Arlington Community Education

Fees are per screen (4 family members, max). Learn to talk to each other as a family—in sign language. This is a valuable language to know and learning it as a team will allow you to hone your practice in a friendly setting. We will cover some of the basics of American Sign Language as we go over everyday vocabulary and grammar. Learn the manual alphabet, introductions, days of the week, and mealtime words. Homework assignments will encourage you to practice together at home. Ages 7+

Families with children 6–12 years old, travel through 300 years of history on this fun and interactive tour of Boston’s Freedom Trail. Experience historical sites that played a key role in the American Revolution. See Faneuil Hall, the Old State House and the Old South Meeting House. Hear stories of Samuel Adams and the Sons of Liberty, Prince Hall as he fought for the end of slavery, and author Mary Abigail Dodge and her famous book written in 1870, A Battle of the Books. We’ll also visit the site of the first public school in America and the oldest burying ground in Boston. Please note: The tour will cover 1-2 miles at a moderate walking pace, stopping at various sites along the tour. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Children under 6 are free.

Considered one of the greatest games ever invented, chess teaches many important life concepts such as concentration, strategy, how to win graciously, and how to accept defeat with dignity. Learn chess rules, positional tactics, and basics to more advanced moves with the guidance of an experienced chess master. We will divide into groups according to experience and end the program with a mini chess tournament. All levels welcome. Ages 6+ Fee is for one adult and one child. Please register under adult’s name.

Learn the basics of cupcake decorating in this hands-on workshop. First, learn how to make a buttercream that won’t harden and crust. Crumb coat your cupcakes to create a smooth buttercream base for decorating. Then learn to use a piping bag to create borders, roses, ribbon swirls, and texture to give your cupcakes that professional look. Ages 8+

Please note: This class will take place on Wednesday, 11/9. Felting, the oldest known way to make fabric, combines layers of wool fibers into one flat piece without knitting or weaving. The workshop will begin with a brief tutorial on felting basics. We will use the “mold” method, which involves molding the wool fleece over a stiff form. Your completed felted bowl will make a unique decor accent or can be used for a variety of functional applications, such as a key dish or pencil holder. Ages 8+ Fees are for one adult and one child. If you would like to enroll an additional person, please email communityed@arlington.k12.ma.us.

Kick off your holidays by creating a beautiful gingerbread house. You and your child will assemble and decorate your own pre-baked gingerbread house. We’ll provide the gingerbread, icing, and candies for personalizing. Return home with a unique creation you can display for the entire season. Tuition includes a $25 food fee. Ages 6+. Fees are for one adult and one child. If you would like to enroll an additional person, please email communityed@arlington.k12.ma.us.

Learn the basics of glass fusing while having fun playing with glass shapes, colors, and textures. Through a series of exercises, we’ll learn to use glass powders, frits, and stringers. Then design and create a low relief “tack fused” tile and one small dish or a fused glass night light. Ages 8+ Fee is for one adult and one child. Please register under adult’s name.

PLEASE NOTE! Fees are for one adult and one child. 
Please register under adult’s name only. Learn how to create professional-looking cookies with tips and tricks from a certified baker and Level III Wilton certified decorator. Explore several decorating techniques including flooding and wet-on-wet designs. Bring a dozen sugar cookies (either baked ahead of time or store-bought) to decorate with winter and holiday designs and patterns using simple tools. Ages 8+ Please note: A shopping list will be included in your Registration Confirmation email.

Using a wide selection of pre-cut colored glass pieces, beads, iridized and dichroic glass, each pair will create four stunning pieces featuring mini mosaics set inside deep pendants. Once the glass pieces are glued to the metal, we’ll grout our pendants with one of the many colors available and string them on black leather cords. Ages 8+ Fee is for one adult and one child. Please register under adult’s name.

Fee is for one adult and one child. Please register under adult’s name. Using just one sheet of paper and no scissors or glue, create fun three-dimensional shapes with the Japanese art of paper folding. We will make animals, boxes, and even lips that kiss. Along the way you will see the amazing ways origami is used in construction, medicine, and even outer-space. Ages 8+

Rangoli or kolam is a traditional Indian vibrant art form that is made on the floors and thresholds of houses—much like henna is painted on hands during festivals and special occasions. These decorative designs made with rice flour, chalk, flowers, grains, etc., teach symmetry and pattern. Learn about the history and culture of rangoli and practice different types of kolams to keep this tradition alive. Ages 8+ Fee is for one adult and one child. Please register under adult’s name.

Card magic is one of the most accessible forms of magic. Join a professional magician for this fun evening where you will get step-by-step instructions for beginner-level card tricks that you can master with only a modest amount of practice. All you’ll need is a deck of cards to become a hit at any party and stun even the most cynical of skeptics! No experience necessary, just the ability to hold a deck of cards. Ages 10+ Fee is for one adult and one child. Please register under adult’s name.

Visit the Massachusetts State House for a tour with Arlington’s own State Representative, Sean Garballey. This guided tour is a walk through history, not just of the building, but of the Commonwealth itself. Established by an act of the legislature in 1969, the State House Tours Division now guides approximately 90,000 visitors annually through the halls of the state’s capitol building. Experience democracy in action at this landmark full of significance to both our state and our country. Ages 8+

Join a native Chinese cook to learn about the fundamentals of Chinese wontons. We’ll pinch, squeeze, and pleat our way to a succulent and satisfying meal. Using pork, shrimp, Napa cabbage, and Chinese chives, we’ll make various traditional fillings from scratch. Then we will prepare shrimp wontons to star in an authentic wonton soup. Please note: A list of ingredients and substitutions will be included in your Registration Confirmation email. Fee is for one adult and one child. Please register under the adult's name.