Arduino Game Programming - Middle School
2025-06-21 10:00 - 12:00, 2025-07-19 13:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | The SDM Shop, 406 Main Street, Melrose, MA, 02176, United States
Students will learn how to use the Circuit Playground Express (CPX) to recreate Simon, a popular color memorization game. They will use MakeCode, a Scratch-based coding app, to program the CPX board. Students will learn to display different colors, keep track of players’ actions, connect buttons and wires, upload code to the CPX Board, and play their games!

Minimal prior coding experience is needed; basic middle school reading, typing, and math skills are required.

All equipment needed will be provided by SDM.

After this lesson you can make additional appointments to learn more or put this topic into use.

After online registration closes, please contact SDM for space availability.

This topic can also be taught at any time in individual sessions. Please call for more information.

Cancellation must be at least 48 hours before the lesson begins to avoid further appointment restrictions.

iPad Lessons with Mystic Valley Elder Services: Lesson 4
2025-06-23 10:00 - 12:00 | The SDM Shop, 406 Main Street, Melrose, MA, 02176, United States
We will be teaming up with Mystic Valley Elder Services for iPad lessons. There are a total of 5 lessons on 5 consecutive Mondays starting on June 2. You must attend all 5 lessons to receive a free iPad at the end (there are restrictions). Join us for these group lessons on how to use an iPad.

Lesson 4 will cover the camera and Safari.

Restrictions include but are not restricted to: minimum age, and limit 1 complimentary iPad per household. To receive the iPad at the end of the course, your household must not currently own one. We are offering the same series on Mondays and Wednesdays. You can only sign up for one series, either Mondays OR Wednesdays. You must attend the same day of the week for all 5 lessons.

Registration opens April 22. Please call the shop to reserve your spot (781)-606-2621.

Video Editing - Upper Elementary and Middle School
2025-06-24 13:00 - 14:30 | The SDM Shop, 406 Main Street, Melrose, MA, 02176, United States
Students will learn how to use software such as Adobe’s Premier Rush to create a video. Whether they want to cut a piece out of a longer video, create their own slideshow, add titles, or produce a professional video, they will leave this lesson understanding the basics of video editing.

Attendees should be adept users of a computer. This lesson would be appropriate for upper elementary or middle school students with an interest in video editing. Students who have their own video content can bring it to the lesson and work on that. Other students will work on generic video clips.

After this lesson you can make additional appointments to learn more, continue building, or to put this topic into use.

After online registration closes, please contact SDM for space availability.

This topic can also be taught at any time in individual sessions. Please call for more information.

Cancellation must be at least 48 hours before the lesson begins to avoid further appointment restrictions.

iPad Lessons with Mystic Valley Elder Services: Lesson 4
2025-06-25 10:00 - 12:00 | The SDM Shop, 406 Main Street, Melrose, MA, 02176, United States
We will be teaming up with Mystic Valley Elder Services for iPad lessons. There are a total of 5 lessons on 5 consecutive Wednesdays starting on June 2. You must attend all 5 lessons to receive a free iPad at the end (there are restrictions). Join us for these group lessons on how to use an iPad.

Lesson 4 will cover the camera and Safari.

Restrictions include but are not restricted to: minimum age, and limit 1 complimentary iPad per household. To receive the iPad at the end of the course, your household must not currently own one. We are offering the same series on Mondays and Wednesdays. You can only sign up for one series, either Mondays OR Wednesdays. You must attend the same day of the week for all 5 lessons.

Registration opens April 22. Please call the shop to reserve your spot (781)-606-2621.

Lego Robotics Essentials - Early Elementary
2025-06-26 10:00 - 11:30 | The SDM Shop, 406 Main Street, Melrose, MA, 02176, United States
Lego Spike Essential adds block style programming to Lego brick creations, adding fun action to things you build.

SPIKE Essential is generally designed for younger students, often in the early to upper elementary grades. SPIKE Prime is typically aimed at upper elementary to middle school. They both teach coding concepts such as sequences, loops and decisions, using a block coding language similar to Scratch.

Students will work individually or in pairs with a Lego Essentials kit. Time will be split between learning how to build a robotic device, and programming basic robotic functions. Lego programming is done in Scratch-like block coding.

After this lesson you can make additional appointments to learn more, continue building, or to put this topic into use.

