Our Workshops

Format: In-person
Duration: 60 minutes
Class Size: 5-8 students
Audience: Grades 3–8
Location: TBD in the PHX East Valley Area (Tempe, Apache Junction, Chandler, Mesa, Gilbert, and Queen Creek)
Cost: $30 per student includes cost of materials and tools. (Parent or guardian must be present)

Workshop: “Let There Be Light!” (lite version)
Students will build a working LED circuit using a switch, battery, and wires—learning how electricity flows through real-world systems like lighting and HVAC. This hands-on experience connects STEM theory (electricity, current, circuits) with MEP trades (electrical systems, wiring, safety).

Format: In-person
Duration: 120 minutes
Class Size: 5-8 students
Audience: Grades 3–8
Location: TBD in the PHX East Valley Area (Tempe, Apache Junction, Chandler, Mesa, Gilbert, and Queen Creek)
Cost: $50 per student (3-5 grade) / $60 per student (6-8 grade) includes cost of materials and tools.

At The Thinking Wrench, our classes are designed to turn curiosity into capability. Students learn through doing—building real projects, testing their ideas, and learning to solve problems like engineers.

Kickoff & Safety Brief (10 min)
Welcome, safety check, and project overview.

How is time spent

• Demo & Guided Build (30 min)
  Watch a demo and follow step-by-step instructions.

• Independent Build (30 min)
  Students customize and troubleshoot on their own.

• Testing & Troubleshooting (20 min)
  Power it on, test, and improve with support.

• Challenge Extension (10 min)
  Optional add-ons to stretch creativity and problem-solving.

• Show-and-Tell & Wrap-Up (20 min)
  Share builds, explain ideas, and reflect.

Included topics

1. Let There Be Light

Build an LED circuit with a switch
Focus: Electricity, polarity, open/closed circuits
Tools: LED, switch, battery, wires

2. Duct It Yourself

Create a working air duct model with airflow test
Focus: Air pressure, airflow direction, HVAC basics
Tools: Tubes, desk fan or hand pump, flap valves

3. Water Finds a Way

Build a gravity-fed plumbing system
Focus: Fluid dynamics, slope, valves
Tools: Clear tubing, funnel, water reservoir, catch tray

4. Hot Box Challenge

Construct an insulated container to test heat retention
Focus: Thermal transfer, insulation materials
Tools: Foam board, box, thermometer, heat source (warm water)

5. Measure Twice

Draw a blueprint and translate it into a physical model
Focus: Spatial reasoning, scale, math in construction
Tools: Grid paper, ruler, cardboard pieces

6. Wired to Win

Create a light-up paper model house with interior wiring
Focus: Circuit routing, home layout logic
Tools: LEDs, paper template, copper tape or jumper wires

7. Simple Machines Mini Build

Assemble a pulley or lever system using household parts
Focus: Mechanical advantage, physics in trades
Tools: String, spool, paper clips, cardboard, dowels

8. The Drain Game

Build a trap and simulate water flow in plumbing
Focus: U-trap design, water seal, gravity systems
Tools: Tubing, flexible straw, catch container

9. Switch It Up

Create a light switch from cardboard and foil
Focus: Electrical contact, conductivity
Tools: Cardboard, foil, wires, LED, battery

10. Wind at Work

Build a simple fan-powered turbine or pinwheel
Focus: Renewable energy, kinetic to electric conversion
Tools: Paper, dowels, small motor or fan, tape, optional LED

Format: In-Person
Duration: 12 hours Total (2 hours per workshop)
Class Size: 5-8 students
Audience: Grades 3–8
Location: TBD in the PHX East Valley Area (Tempe, Apache Junction, Chandler, Mesa, Gilbert, and Queen Creek)
Cost: $330 per student (3-8 grade) includes cost of materials and tools.

Introduce grade school students to real-world Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) systems through hands-on STEM projects. Each weekly session connects a STEM principle to a tangible system students can build, test, and understand.

• Hands-on kits for each student (can be reused or sent home)

• Short theory lesson → build time → demo or share-out

• Capstone and reflection journal for writing or drawing what they learned

1. Blueprint Basics

Project: Plan and sketch the room layout before building
Focus: Measurement, spatial reasoning, 2D-to-3D thinking

2. Air Moves Things

Project: Install a mini duct system inside the home
Focus: Air pressure, ventilation, system design

3. Water Finds a Way

Project: Add a gravity-fed plumbing line to the house
Focus: Fluid dynamics, slopes, valves

4. Let There Be Light

Project: Wire an LED circuit to light up a room
Focus: Electricity, open/closed circuits, conductivity

5. System Integration

Project: Combine all systems into the original blueprint design
Focus: Systems thinking, problem solving, project execution

6. Final Touches & Showcase

Project: Add finishing details and present to family and peers
Focus: Creativity, craftsmanship, communication

We believe hands-on STEM learning should be accessible to all. Ask us about:

• Sibling Discount: 10% off second child

• Referral Credit: $10 off for each family you refer

• Multi-Program Bundle: Enroll in 2+ programs per year and save $25

• School Partnerships: Custom rates available for schools, co-ops, and enrichment programs

• Private Group Workshops (birthdays, clubs, homeschool groups): Custom pricing for 6–12 kids

• School Enrichment Programs: We bring the tools and teaching to your campus

• Pop-Up Events & Demos: Great for STEM nights, fairs, and camps