Course Descriptions
Digital Art: Students will explore the creative intersection of art and computer science. Through hands-on projects, students will design digital drawings, create simple animations, and build interactive sketches while learning the fundamentals of coding. This course encourages innovation, problem-solving, and creative expression in a fun, supportive environment. No prior coding or art experience is required—just curiosity and creativity!
Read Around St. Louis: Dive into the rich literary world of St. Louis with this exciting course, curated in collaboration with Hixson and local librarians! Students will explore short stories, poems, and a novel either written by St. Louis-born authors or set right here in the area. Every text is handpicked to be accessible, no higher than a 7th-grade reading level, so you can enjoy the stories, uncover the city’s culture, and connect with characters and places that feel close to home. Get ready to read, discuss, and discover the vibrant voices of St. Louis!
Summer Gym Blast!: Do you have a passion for sports? STEM Sports: Where Sports & Science Meet will provide students the opportunity to apply science and math concepts through the lens of active sports. Students will participate in hands-on active engagement in activities such as outdoor fitness activities, obstacle courses, parachute games, relay races, bean bag activities, and team sports including, but not limited to mattball, tchoukball, basketball, soccer,, geocaching, handball, and much more.
Bookfluencers: Calling all readers! Have a book that you think everyone should read? Become a Bookfluencer! In this summer session we will analyze how books are marketed through social media and use that knowledge to create our own "BookTok" style videos and posts that we can share with the Hixson Librarians for future use.
Hixson Survival Guide: Get ready for middle school! This course helps incoming 6th graders build confidence, make friends, and master the skills you need to thrive. You’ll team up for fun activities, explore Hixson’s core values through a service project, unlock combination locks, navigate the building with scavenger hunts, get comfortable with Canvas, practice planning and time management, and learn all the rules and expectations for a smooth start to middle school.
Adventuring 101: A Beginner’s Guide to D&D: Step into a world of adventure! In this beginner-to-intermediate Dungeons & Dragons session, students team up to solve puzzles, battle monsters, and explore a rich fantasy world. You’ll learn the basics of the game, build your own character, and embark on an epic co-op story where creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork rule. Your first quest awaits, are you ready to roll the dice?
Rhythm Roots: Explore the roots of music and discover how historical styles and artists shape the sounds we hear today. Students will trace the evolution of genres, uncover key influences, and connect the past to modern music in fun, interactive ways.
Plot Twist!: Expect the unexpected! In this course, students dive into 2–3 high-interest short stories each week and explore them through writing, role-play, character analysis, and lively discussions. Get ready for surprises, plot twists, and plenty of opportunities to think, create, and share your ideas.
It’s A Mystery!: Get ready to investigate the world’s greatest mysteries! Students will become detectives as they explore fascinating historical mysteries, puzzling scientific phenomena, famous (age-appropriate) murder cases, and unexplained events that still leave experts scratching their heads. Through videos, discussions, primary sources, and hands-on activities, students will analyze evidence, ask critical questions, and form their own theories. From lost civilizations and secret government projects to strange disappearances and science that seems almost impossible, this class encourages curiosity, critical thinking, and creative problem-solving. No prior detective experience required—just a love of asking “What really happened?”
Space Cadets: Exploring the Universe: Blast off into an exciting summer of exploration, creativity, and hands-on learning! In the Space Cadets, students become junior astronauts and engineers as they investigate the wonders of space through fun, hands-on STEM activities. Cadets will build and launch rockets, design lunar landers, create alien life forms, and construct a space base while learning about gravity, motion, and engineering. This course builds creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving skills, no prior experience needed, just curiosity and imagination! (6th &7th Grade Only)
Behind the Scenes: Fact or Fiction in Movies: Is it true or is it fiction?! Come explore multiple historical fiction and true life movies. Was Robin Hood a real person? How did animals really help during war? How does a dolphin swim with no tail? What really happened with the 1980 US Hockey team? Just a couple of questions that we will try to answer with different learning experiences.
Ki-NEAT-siology: This course is designed to teach students the science of how the human body moves—perfect for curious minds interested in health, sports, or the science behind physical activity. We will explore topics like basic anatomy, biomechanics, fitness principles, and injury prevention. Teens will leave with a better understanding of how their body works and how to move smarter and more safely in everyday life. Whether your student is an athlete, a science enthusiast, or simply curious about the human body, this course builds a strong foundation in kinesiology.
Brain & Balance: Prepare for middle school with skills that help you succeed! This course guides students in emotional regulation, social-emotional learning, and executive functioning through interactive activities. Students will build strategies for focus, organization, and self-management, key tools for thriving academically and socially.
Data Detectives: Students will dive into the world of statistics by exploring how data is collected, summarized, visualized, and interpreted. Through interactive activities and real-world examples, students will develop strong analytical skills and learn how to present data effectively. The course concludes with a student-led presentation demonstrating their understanding of the full data process.
Villains Take the Stage!: A Disney Choral Medley: In this summer choir course, students will rehearse and perform Songs of a Disney Villain!, a Disney medley celebrating some of the most memorable villains in Disney history. Students will develop vocal skills, musical confidence, and ensemble performance techniques while exploring expressive singing and storytelling through music. The course concludes with a live performance for parents and guardians. No prior choir experience required, just enthusiasm and a willingness to sing!
Beauty Essentials: In this creative and business-focused course, students will explore the fundamentals of the beauty and fashion industry. Students will learn the basics of hairstyling, makeup artistry, eyelash application concepts (theory and safety), and fashion coordination. In addition, students will develop entrepreneurial skills by learning how to create a brand, market their services, budget materials, and design a small business plan. This course encourages creativity, confidence, professionalism, and responsible business practices.
STEM Unplugged: Put the screens away and power up your thinking! In this hands-on course, students will tackle engineering and logic challenges using everyday materials. From building mini-rafts that float to designing balloon-powered cars and constructing strong popsicle stick bridges, students will explore the engineering design process: plan, build, test, and improve. Creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving take center stage in this exciting, screen-free STEM experience.
Geometry in Art: Discover how math and creativity come together! In this course, students will explore artists who use geometric shapes, symmetry, patterns, and perspective in their work. Students will research influential artists, analyze how geometry appears in their art, and create original pieces inspired by their findings. Through hands-on projects, students will see how geometry transforms into powerful visual design.
Game On! Math Edition: Think fast. Plan smart. Play to win! Students will use math skills like logic, probability, patterns, and strategy to compete in exciting games and solve challenging puzzles. This course builds confidence in math through teamwork, creativity, and problem-solving.