After online registration closes, please contact SDM for space availability.

This topic can also be taught at any time in individual sessions. Please call for more information.

Cancellation must be at least 48 hours before the lesson begins to avoid further appointment restrictions.

3D Modeling with TinkerCAD for Elementary and Middle School Students
2025-06-27 10:00 - 12:00 | The SDM Shop, 406 Main Street, Melrose, MA, 02176, United States
Students will learn how to create a CAD design suitable for 3D printing. Programming of the CAD design is done in TinkerCAD. This lesson requires approximately middle school levels of reading and math comprehension.

Design of a keychain with the student’s name or initials is the initial project. To create a more complex drawing, most children will require more than one TinkerCAD lesson, through individual appointments or work from home. The process of taking a TinkerCAD design to a 3D printer will be discussed, but printing is not part of this lesson. If the student completes a 3D design (restrictions apply), then it may be printed on our 3D printer at another time. Please call for further information about this.

After this lesson you can make additional appointments to learn more, continue designing, or to put this topic into use.

After online registration closes, please contact SDM for space availability.

This topic can also be taught at any time in individual sessions either in the shop or remotely. Please call for more information.

Cancellation must be at least 48 hours before the lesson begins to avoid further appointment restrictions.

Digital Art - Elementary and Middle School
2025-06-28 13:00 - 14:30, 2025-07-08 13:00 - 14:30, 2025-07-15 10:00 - 11:30, 2025-07-23 13:00 - 14:30 | The SDM Shop, 406 Main Street, Melrose, MA, 02176, United States
In this lesson students will learn to draw a complex picture on an iPad using different drawing and coloring techniques.

We use the Procreate program on iPads, with Apple pencils. Procreate includes the ability to add animation to pictures and this technique will also be introduced. SDM will provide all equipment needed.

Students’ completed pictures can be emailed to them at the conclusion of the lesson. There is no minimum age recommendation, as no reading or math are required. Competence in using a computer is required. This lesson can be taken more than once as the drawing is directed by the student.

After online registration closes, please contact SDM for space availability.

This topic can also be taught at any time in individual sessions. Please call for more information.

Cancellation must be at least 48 hours before the lesson begins to avoid further appointment restrictions.

Appointments Available Monday through Saturday at 9, 10, 11, 1, 2 and 3
2025-06-29 09:00 - 2025-07-05 16:00 | The SDM Shop, 406 Main Street, Melrose, MA, 02176, United States
SDM offers individual 50 minute appointments Monday through Saturday at 9:00 am, 10:00 am, 11:00 am, 1:00 pm, 2:00 pm and 3:00 pm. Call or email if you would like to make an appointment. We will teach any topic, any time; appointments can be in our shop, or remotely via phone or Zoom. For more information about what we do, see our About Us page.

*Must Read* Information about Kids Lessons
2025-06-29 09:00 - 2025-07-05 16:00 | The SDM Shop, 406 Main Street, Melrose, MA, 02176, United States
Summer 2025 lessons will begin the week of June 16, and will end on August 9. There will be no Lessons the week of the 4th of July.

Lessons will open for registration on May 19, and there is a limit of 3 registrations per child until June 6, no more than one of any topic. This allows more children to participate. After June 6, registration will be fully open.

In order to provide free small group lessons and appointments to as many people as possible, we have to make the best use of our staff. Late cancellations, and no-shows, prevent us from providing those seats to other people. For these reasons, the following cancellation policies apply.

48 hour cancellation notice is required to avoid other appointment restrictions. Late cancellation or not attending a lesson or appointment, will result in restrictions from future registrations, and cancellation from any existing lesson registrations. Multiple cancellations, even with proper notice, will result in restrictions from future registrations, and cancellation from any existing lesson registrations.

While our lessons are free to attendees, there is a cost to us, and we ask that anyone who cancels late or does not show up, make a donation to defray the cost of the empty seat.

iPad Lessons with Mystic Valley Elder Services: Lesson 5
2025-06-30 10:00 - 12:00 | The SDM Shop, 406 Main Street, Melrose, MA, 02176, United States
We will be teaming up with Mystic Valley Elder Services for iPad lessons. There are a total of 5 lessons on 5 consecutive Mondays starting on June 2. You must attend all 5 lessons to receive a free iPad at the end (there are restrictions). Join us for these group lessons on how to use an iPad.

