Girls' Electronics and Robotics Class in Los Altos: A Hands-On Guide | CHIPS Blog
What families can expect from the CHIPS girls' electronics and robotics cohort in Los Altos: real circuits, small groups, projects, confidence, and enrollment details.
A girls-focused STEM class should offer more than a different label on the same worksheet. The CHIPS cohort gives students ownership of real tools, components, and technical decisions in a small group where every participant is expected to build and troubleshoot.
The curriculum is based on CIRCUIT, CHIPS's foundational electronics program. Students learn by making working systems with LEDs, switches, buzzers, energy sources, and other components rather than watching demonstrations.
Current cohort: Grades 3-5
Location: 321 University Ave, Los Altos
Format: 12 weekly sessions
Class size: Maximum 8 students
Why offer a girls-focused cohort?
Girls do not need a simplified version of engineering. They benefit from the same technical depth, clear expectations, and opportunity to make mistakes that any young builder needs.
A dedicated cohort can make participation feel normal from the first session. Every student gets space to handle the hardware, ask technical questions, and become the person who diagnoses the problem.
What students learn
How a complete circuit carries current
Component polarity and safe wiring
Switches, LEDs, resistors, and buzzers
Circuit diagrams and breadboard organization
Testing one connection at a time
Explaining a design to classmates
Confidence comes from evidence
General encouragement matters, but a working project gives a child stronger evidence: I connected this, I found the fault, and I made it work. That evidence is especially important in fields where girls may receive subtle signals that technical work belongs to someone else.
The instructor's role is to make the challenge accessible without taking the problem away. Students leave with both a finished result and a memory of how they recovered when it did not work immediately.
What to look for in any girls' robotics program
Each student regularly touches and controls the hardware
Projects teach a principle, not only assembly steps
The instructor expects debugging and does not rush to fix everything
Class size supports individual feedback
Students can explain what they built and why it works
Current Los Altos enrollment
The Fall 2026 cohort is a 12-session Monday class for grades 3-5 at the CHIPS Los Altos location. Dates, pricing, and remaining capacity are maintained on the live class page.
Families outside the schedule can request a private pod or girls-focused group through Special Classes.
What grades is the girls' electronics class for?
The current Los Altos cohort is designed for grades 3-5 and is capped at eight students.
Is prior robotics or coding experience required?
No. The class begins with foundational electronics and hands-on circuit building. Curiosity and willingness to troubleshoot matter more than prior coursework.
What if the Monday schedule does not work?
Families can review other CIRCUIT classes or request a private pod, homeschool block, or special group through the Special Classes page.