Introducing this session's Quests
check out our Quests for session 6
Spa Day
In Session 6, Wellness on the Outside, learners are running a feel-good “Spa Science” adventure—where we relax, explore, and do real kid-friendly science at the same time! Guests will bounce from station to station like a wellness carnival: a fresh juice bar, a cozy tea lounge, a sparkly nail salon, a super calm back massage station, yoga that feels like animal stretches, and a nature walk where we use our senses like explorers. Learners will discover fun “why does that happen?” science—like how warm and cool can help your body reset, how smells can make your brain feel happy or calm, and how mixing ingredients is like being a mini chemist in a lab. Best part: learners are the Spa Team—they’ll design the vibe, make the plan, welcome guests, and guide everyone through the experience so it feels smooth, special, and totally magical.
Fizz + Freeze: Soda Shop Science
This session, our Studio is diving into food chemistry through a creation of The Soda Shop Science Lab: Fizz + Freeze! A local soda shop is preparing for a big summer menu launch, but some of their creations are coming out “weird”—syrups won’t mix, flavors sink or float, ice cream turns icy instead of creamy, and floats separate too quickly. Our learners have been “hired” as Flavor Chemists and Food Scientist to test, observe, and invent solutions (literally!) by exploring two key concepts: solutions, where ingredients dissolve completely to create smooth, consistent sodas, and colloids, where tiny particles stay suspended to create creamy treats like ice cream. Over the course of the Quest, learners will experiment with mixing, temperature, stirring, and texture, then design and pitch their own soda, ice cream, or float—explaining the science behind it in kid-friendly terms—culminating in a fun Fizz + Freeze Launch Party at Exhibition where their creations are shared, tasted, and celebrated.
Sensory Chemists: Designing Tools for Calm, Focus, and Regulation
This session, heroes will become Sensory Chemists!
A music therapist who works with kids that have autism and down’s syndrome has asked for help. Some kids have a hard time focusing or staying calm, and they need tools that help their brains and bodies feel balanced.
Using chemistry, heroes will experiment with materials to create sensory tools. They will learn about polymers — special materials made of long, stretchy chains of molecules (like slime or putty). They will also explore viscosity, which is how thick or runny a liquid is. Is it watery and fast-moving? Or thick and slow like honey?
Heroes will also work alongside the music therapist to explore how sound and rhythm can work together with sensory tools to help people feel calm and focused.
Finally, they will test their ideas, get feedback, and improve their designs. In the end, heroes will share their sensory tool with a real audience at Exhibition — showing how your creation supports different kinds of brains in different ways.
Confectionery Chemist: The Chemistry of Candy
This session, our Middle School learners are taking on a real “summer rescue mission” for local candy shops; Pecan Jack’s, and River Street Sweets: when heat and humidity spike, candy can turn sticky, grainy, or lose its perfect snap—and our learners are working to help prevent it. Acting as food scientists and R&D teams, they’ll investigate what moisture actually does to sugar and other candy ingredients (from crystallization to ingredient stability), then use math to fine-tune ratios, redesign recipes, and compare results across controlled tests. Expect plenty of hands-on experimenting, data tracking, and bold iteration as teams race to develop solutions that could hold up in Georgia’s summer weather. The project ends with a client-ready report and a live demonstration for the candy shop owners, where learners will present evidence, explain the science behind their decisions, and pitch their best recommendations!
Shear Genius: Hair Styling Science
This session, our High School learners are stepping into the roles of cosmetic chemists, salon consultants, and brand developers to solve a real problem faced by professional hairstylist Aeleise Harris: persistent dryness and humidity-related hair challenges across diverse hair types. Acting as R&D teams, learners will investigate the science of hair structure, moisture retention, and environmental chemistry, testing ingredient combinations through controlled experiments. They will track data, refine formulations, and engineer a styling product designed to perform in real-world salon conditions. The Quest culminates in a live Salon Science Showcase where learners demonstrate their product’s effectiveness, defend their scientific reasoning, and present a market-ready concept to the client herself.