Avenues New York Explorers

Grades 4-5

In Grades 4–5, students emerge as confident, capable learners who are ready to take on greater leadership and independence. They engage in deeper inquiry, develop stronger analytical and creative thinking skills, and take more responsibility for their learning and personal growth. With opportunities for collaboration, leadership, and self-expression, students are well-prepared for the challenges and opportunities ahead.

Specialty Classes begin directly after school and run until 4:30 p.m. (Extended care is available until 5:15 p.m. for an additional cost.)
Stay & Play, our after-care program, begins directly after school and runs until 5:15 p.m.
All classes include healthy snacks.

Registration is for the Fall season. To explore class options, please review the schedule below and use the drop-down menu for full details. Space is limited, and waitlists will be opened as programs reach capacity. All classes require a minimum number of students to run.

Important Dates – Fall 2025

Registration for the Fall season opens Wednesday, June 4, at noon!
Stay & Play: September 3 – December 19
All other programs: September 8 – December 19

Register Now

Ready to register? Select your student’s 2025–2026 grade level and click the green button below.

Program	Action
Grades 4-5 Class Registration	Register here
LD Stay and Play Registration	Register here

Want to learn more? Click on the class titles below for a drop-down description.

Monday

Chess Tactics

Tactics are an integral part of chess and occur throughout all phases of the game. This dynamic class focuses on common tactics such as Pins, Forks, Skewers, Double Attacks, Deflections, Discovered Checks, and Mating attacks. Each week we prepare a variety of puzzles and chess brainteasers, so students at all playing levels will be challenged and engaged. This class encourages imaginative chess play, and is ideal for a student who has mastered piece movement and the basic rules, may have tournament experience, and who enjoys working on puzzles and exercising creativity.

Coding and Computing

Every activity in this course is designed to help students build fundamental coding skills. They give each young inventor an opportunity to strengthen their logical thinking, develop their troubleshooting skills, and become resilient to the challenges that always come with using any new technology or tool. Almost all of our activities task students with programming physical devices (circuit boards, robotics kits, motors, sensors, etc.) that serve not only as an important visual learning tool but also as an additional avenue for creativity and engagement. Examples of topics that we will cover include Advanced physical computing, fundamentals of syntax, and input & output conditional coding.

Tuesday

Sneaker and Fashion Sketching

A creative opportunity for young designers to explore artistic expression! In this class, students learn the fundamentals of drawing sneakers from different angles while creating their own original designs. Guided by expert instructors, they’ll develop sketching techniques, experiment with colors and patterns, and bring their creative ideas to life.

Wednesday

FIRST LEGO® League

FIRST LEGO® League is an international robotics program that introduces students to mechanical and software engineering through exciting robotics challenges. Students build problem-solving skills while working in a collaborative, inclusive, and fun environment. The program is led by an experienced FIRST Robotics mentor, alongside student mentors from Avenues robotics teams.

Thursday

Sewing

Students build practical skills and creativity as they learn the basics of sewing by hand and with a sewing machine. Guided by expert instructors, they’ll work with a variety of fabrics, threads, and stitches to create fun projects like mini sneaker pillows and other accessories. Along the way, students develop problem-solving skills, hand-eye coordination, and confidence through hands-on design work.

Friday

Sneaker Digital Design

Students unlock their digital creativity while learning the fundamentals of design using industry-standard software. Guided by expert instructors, they’ll create unique sneaker and clothing designs, adding colors, logos, and original artwork to tell their stories and express their style. Along the way, students experiment with different materials, textures, and design elements to bring their ideas to life.

Program	Action
Grades 4-5 Class Registration	Register here
LD Stay and Play Registration	Register here