About the Course

Science with a Chance of Meatballs

Books often ask you to dream up imaginary worlds, but important science concepts lie behind the words and pictures. Analyze the science woven through Judi and Ronald Barrett’s Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs as you develop the process skills that constitute the scientific method. Explore the digestive system and nutrition, engage in city planning, engineer stronger structures, and investigate weather patterns through activities such as measuring the digestive system with yarn, making clouds in a bottle, crafting boats out of sandwich items, and creating a healthy family menu.

At the end of the course, design an experiment of your own to study a scientific concept presented in the book, finishing with a solid foundation in science as well as the ability to recognize scientific content in the literature you already love.

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
Wednesdays
-
8 weeks
7:00 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].
 

Supply List:

  • Science with a Chance of Meatballs Lab Kit
  • Additional materials not included in the kit:
    • Snacks (salty, sweet, and free choice)
    • 1 cup white vinegar
    • Jelly
    • 10 pieces of paper
    • Plastic butter knife
    • 3 pieces of bread (Perishable)

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

  • 3 snacks (salty, sweet & free choice) (Perishable)
  • Ruler
  • Stamp pad (any color)
  • 1 piece of bread or 4 crackers (Perishable)
  • 4 small Ziploc bags
  • 1 cup of vinegar (preferably white)
  • Yarn or string
  • 2 pieces of bread (Perishable)
  • Jelly
  • Plastic butter knife or spreader
  • 3 pieces aluminum foil (cut into 4 inch by 4 inch square, 8 inch by 8 inch square and 12 inch by 12 inch square)
  • 200 small objects such as coins, marbles, or paper clips. All objects must be a similar size.
  • Graph paper
  • 30 toothpicks
  • 30 gumdrops
  • Piece of cardboard at least 8 inches by 8 inches
  • 20 straws
  • 20 craft popsicle sticks
  • 40 pieces uncooked spaghetti
  • 10 pieces paper
  • 1 roll of duct or masking tape
  • 1 small fan

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