Still have questions about KIDS Afterschool? Check below to find some answers:

What age range is KIDS Afterschool designed for?

KIDS Afterschool activities were designed for children ages 7–14, but most of the activities work really well with older kids, and many work for younger children if they are modified a bit. Lots of afterschools have had success grouping older children with their youngest children (5–7 years old) and having them work together on the KIDS Afterschool activities. And some activities are specifically designed for younger or older kids - search for activities by age level if you are working with a specific age group.

What do kids learn?

Hopefully a lot! KIDS Afterschool is a diverse and comprehensive curriculum covering science, engineering, culture, art, health, math and literacy. So it is extremely rich in opportunities to teach children about these content areas. But more importantly, KIDS Afterschool activities engage children in the critical process skills that help lead to better learning. Skills like problem solving, observing, communicating, making sense of experiences, working collaboratively, etc.—these skills are critical tools for children as they grow older and learn increasingly complex concepts. By developing these skills, your students will be better prepared throughout their learning life. More information about these 21st century skills can be found at www.21stcenturyskills.org.

What does staff need to know?

What you need to know is how to ask good questions, how to get your students interested in the activities, and how to best present these activities for the unique group of children you are working with. KIDS Afterschool activities engage students in lots of different content areas—but you’re not expected to be an expert in these areas! The focus of these activities is on giving children a chance to explore together and talk together about their experiences. They will be learning about science and culture and health, etc. for sure, but the teacher’s role is not as the giver of knowledge, but as the person who facilitates the experience. It’s up to the kids to investigate and discover their own answers. For more information, read the "Teaching Tips" page.

How much prep is involved?

With over 140 activities (and growing!) in the curriculum, the amount of prep time varies, but hopefully as little prep as possible is needed. KIDS Afterschool activities use mostly easy to find, inexpensive materials—many of which you probably already have. Read activity instructions ahead of time so you can be prepared and so you can gather materials as needed. You can also search for "minimal materials" to find activities that require little or no preparation.