TJ’s Summer Discovery Academy classes offer a wide range of summer enrichment opportunities – including ACT Prep – for children in grades Pre-K through 12. The Academy is open to students from all schools in the 4-States area.
RegistrationThomas Jefferson offers a full-featured Summer Discovery Program open to all students in the community, from Pre-K through grade 12. TJ’s established summer program includes workshops, classes, and exploratory camps. Included are our Lower School performing arts program, weights and conditioning, applied programming & robotics, ACT preparation courses, foreign language camps, a Middle School study skills course, and much more.
(Registrations Closed) Studio Art Academy, K to 2nd (9 a.m. – Noon) – Open to all students entering grades K-2 in the fall. Students will create works of art in various media, using a variety of techniques, while exploring different artists (Pollock, Koons, Warhol, Thiebaud, Haring) and what inspires them each day. They will have their own masterpieces to take home and display with pride.
(Registrations Closed) Young Scholars Academy, ages 3 and 4 (1 p.m. – 4 p.m.) – You are invited to immerse yourself in a week of discovery. Students will engage in games and playful activities that introduce them to early literacy and numeracy skills. Each week will present a new theme, and students will make friends and find joy in learning in this academically enriching program.
Kids College Academy: Jurassic Adventures, Rising K to 2nd (9 a.m. – Noon) – Welcome to Jurassic Adventures where learning will be a roar! We will head into the Cretaceous jungle for the ultimate adventure. Each day, young paleontologists-in-training explore the wild world of the Jurassic era through hands-on activities such as making our own dinosaur fossils and making mini volcanoes erupt.
Young Scholars Academy, PreK/K (9 a.m. – Noon) – You are invited to immerse yourself in a week of discovery. Students will engage in games and playful activities that introduce them to early literacy and numeracy skills. Each week will present a new theme, and students will make friends and find joy in learning in this academically enriching program.
STEM Adventures, K to 2nd (9 a.m. – Noon) – Calling all future engineers! Students will be able to design and build unique structures using various hands-on materials. They will try to complete STEM challenges while applying engineering principles. Many materials will be available students, and they can present their designs to their peers. The structures will be built using stability, creativity, and give ingenuity to the design process. Students will also be challenged to improve their designs based on recommendations from testing and peer reviews.
Flavorful Journey, K to 2nd (1 p.m. – 4 p.m.) – Welcome to the Flavorful Journey cooking class where young chefs will stir up creativity, confidence, and delicious fun! Every day our chefs will don their aprons, roll up their sleeves, and dive into hands on kitchen adventures designed just for them. They will leave at the end of the week with a cookbook and a Junior Culinary Star. (Allergy Warning: we will be cooking and eating various foods and ingredients.)
Amusement Park Adventures, K to 2nd (9 a.m. – Noon) – Open-ended, project-based learning activities that challenge students to design their own theme park! This class will develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and design skills as students plan their park’s attractions, layout, budget, and marketing materials. Students will build rollercoasters, create fun house mazes, merry-go-rounds, slides, design games, and more. A fun and interactive way to integrate science, building, engineering and creativity during the summer!
Magic School Bus: Science Lab, Rising K to 2nd (1 p.m. – 4 p.m.) – Young students will transform into scientists as they participate in some wild rides on the mythical Magic School Bus. Join your friends – and make new friends – on a different science adventure each day. Curious students will enjoy these fun-filled STEM activities designed to teach scientific concepts while engaging in a full laboratory experience.
Kids College: Blast Off Into Space, Rising K to 2nd (1 p.m. – 4 p.m.) – Join us for a cosmic adventure for little astronauts! In this class, young explorers will journey through the stars, learning about the moon, planets, and astronauts. Through hands-on activities students will make edible constellations, fly straw rockets, and a create a flying spaceship. This class is perfect for developing early science skills through songs, stories, and playful activities. Get ready to launch into a galaxy of fun and discovery this summer!
(Registrations Closed) Math Missions, 1st/2nd Grade (9 a.m. – Noon) – Calling all young mathematicians! Students with a love of numbers and math will enjoy this program that will allow them to take their numeracy skills even further. Through engaging games, activities, puzzles, and friendly competitions, students will enhance their problem-solving abilities and test new capacities in mathematics.
