Age 4 - Grade 3 Sample Courses


The following is a glimpse into the CTD curriculum, featuring just a few of our current or upcoming courses. CTD offers hundreds of courses each year!


You can search all courses by visiting CTD’s online Explore Courses Tool.


Mathemagicians (K-Grade1)


How can you solve number problems using special tricks? Explore the four main operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division through hands-on math activities and games. Understand and develop a toolbox of math “tricks” for fast and accurate whole number computation. Solve a range of number problems and puzzles using strategies like estimation, mental computation, and equal grouping. During this course, students will:


Describe and use the four main operations in math Explain strategies for mental math (e.g. visualization, sorting, patterns) Create original math puzzles and explain how to find the solutions


CTD PATHWAY: This course is for students who love puzzles and problem-solving. It develops analytical thinking and is great preparation for future studies in higher level math, logic, and computer programming.


Cool Chemistry (Grades 1-2) Physics Fun (PreK-K)


How do loop-the-loops work on a toy car track…how does an airplane stay in the air? Connect basic laws of physics to everyday life. Discover the principles of motion, heat, thermal energy, and moving electrons and their charges. Engage in an exciting array of activities, experiments, and discus- sions that relate directly to the real world. During this course, students will:


Understand and explain key concepts of the laws of physics Illustrate the uses of simple machines Document data from experiments using words and picture writing Use scientific thinking to ask and answer questions


CTD PATHWAY: This course is for students who love to ask, “why?” and enjoy puzzling over the laws of nature. With a focus on problem solving and scientific thinking, participants will be prepared to engage in future science, engineering, and design courses.


Robots & Roadways (PreK-K)


How do we tell robots what to do? Learn how to tell robots where to go and what to do when they don’t follow directions as planned. Represent code in a variety of ways using words, symbols, and models. Navigate robots through increasingly complex paths and obstacle courses using your own original written programs. Build an early foundation for future computer science experiences through hands-on activities, role play, and development of basic programming vocabulary. During this course, students will:


Utilize computer-programming vocabulary such as code, debug, and sequence


Write original programs that cause a robot to follow a specific path


Apply mapping and spatial reasoning skills to design 2D and 3D routes and towns for robots


CTD PATHWAY: This course is for students with interests in puzzles, math, and programming. The course utilizes hands-on work with tangible robotics, which builds foundational knowledge in computational thinking, preparing students for future technology and engineering courses.


Center for Talent Development (CTD) offers assessment options in the Chicagoland area for children as young as age 4


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What chemical reactions occur in everyday life? Investigate chemical reactions, the formation of polymers, pH, and chemical solutions. Observe, hypothesize, record, and analyze data as you perform experiments that prove how hot some cool chemical reactions can be! During this course, students will:


Explain the four states of matter and describe how they change


Explain the significance of pH, polymers, and solutions vs. suspensions and colloids


Illustrate the movement of molecules in different types of matter Observe and describe the chemical changes in classroom experiments


CTD PATHWAY: This course is for students who love to ask, “why?” and have a passion for understanding the world around them. It builds strong scientific thinking, preparing students for future science courses in any branch of science (life, physical, and earth).


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