Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What time zone are your classes in?
Q. Are there any prerequisites for Rock-it Science classes?
Q. Is there a family discount?
Q. Do you accept charter school purchase orders?
Q. How are the lessons structured?
Q. How can I follow up on what my child learns in class?
Q. Can my child attend a trial lesson to see if he likes it?
Q. My child is very advanced for her age. Can I enroll her in an older class?
Q. I have three children in different age groups. Can I register them all in the same class?
Q. If my child falls into more than one age group, can he attend more than one class?
Q. If my child has a friend visiting from out of town, can the friend attend the lesson?
Q. If my child gets sick, can he attend a make-up class?
Q. What if my child can’t attend a make-up class? Will he fall behind?
Q. How far in advance can I register my child?

Other Questions? For questions about the registration process, charter schools, etc., CLICK HERE to email our registrar, Michelle. Please do not phone Rock-it Science, as all of our staff are working from home. Email is the best way to reach us.

Q. What time zone are your classes in?
A. Our class listings are in the Pacific time zone.

Q. Are there any prerequisites for Rock-it Science classes?
A. No. However, for the Teen Class (Age 11-16), we sometimes use chemicals, electricity, and other materials and processes that require the student to follow instructions carefully and observe safety precautions. Before you register your child for this advanced class, be sure they have the emotional maturity to focus on the lesson, listen carefully to instructions and safety warnings, and perform the experiments as directed. If your child is over 11 years old but is not ready for this kind of advanced class, he or she may register for the Mixed Age Class (Age 5-16).

Q. Is there a family discount?
A. No, there are no discounts for multiple children or multiple classes.

Q. Do you accept charter school purchase orders?
A. Yes. Rock-it Science is an approved vendor for Ocean Grove and Connecting Waters charter schools. Charter school tuition includes an administrative fee, to cover all the paperwork.

Q. How are the lessons structured?
A. At the beginning of the Science class, we introduce the basic concepts of the lesson, followed by the crazy story, then the hands-on experiment. Please be sure to arrive on time. If a child is late and misses the introduction, they will still enjoy and learn from the rest of the lesson, but they may not understand the context, and they may miss important instructions about the experiment. Elective classes may vary from this format. Check the individual class description.

Q. How can I follow up on what my child learns in class?
A. It may take some time for a child to process what they’ve experienced during the lesson, so please resist the urge to test their retention of facts or concepts following the class. Don’t ask them what they learned — ask them what they liked! Invite them to draw a picture about what they did in the lesson, or write a story about it as if they were writing to a penpal. They may also wish to write their own ending to the crazy story from the lesson.

Q. Can my child attend a trial lesson to see if he likes it?
A. No, we don’t offer trial classes.

Q. My child is very advanced for her age. Can I enroll her in an older class?
A. No, we don’t allow students into classes outside of the designated age group. It’s not a matter of intellectual ability, but of social development. However, you may enroll your child in one of our Mixed Age classes (see next question).

Q. I have three children in different age groups. Can I register them all in the same class?
A. For the convenience of families like yours, we do offer Science in a Mixed Age class (Age 5-16). Some of the Elective classes also have a wide age range. Please advise your older children that they may be in a class with students as young as 5 years old, and make sure they’re okay with that.

Q. If my child falls into more than one age group, can he attend more than one class?
A. Yes. There is an overlap between some of the age groups, and your child may register for any class that includes his or her age.

Q. If my child has a friend visiting, can the friend attend the lesson?
A. Only registered students are allowed to participate in the lessons.

Q. If my child gets sick, can he attend a make-up class?
A. Science Classes are offered several times a week, and each age group will be conducting the same experiment throughout the week. We invite you to make up a class at an alternate time the same week.

Please ensure the requested make-up class is in the same age group as your original enrollment. Students in the younger Science classes may also request a Mixed Age Class as a make-up, and vice-versa. Teen Students may only attend another Teen Class as a make-up. Some Elective classes meet only once a week, so there may not be make-ups available.

If you need to arrange a make-up class due to illness or travel plans, please CLICK HERE to send an email to our staff with your child’s name, class enrolled, and requested make-up class. As long as there are openings in the class requested, it is no problem to attend as a make-up student.

Please note, make-up classes are a courtesy and there is no guarantee one will be available. We try to accommodate all requests, but occasionally we are not able to facilitate a make-up. Thank you for understanding.

Q. What if my child can’t attend a make-up class? Will he fall behind?
A. For the Science classes, each week’s class is self-contained. If he does have to miss a week, it’s no problem transitioning back into the class the following week. Now and then, we do a lesson that spans two weeks, but most children have no problem with it. For some Elective classes, the lessons may be in a series, but we’ll do our best to help your child catch up if he misses one.

Q. How far in advance can I register my child?
A. Open Registration closes about three to four weeks prior to the start of each 10-week class series in order to allow time for kits to be assembled and shipped before the first class. Be sure to join our Email List to be notified when the next registration period opens.