Lesson 5 will be a graduation celebration!

Restrictions include but are not restricted to: minimum age, and limit 1 complimentary iPad per household. To receive the iPad at the end of the course, your household must not currently own one. We are offering the same series on Mondays and Wednesdays. You can only sign up for one series, either Mondays OR Wednesdays. You must attend the same day of the week for all 5 lessons.

Registration opens April 22. Please call the shop to reserve your spot (781)-606-2621.

iPad Lessons with Mystic Valley Elder Services: Lesson 5
2025-07-02 10:00 - 12:00 | The SDM Shop, 406 Main Street, Melrose, MA, 02176, United States
We will be teaming up with Mystic Valley Elder Services for iPad lessons. There are a total of 5 lessons on 5 consecutive Wednesdays starting on June 2. You must attend all 5 lessons to receive a free iPad at the end (there are restrictions). Join us for these group lessons on how to use an iPad.

Lesson 5 will be a graduation celebration!

Restrictions include but are not restricted to: minimum age, and limit 1 complimentary iPad per household. To receive the iPad at the end of the course, your household must not currently own one. We are offering the same series on Mondays and Wednesdays. You can only sign up for one series, either Mondays OR Wednesdays. You must attend the same day of the week for all 5 lessons.

Registration opens April 22. Please call the shop to reserve your spot (781)-606-2621.

CLOSED
2025-07-04 09:00 - 16:00, 2025-07-05 09:00 - 16:00 | MA
SDM will be closed all day.

Drop-in @ Milano Center, Melrose
2025-07-07 13:00 - 14:30, 2025-07-21 13:00 - 14:30 | Milano Center, West Foster Street, Melrose, Massachusetts, 02176, United States
SDM will be at the Milano Center 201 W Foster St, Melrose, MA 02176 on the first and third Monday of each month from 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm to help people who stop by. While we help people of all ages, we understand the unique issues of older adults, and with our close relationship with the Council on Aging in Melrose, and our close physical proximity, we felt we could meet more people where they already are by coming to the Center.

Our focus is on teaching people how to do things, including how to fix problems they are having. This drop-in time is designed for people with simple questions related to phones, tablets, computers, watches and websites or apps. If we can’t help you during this time because of the complexity of the issue, or the number of people who drop-in, we will be able to make an appointment for you for another time at our shop at 406 Main St, Melrose.

We will help people in the order they arrive, and will triage each issue in order to handle as many as possible. As with all of our appointments, our services are free. We hope to see you there!

Lego Robotics Prime: Advanced - Upper Elementary and Middle School
2025-07-09 13:00 - 15:00, 2025-07-24 13:00 - 15:00 | The SDM Shop, 406 Main Street, Melrose, MA, 02176, United States
Lego Spike Prime adds block style programming to Lego brick creations, adding fun action to things you build.

SPIKE Essential is generally designed for younger students, often in the early to upper elementary grades. SPIKE Prime is typically aimed at upper elementary to middle school. They both teach coding concepts such as sequences, loops and decisions, using a block coding language similar to Scratch.

Students will work individually or in pairs with a Lego Spike Prime kit. Time will be split between learning how to build a robotic device, and programming basic robotic functions. Lego programming is done in Scratch-like block coding.

We have Lego Spike Prime lessons for two levels to take into account the student’s ability to understand and be able to manipulate the programming language, as well as a range of attention spans. If your child is self directed, and has experience with Legos or Scratch, the upper level lesson may be appropriate.

After this lesson you can make additional appointments to learn more, continue building, or to put this topic into use.

After online registration closes, please contact SDM for space availability.

This topic can also be taught at any time in individual sessions. Please call for more information.

Cancellation must be at least 48 hours before the lesson begins to avoid further appointment restrictions.

Scratch Coding: Advanced - Late Elementary and Middle School
2025-07-10 10:00 - 12:00, 2025-07-22 13:00 - 15:00 | The SDM Shop, 406 Main Street, Melrose, MA, 02176, United States
Scratch is the world’s largest free coding community for kids aged 8 through 16, but it is enjoyed by people of any age. It was created and is run by MIT, and it is a lot of fun! Scratch, like other block-based coding languages, is a good place for kids to start programming. They will learn about coding structure without needing to worry about a lot of syntax. The pieces of code are each in block format, and the programming is done by connecting blocks to describe the animation of objects that they also create.