(Registrations Closed) STEM Immersion, 3rd to 5th (9 a.m. – Noon) – Ignite your child’s curiosity and passion for learning! In this exciting hands-on class, students will explore real-world challenges and fascinating phenomena through science, technology, engineering, and math. Each day is packed with engaging activities that build critical thinking, creativity, and essential STEM skills—all while having fun! Give your child a head start in the skills of the future.
(Registrations Closed) Bon Voyage, 3rd to 5th (9 a.m. – Noon) – Get your passports ready! Students will spend the week in France. The young travelers will explore French language, fairy tales, food, physical geography, and culture! Students will be able to embrace their creativity as they learn through different hands-on projects and activities all week. Bon voyage!
(Registrations Closed) Studio Art Academy, K to 2nd Grade (9 a.m. – Noon) – Open to all students entering grades K-2 in the fall. Students will create works of art in various media, using a variety of techniques, while exploring different artists (Pollock, Koons, Warhol, Thiebaud, Haring) and what inspires them each day. They will have their own masterpieces to take home and display with pride.
(Registrations Closed) Lego Lab, 1st/2nd Grade (9 a.m. – Noon) – Are you ready to unleash your creativity this summer? In this fun and interactive class, students will explore the world of design and engineering using the classic Lego brick. They’ll learn the basics of building, problem-solving, and teamwork while creating amazing structures, vehicles, and animals. This class will inspire you to think like an engineer and create like an architect. Join us for a week of building, designing, and discovering.
(Registrations Closed) Fractured Fairytale Fun, 1st/2nd Grade (1 p.m. – 4 p.m.) – Step into a world of magic and creativity. Students will explore beloved fairy tales through interactive challenges like helping Rapunzel engineer an escape, build a new home for the Big Bad Wolf from The Three Little Pigs, and create a troll-proof goat bridge for The Three Billy Goats Gruff. Embark on a magical journey learning problem-solving, critical thinking, and teamwork skills. Build, create, and imagine with us this summer!
(Registrations Closed) Math Missions 2.0, 3rd to 5th (1 p.m. – 4 p.m.) – Students with a love of numbers and math will enjoy this program that will allow them to take their numeracy skills even further. Through engaging games, activities, puzzles, and friendly competitions, students will enhance their problem-solving abilities and test new capacities in mathematics, including concepts and skills in algebra, geometry, and statistics.
Kids College Academy: Jurassic Adventures, Rising K to 2nd (9 a.m. – Noon) – Welcome to Jurassic Adventures where learning will be a roar! We will head into the Cretaceous jungle for the ultimate adventure. Each day, young paleontologists-in-training explore the wild world of the Jurassic era through hands-on activities such as making our own dinosaur fossils and making mini volcanoes erupt.
STEM Adventures, K to 2nd (9 a.m. – Noon) – Calling all future engineers! Students will be able to design and build unique structures using various hands-on materials. They will try to complete STEM challenges while applying engineering principles. Many materials will be available students, and they can present their designs to their peers. The structures will be built using stability, creativity, and give ingenuity to the design process. Students will also be challenged to improve their designs based on recommendations from testing and peer reviews.
Flavorful Journey, K to 2nd (1 p.m. – 4 p.m.) – Welcome to the Flavorful Journey cooking class where young chefs will stir up creativity, confidence, and delicious fun! Every day our chefs will don their aprons, roll up their sleeves, and dive into hands on kitchen adventures designed just for them. They will leave at the end of the week with a cookbook and a Junior Culinary Star. (Allergy Warning: we will be cooking and eating various foods and ingredients.)
Showtime Musical, Rising 2nd to 6th Grade (9 a.m. – 4 p.m.) – Lights! Camera! Action! Prepare for this summer’s musical. Young thespians will ready themselves with musical rehearsals, stage-blocking, and choreography. Participants must commit to dress rehearsal from 9-10 a.m., and the public performance at 5 p.m. on Sat., July 19th. There is a 30-actor limit. This year the musical will be 101 Dalmatians.
