About the Course

Science in a Bucket

What can a bucket of water or lounging beneath a shade tree teach you about science? Archimedes discovered the principle of buoyancy in a bathtub, and Newton allegedly discovered gravity while sitting under an apple tree. While these tales of discovery may be more myth than fact, many significant scientific discoveries were made in non-laboratory settings. Investigate scientific principles utilizing only common household containers, covering the basics of chemistry, physical science, biology, and ecology through these vessels.

Examine buoyancy, wave formation, and soil suspensions and learn the principles behind lifting water with a screw and making a water clock. Simultaneously, learn about the scientific method, writing and following procedures, and how to effectively communicate your findings to others. 

Fall and Spring Time Commitment: 4-5 hours per week (1-hour of class time, 3-4 hours of independent work).
Summer Time Commitment: 12-15 hours per week (3-hours of class time, 9-12 hours of independent work).
 

Course Overview

Classes

Register for an Online course by selecting an open class below. If no open classes are listed, then course enrollment is currently closed. Note: You will need to have an active CTY Account to complete registration through MyCTY.

Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays
-
3 weeks
3:00 p.m. (ET)
$1,325
Enroll
Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays
-
3 weeks
9:00 p.m. (ET)
$1,325
Enroll
Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays
-
3 weeks
9:00 p.m. (ET)
$1,365
Enroll
Wednesdays
-
8 weeks
5:00 p.m. (ET)
$1,365
Enroll

Testing and Prerequisites

  Math Verbal
Required Level CTY-Level or CTY-Level
Check your eligibility using existing test scores If you do not have existing test scores:

Students must achieve qualifying scores on an advanced assessment to be eligible for CTY programs. If you don’t have qualifying scores, you have several different testing options. We’ll help you find the right option for your situation.

Sign up for Testing Learn More

Cost and Financial Aid

  • Tuition
    • Varies
  • Application fee
    • Nonrefundable Application Fee - $15 (Waived for financial aid applicants)
    • Nonrefundable International Fee - $20 (outside US only)
Financial Aid

CTY Financial Aid Availability for Online Programs:

Academic Year 2023-24 (Course start dates July 1, 2023- June 30, 2024): We have concluded our financial aid application review process for Academic Year 2023-2024 Online Programs.

Academic Year 2024-25 (Course start dates July 1, 2024- June 30, 2025): Financial Aid funding is currently available for all eligible students while funding lasts. If interested in applying for financial aid, please select a course with start date of July 1, 2024 or later.

Learn More

Course Materials

Please acquire all course materials by the course start date, unless noted as perishable. Items marked as “perishable” should not be acquired until the student needs them in the course. If you have questions about these materials or difficulty locating them, please contact [email protected].
 

Parental supervision is required for some of the at-home investigations.

Supply List:

  • Science In a Bucket Lab Kit
  • Additional materials not included in the kit:
    • 1 Liter White Vinegar
    • Empty 2-liter bottle
    • Scrap of cardboard
    • Paper Towels
    • Paper towel or toilet paper tube
    • 1 sheet blue paper
    • 1 package of seeds or avocado pit
    • Red cabbage (optional) (Perishable)
    • Shaving cream (small amount)
    • Milk (1 cup; whole milk works best) (Perishable)
    • 1 egg (Perishable)
    • Lemon juice (small amount)

If you wish to obtain the supplies on your own rather than purchasing the kit, the full supply list is below:

  • 1 liter of white vinegar
  • Box of baking soda
  • Empty 1-liter soda bottle
  • Empty 2-liter soda bottle
  • Vegetable oil (small amount)
  • String
  • Blue paper
  • Red cabbage (optional)(Perishable)
  • Soil
  • Scrap cardboard
  • Pennies (or other small coins)
  • Drinking straws (disposable or reusable)
  • Paper towels
  • 2 or 3 pieces of gummy candy (such as a gummy bear or gummy worm)
  • Food coloring (small amount)
  • Seeds (such as an avocado pit or dried bean)
  • Shaving cream (small amount
  • 10-20 cotton balls
  • Milk (1 cup; whole milk works best)(Perishable)
  • Lemon juice (small amount)
  • Alka-Seltzer tablets or generic equivalent (3 tablets)
  • Small toy car (or similar)
  • 1 ping pong ball or marble
  • Clay or playdough (small amount)
  • Salt (small amount)
  • 1 egg (Perishable)
  • Tissue paper (2 or 3 sheets)
  • 3-5 Balloons
  • Aluminum foil (small piece)
  • Piece of PVC pipe (6-18 inches; any diameter)
  • Vinyl tubing (any size; enough length to wrap around the PVC pipe a few times)
  • Paper towel or toilet paper cardboard tube
  • Coffee filter
  • Bubble wrap or sponge (optional)
  • Eyedropper (optional)
  • CD (optional)
  • Sandpaper (optional)
  • Corn syrup (optional)
  • Eye protection (recommended)

Technical Requirements

This course requires a computer with high-speed Internet access and an up-to-date web browser such as Chrome or Firefox. You must be able to communicate with the instructor via email. Visit the Technical Requirements and Support page for more details.

This course uses a virtual classroom for instructor-student communication. The classroom works on standard computers with the Zoom desktop client, and on tablets or handhelds that support the Zoom Mobile app. Recorded meetings can only be viewed on a computer with the Zoom desktop client installed. The Zoom desktop client and Zoom Mobile App are both free to download.

About Science and Engineering at CTY

Our Science and Engineering courses bring a variety of science topics to life. By introducing topics not covered in standard science curricula, we build and reinforce your science knowledge. All courses support critical thinking, problem solving, and reasoning, and encourage a real-life, hands-on approach to learning about Earth, space, life sciences, chemistry, and the physical world. Guided by expert CTY science educators, you’ll master science lab kits, perform hands-on experiments using common household objects, participate in dynamic group discussions, or prepare for AP exams.

Newly revised Honors Physics course

Our completely redesigned Honors Physics course features new lessons, conceptual and problem-solving videos, and guiding questions that teach students how to solve each type of problem. Hands-on exploration activities challenge students to solve everyday physics problems from how giant cruise ships stay afloat to how to ship fragile packages without them breaking. Putting their physics knowledge to the test, students compete in our catapult design competition for Furthest Launch and Creative Design awards.

More engaging science enrichment courses!

In the newly revised Inventions in Engineering course, students bring fantasy into reality by creating inventions to solve the problems of favorite fictional characters and the real world alike. A new unit in Introduction to Forensics asks students to evaluate the validity of various kinds of forensic evidence and its impact on the lives of individuals, and to provide recommendations on which types of forensic evidence should be admissible in the criminal justice system. In Household Chemistry, students engage in newly revised activities that help develop their skills in making and recording detailed observations using all 5 senses as they explore states of matter and the role chemistry plays in their daily lives.

Meet our Science and Engineering Instructors