Art and science classes for kids: what a good one looks like

Art and science classes have more in common than you'd think. In both, a good session leaves children with something they made or found out themselves, not something they copied from the front.

The quick answer

• Look for making, not copying. Twenty identical paintings, or twenty identical volcanoes, mean the teacher did the thinking.
• Small groups matter more here than in most subjects, because materials and attention are shared.
• Ask what they'll bring home, and what they'll have learned by the end of the term.

A good art class

Children should leave with work that looks like theirs. A teacher who shows a technique and then lets everyone use it differently is teaching art. One who hands out a template is teaching tracing. Ask to see last term's work if you can.

A good science class

The best science clubs start with a question and let children test it, even when the test fails. "What sinks?" with a tub of water and twenty objects teaches more than a perfect demonstration. Ask how often the children do the experiment themselves.

Practical things to check

• What to wear, and whether materials are included in the price
• Class size: the class page says the maximum, if there is one
• What's covered across the term, so week eight isn't the same as week one

Find a class

On Find classes, choose Art & Design or Academics and search for what your child likes, from painting to robotics. Choose in person or online and read the class page before you register.