An 8-month live online science enrichment course for Edison-area 7th and 8th graders, offered by our sister school EdQuill Academy. Instructor: Dr. Brian Saltzer, mathematical physicist. Ten seats per class.
Key facts
- Format: Live online, Sundays 1:00–3:00 PM Eastern.
- Grades: 7–8.
- Class size: 10 seats.
- Total live instruction: 64 hours across 8 months, split into four 8-session parts.
- Tuition: $500 per part, or $250 per month.
- Recordings: Sessions are recorded and shared with enrolled students.
- Prerequisites: None beyond grade-level reading and math.
What students learn
The course tells one long story: how the universe went from the Big Bang to the biology of life on Earth. It weaves together physics, chemistry, astronomy, geology and biology so students see how the sciences depend on each other, instead of meeting them one subject at a time.
Part I — The history of the universe
Physics, chemistry, astronomy and cosmology, from the first fractions of a second after the Big Bang through the formation of stars and galaxies. Students meet the tools scientists actually use — spectroscopy, particle accelerators, the cosmic microwave background — and build the vocabulary they will lean on all year.
Part II — Space exploration and celestial phenomena
Black holes, exoplanets and the engineering behind space travel. Students look at how astronomers detect what they cannot touch, how rockets and probes are designed, and how computer science and physics work together on modern missions.
Part III — Earth and life
Geology, oceanography and environmental science lead into plant and animal biology. Students see the planet as a system: rocks, water, air and living things all shaping each other over time. This part sets up the cell and organism biology that comes next.
Part IV — The human body, genetics and medicine
Cell biology, genetics and neuroscience. Students learn how a single fertilised cell becomes trillions of specialised cells, why DNA errors matter, and how the nervous system turns signals into thought and behaviour. The course ends with a look at where medicine is heading.
Who it suits
Curious 7th and 8th graders who want more science than their school day gives them. Students heading toward honors or Advanced Placement science in high school get a head start on the connections between subjects — the questions on AP Biology and AP Physics rarely respect neat lines between disciplines, and this course teaches students to think across them. It also suits students who are strong in one science and would like to see how the others fit around it.
How it fits with PALS in Edison
Because the course is online, it is open to students at John Adams, Woodrow Wilson and other middle schools across Edison and Middlesex County, alongside our in-center Math and English tutoring at 157 Wood Ave. Families often pair it with weekly help on core subjects so that the enrichment does not come at the expense of school grades.
The natural next step at PALS is High School Honors Biology, Chemistry and Physics, followed by our AP Courses when students are ready. For families thinking about specialised high school admissions, our Academy & Magnet High School Prep program runs on the same schedule most Saturdays.
Schedule and tuition
| Part | Dates (2026–2027) | Register |
|---|---|---|
| Part I — History of the universe | Oct 4 – Nov 22, 2026 | Register |
| Part II — Space & celestial phenomena | Jan 10 – Feb 28, 2027 | Register |
| Part III — Earth & life | Mar 7 – Apr 25, 2027 | Register |
| Part IV — Human body & genetics | May 2 – Jun 20, 2027 | Register |
Frequently asked questions
Does my child need to know a lot of science already?
No. The course starts from first principles. If your child can read at grade level and do middle-school arithmetic, they have what they need. The instructor builds the physics vocabulary in Part I before the course leans on it later.
Can we enroll in one part without committing to the full course?
Yes. Each of the four parts is a complete unit and can be taken on its own. Students who like it usually stay for the whole year.
What if my child misses a session?
Every session is recorded and shared with enrolled students, so nothing is lost if life gets in the way. The instructor also reviews earlier material as new topics build on it.
Who teaches it?
Dr. Brian Saltzer, a mathematical physicist. The class is small — ten seats — so he answers questions during sessions instead of leaving them for later.
Does the course help with high school honors and AP placement?
Placement is decided by the child’s school. The course builds the kind of connected thinking that honors and AP teachers value, and students who take it usually go into 9th-grade science feeling ahead of their peers on vocabulary and scientific reasoning.
Is it a good fit before Woodbridge, Middlesex or Union County magnet admissions tests?
It builds the science foundation the tests draw on. It is not test-prep and it does not walk through past exam questions. Families preparing for magnet admissions should look at our Academy & Magnet High School Prep program alongside this course.
Ready to enroll?
Enrollment for all four parts is handled on our sister school’s site, EdQuill Academy. Seats are limited to ten per class.