We have lessons at two levels to take into account a student’s ability to understand and be able to manipulate the programming language, as well as a range of attention spans.

Beginner requires understanding of concepts such as graphing, simple sequencing, moving objects in relation to each other, if-then constructs and grids.

Advanced requires some experience with Scratch, and self direction. Advanced concepts include degrees of turn, controlling multiple outputs, and more complex series of instructions including branching and looping. Advanced students will be expected to direct their own projects to a greater degree.

After this lesson you can make additional appointments to learn more, continue building, or to put this topic into use.

After online registration closes, please contact SDM for space availability.

This topic can also be taught at any time in individual sessions. Please call for more information.

Cancellation must be at least 48 hours before the lesson begins to avoid further appointment restrictions.

Video Editing - Upper Elementary and Middle School
2025-07-11 13:00 - 14:30, 2025-07-25 13:00 - 14:30 | The SDM Shop, 406 Main Street, Melrose, MA, 02176, United States
Students will learn how to use software such as Adobe’s Premier Rush to create a video. Whether they want to cut a piece out of a longer video, create their own slideshow, add titles, or produce a professional video, they will leave this lesson understanding the basics of video editing.

Attendees should be adept users of a computer. This lesson would be appropriate for upper elementary or middle school students with an interest in video editing. Students who have their own video content can bring it to the lesson and work on that. Other students will work on generic video clips.

Arduino Game Programming- Middle School
2025-07-12 10:00 - 12:00 | The SDM Shop, 406 Main Street, Melrose, MA, 02176, United States

Lego Robotics Prime: Basics - Late Elementary and Middle School
2025-07-14 13:00 - 15:00 | The SDM Shop, 406 Main Street, Melrose, MA, 02176, United States
Lego Spike Prime adds block style programming to Lego brick creations, adding fun action to things you build.

SPIKE Essential is generally designed for younger students, often in the early to upper elementary grades. SPIKE Prime is typically aimed at upper elementary to middle school. They both teach coding concepts such as sequences, loops and decisions, using a block coding language similar to Scratch.

Students will work individually or in pairs with a Lego Spike Prime kit. Time will be split between learning how to build a robotic device, and programming basic robotic functions. Lego programming is done in Scratch-like block coding.

We have Lego Spike Prime lessons for two levels to take into account the student’s ability to understand and be able to manipulate the programming language, as well as a range of attention spans. If your child is self directed, and has experience with Legos or Scratch, the upper level lesson may be appropriate. Basic lesson incorporates concepts such as graphing, simple sequencing, moving objects in relation to each other, and if-then constructs.

After this lesson you can make additional appointments to learn more, continue building, or to put this topic into use.

After online registration closes, please contact SDM for space availability.

This topic can also be taught at any time in individual sessions. Please call for more information.

Cancellation must be at least 48 hours before the lesson begins to avoid further appointment restrictions.

Scratch Jr Coding - Early Elementary
2025-07-16 13:00 - 14:30 | The SDM Shop, 406 Main Street, Melrose, MA, 02176, United States
Scratch is the world’s largest free coding community for kids aged 8 through 16, but it is enjoyed by people of any age. It was created and is run by MIT, and it is a lot of fun! Scratch, like other block-based coding languages, is a good place for kids to start programming. They will learn about coding structure without needing to worry about a lot of syntax. The pieces of code are each in block format, and the programming is done by connecting blocks to describe the animation of objects that they also create.

Scratch Jr is appropriate for early elementary aged students and does not require reading. Understanding of logical concepts, ordering and relating objects to each other is required.

After this lesson you can make additional appointments to learn more, continue building, or to put this topic into use.

After online registration closes, please contact SDM for space availability.

This topic can also be taught at any time in individual sessions. Please call for more information.

Cancellation must be at least 48 hours before the lesson begins to avoid further appointment restrictions.

Scratch Coding: Beginner- Late Elementary and Middle School
2025-07-17 10:00 - 12:00 | The SDM Shop, 406 Main Street, Melrose, MA, 02176, United States

Lego Robotics: Essentials - Early Elementary
2025-07-18 10:00 - 11:30 | The SDM Shop, 406 Main Street, Melrose, MA, 02176, United States
