
The National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA) tackles some of humanity’s greatest challenges, advancing knowledge across fields from the vastness of space to the smallest particles of the human body.
In partnership with I-Sci Explorers, NCSA aims to inspire the next generation of innovators through the transformative powers of computational science. By introducing kids to supercomputers and their critical role in research, this partnership sparks curiosity and imagination, showcasing the endless possibilities of science and technology.
Advanced Visualization Laboratory

This module will introduce children to computer graphics and data visualization, showing how supercomputers are used in scientific studies like tornadoes and galaxies with real-life data. Kids will explore concepts through videos on wind patterns and the Milky Way, then engage in a 2D Dot-to-Dot activity to see how data creates images. Older kids will practice graphing and connecting coordinates to visualize data. For 3D learning, younger children will see how real-world objects are represented by numbers in computers, while older kids will create digital models of objects.
Ag Robots and Sensors

This module will introduce students to the role of technology in modern agriculture, focusing on how robots and sensors are used to improve farming efficiency. Children will get hands-on exposure to drones, learning how they are used to monitor crops from the air, and interact with robots designed to navigate and avoid obstacles autonomously. They’ll also explore sensors that measure important environmental factors like soil moisture, temperature, and light levels, helping farmers make informed decisions. By experimenting with these tools, children will gain an interactive understanding of how technology is transforming agriculture to be smarter and more sustainable.
Benthic Macroinvertebrate Data Analysis

In this lesson, children will explore the basics of economics through hands-on activities. They will learn about money, buying, and selling by using play money to purchase candy with varying prices. The lesson includes a simulation where students experience making choices with money, saving, and evaluating prices. They’ll also compete in groups to run candy shops, deciding how to price their products to deepen their understanding of why lower prices attract more buyers. The lesson helps students grasp the concept of economics, money management, and decision-making.
High Performance Computing

In this module, children will learn about computers, supercomputers, and parallel processing through hands-on tasks. They’ll design their own computers using cardboard, solve math problems with simulated supercomputers, race tennis balls to understand CPU parallelism, and experience programming through trial-and-error with robots. The activities help illustrate the complexities of computing, the importance of supercomputers, and how parallel processing speeds up tasks, fostering understanding of both basic and advanced computing concepts.
Introduction to AI

This lesson will introduce children to AI through fun and interactive activities. It will start with a thought-provoking question to spark curiosity and explain AI simply as a smart helper. Kids will then play a categorization game to understand how AI sorts objects, create a unique creature to explore AI’s creativity, and interact with a chatbot. Older children will have the opportunity to upload pictures of their creatures to teach AI to recognize a new animal. The session will wrap up with a recap of how AI learns, sorts, and creates, followed by a discussion of its everyday uses. Through these activities, children will reflect on how AI works and how it impacts our world.
Eyes, Peripheral, and Reading

The module aims to teach children about the importance of eyes, peripherals, and their role in reading. Children will first be asked fun questions to spark curiosity about the eyes, followed by an explanation of their importance. Children will then get the chance to explore eye anatomy with a colorful diagram and discuss parts like the iris and retina, followed bya sentence matching game that will help reinforce concepts about the eye. Kids will then engage in a peripheral vision game to understand how we see things out of the corner of our eyes. Finally, they’ll connect peripheral vision to reading and share fun facts about eyes.
Algorithmic Composition

In this lesson, kids will explore algorithmic composition—how computers create music by following patterns and rules. They’ll take part in activities like an instrument matching game, listen to songs played with different instruments, and compare computer-generated music with human-made tunes. Children will also get hands-on with music composition software to see how musicians and computers work together to create music. By the end, kids will gain a deeper appreciation for the connection between technology and creativity in the world of music.