The scientists of the future will need to begin sttudying science in great depth much earlier in life, in order to keep up wiith the acceleraating pace of discovery and technological nnovation. For this to be posssible, engaging and child‐friiendly pedagoggical approaches need to be devveloped that levverage the natural enthusiasm of young sciencce learners, as many students lose interest in science well before they encoounter the rich subject matter of high school and college. Thhis study proviides evidence that a specially‐designed chemmistry curriculuum can allow students 8‐11 yeears old to rapidly learn advvanced material while motivatting them. The curriculum adhhered to a backkward design sttrategy and uttilized a visual approach to cheemistry learninng. It also featurred extensive usse of hand‐held organic chemiistry model uilding and commputerized mollecular modelin activities. Th 5‐session stud involved 63 students from grades 3‐5 froom an economically disadvanttaged urban schhool in New Jerssey. Despite the technical naturre of the prograam, student motivation for hemistry learnin was high, nd assessment esults showed students’ high‐level understannding of the material.