Summer Art Crafts, 1st/2nd Grade (9 a.m. – Noon) – Get ready for a week full of creativity and fun! This class will be brimming with hands-on arts and crafts projects where students can explore their artistic side and learn exciting new skills. From sun painting and tie-dye projects to yarn art and nature suncatchers, there is something for everyone. Come along with us to unleash your imagination, explore a variety of craft projects, and take home your own unique creations.
Amusement Park Adventures, K to 2nd (9 a.m. – Noon) – Open-ended, project-based learning activities that challenge students to design their own theme park! This class will develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and design skills as students plan their park’s attractions, layout, budget, and marketing materials. Students will build rollercoasters, create fun house mazes, merry-go-rounds, slides, design games, and more. A fun and interactive way to integrate science, building, engineering and creativity during the summer!
Spanish Studio Art Academy, 3rd to 5th Grade (9 a.m. – Noon) – Students will actively explore art from Spanish-speaking countries. Creative projects like kite-making and fabricating worry-dolls will serve as touchstones for cultural insights and new Spanish vocabulary. Open to students entering grades 3-5 in the fall. A variety of artwork will be created using numerous materials, building toward culturally relevant pieces to enjoy at home. Students will also build confidence and fluency in the Spanish language as they learn about Spanish culture and work on art inspired from what they learn!
Bon Voyage, 1st/2nd (1 p.m. – 4 p.m.) – Get your passports ready! Students will spend the week in France. The young travelers will explore French language, fairy tales, food, physical geography, and culture! Students will be able to embrace their creativity as they learn through different hands-on projects and activities all week. Bon voyage!
Kids College: Blast Off Into Space, Rising K to 2nd (1 p.m. – 4 p.m.) – Join us for a cosmic adventure for little astronauts! In this class, young explorers will journey through the stars, learning about the moon, planets, and astronauts. Through hands-on activities students will make edible constellations, fly straw rockets, and a create a flying spaceship. This class is perfect for developing early science skills through songs, stories, and playful activities. Get ready to launch into a galaxy of fun and discovery this summer!
Sports Academy, 3rd to 5th Grade (1 p.m. – 4 p.m.) – The Thomas Jefferson Athletics department is excited to bring back the lower school sport academy. Academy attendees with be exposed to several team sports and activities with a focus on basic mechanics and general rules. Academy activities will include: Agility Training, Badminton, Baseball, Basketball, Bowling, Dodgeball, Football, Kickball, Pickle Ball, Soccer, Softball, Tag Games, Tennis, Track, Volleyball, and Swimming. (Some activities may occur off campus – transportation will be provided by the school).
(Registrations Closed) Weights & Conditioning, 6th to 8th Grade (8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m., Tues/Wed/Thurs) – The summer weights and conditioning course is designed to help students improve both personal fitness and athletic performance. Additionally, the class focuses on several other aspects of fitness including running, jumping, flexibility, core strength, and agility. (This course is subject to change depending on number of students. If the number of students exceeds work out room capacity, instructor may split middle and upper school students into different time slots.)
(Registrations Closed) Applied Programming & Robotics, 6th to 8th Grade (9 a.m. – Noon) – Learn about technology by building and programming robots! In the course of a week, students will plan, program, test, and troubleshoot their robots using Lego robotics sets and Python programming. Students will attach ultrasonic, light, touch, and sound sensors to their robots, allowing them to interact with their environment. This is an excellent way to develop math, engineering, programming, and motor skills while building exciting, complex machines!
(Registrations Closed) Intro to Photography, 6th to 8th Grade (9 a.m. – Noon) – In our Intro to Photography course, we will get to explore the creative process behind taking great photos! You’ll learn the basics of how cameras work, including how to adjust settings like exposure and focus to capture the perfect shot. The class will cover fun topics like how to take portraits, photos of nature, and even how to make everyday objects look amazing. **Please bring a camera to the class. Cell phones, point and shoot camera, or a mirrorless/DSLR. If you are unable to bring a camera there will be a couple shared cameras to use.
(Registrations Closed) Drone Making, 6th to 8th Grade (1 p.m. – 4 p.m.) – From Amazon deliveries to taking pictures, drones are everywhere. In this course, students will get unique, hands-on experience in creating one of their own. Students will use both creative thinking skills and their imaginations to create and adapt their very own drones for various encounters.
