms and molecules, polymers, and the process of chemical reactions. Students explore chemistry concepts by engaging in hands-on experiments such as making slime and building model molecules.
Earth Science: minerals and the process of science
November 12 (grades 1-3)
November 13 (grades 4-6)
Minerals and crystals! Students become geologists as they learn to conduct the Mohs scratch test to identify minerals and their properties. Students learn about the rock cycle as they create their own working model of the system that investigates each category of rock: sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic.
Life Science: plants and flowers
December 10 (grades 1-3)
December 11 (grades 4-6)
Explore the green laboratory of the Estates. Students tour the rich botanical property and learn about the unique ecology of Florida. This class will dissect flowers and learn about the life cycle of plants as students enhance their science process skills.
Introduction to Archaeology: exploring the past
January 14 (grades 1-3)
January 15 (grades 4-6)
In this course, future Indiana Jones will learn to be an archaeologist! Archaeology facilitates critical thinking and historical awareness. Students will learn simple terminologies such as artifact, in situ, dig site, tools, surveying, layers and dating methods. Several hands-on activities will be conducted. The first one will be a fun outdoor simulated dig where the students will learn to survey and work in teams. The students will learn how to use simple archaeology tools and collect artifacts. In the second portion, the students will take the artifacts into the indoor classroom where they will use scientific methods to analyze the artifacts and take an artifact home!
Aeronautics: the physics of flight
February 10 (grades 1-3)
February 11 (grades 4-6)
Students take off as they learn the physics of flight. This class will focus on the four forces of flight, Newton’s Laws of Motion, the Coanda effect, and Bernoulli’s principle. Students will build and fly gliders to help understand the various mechanisms of flight such as the ailerons, rudder, and flaps. Students will explore energy transfer as they stomp a rocket into the sky!
Electricity: history of electronics
March 11 (grades 1-3)
March 12 (grades 4-6)
From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Edison, students learn the history of electricity that changed the world. Starting with a hair-raising demonstration of a Van De Graaff generator and culminating with circuit building. This class covers the basic concepts of electricity and power. Concepts taught include series and parallel circuits, insulation and conduction, volts, current, and resistance.
Computer Science: coding the future
April 8 (grades 1-3)
April 9 (grades 4-6)
Hello world! In this crash course to computer science, students learn about the first computer bug, and the nature of binary code. This class explores the history of computer science, concepts of computation, the power of doubling, algorithms, and Boolean logic. Students will train their coding skills using various block programming environments.
Registration is required