(Registrations Closed) History of Cereal, 6th to 8th Grade (1 p.m. – 4 p.m.) – Welcome to The History of Cereal! In this course, students will explore the origins and evolution of breakfast cereal in the United States, starting in 1863. We will examine how cereal was tied to the health movement and its connection to social changes in the 1930s. Students will analyze vintage commercials, mascots, and the toys once hidden in cereal boxes, gaining insight into marketing and consumer culture. Additionally, we’ll compare breakfast cereals from around the world, exploring ingredient variations and global breakfast customs. Each day, students will sample different cereals, engaging in hands-on learning. The course will culminate in a creative project where students design their own cereal box, showcasing what they’ve learned. By the end of the course, students will have a deeper understanding of cereal’s cultural significance and its impact on American society and beyond.
D&D Craft and Coding, 6th to 8th Grade (9 a.m. – Noon) – While in the depths of this course, students will learn and discover new ways to create and expand their Dungeons and Dragons campaigns. We will look at introducing quests and characters, figure out how to write rich backstories, contemplate setting and creating suspended disbelief for the players. Through sites like D&D Beyond and Roll20, we will design and implement interactive maps that coincide with the writing side. We will also just have a good time like a bunch of satyrs around a campfire after a night of reveling. Join us, whether you’re a level one cleric or a level twelve rogue with a wicked sneak attack. (Personal laptops are allowed.)
Showtime Musical, Rising 2nd to 6th Grade (9 a.m. – 4 p.m.) – Lights! Camera! Action! Prepare for this summer’s musical. Young thespians will ready themselves with musical rehearsals, stage-blocking, and choreography. Participants must commit to dress rehearsal from 9-10 a.m., and the public performance at 5 p.m. on Sat., July 19th. There is a 30-actor limit. This year the musical will be 101 Dalmatians.
Quiz Bowl Camp, 6th to 8th Grade (1 p.m. – 4 p.m.) – The Quiz Bowl (or Scholar Bowl) Camp will serve as an excellent introduction for beginners and as a refinement period for experienced players. We will cover essential strategies relating to the game play, practice buzzing, and identify content strengths and weaknesses. We will learn strategies from experienced college players, and lessons from big names in trivia and game shows (e.g., Ken Jennings, James Holzhauer, Mattea Roach, Bob Harris). More importantly, we will have fun and learn new and interesting things!
Middle School Skills, 6th to 8th Grade (9 a.m. to Noon) – Middle School is an important transitional season. This course is built intentionally to help students tackle school better. This course will focus primarily on study skills, providing practical strategies and tested methods to help students achieve long-term academic success. Specific emphasis will be placed on time-management, organizational skills, note-taking, and test preparation. Additionally, this course will cover some basic life skills, using the book How to Be a Person: 65 Hugely Useful, super-Important Skills to Learn before You’re Grown Up for reference. All students new to Middle School at TJ are encouraged to attend. Rising 6th grade students are strongly encouraged to attend.
(Registrations Closed) Weights & Conditioning, 9th to 12th Grade (8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m., Tues/Wed/Thurs) – The summer weights and conditioning course is designed to help students improve both personal fitness and athletic performance. Additionally, the class focuses on several other aspects of fitness including running, jumping, flexibility, core strength, and agility. (This course is subject to change depending on number of students. If the number of students exceeds work out room capacity, instructor may split middle and upper school students into different time slots.)
(Registrations Closed) ACT Prep, 9th to 12th Grade (9 a.m. – 4 p.m.) – Students will develop individualized approaches to maximizing scores on the ACT. We will divide our class time evenly among the various portions of these tests. Each session will consist of a review of various mathematical, grammatical, or vocabulary concepts as we examine how these topics manifest themselves in a standardized test format. We will also spend a great deal of time taking and evaluating practice exams (often these will be completed outside of class), reviewing frequently occurring problem styles, and discussing strategies for taking the ACT. On Monday, students will take a pretest, followed by direct instruction Tuesday through Thursday, and ending with a post test on Friday.
