mindMESA
32 Followers
Cañon City, Colorado, United States
About the store
The Expertise Behind the Innovation: With over 14 years of experience in the trenches of STEM education, we've led everything from all-female engineering cohorts to district-wide science initiatives. Our background isn't just in teaching science—it’s in advancing it through accessible technology. We’ve integrated programmable drones, CAD design, micro:bits, and 3D printing into curriculum that meets standards while capturing imaginations.
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Electricity and Magnetism Labs Bundle
This Electricity and Magnetism Labs bundle includes 20 hands-on labs, simulations, stations activities, and engineering projects to explore the fundamentals of electric charge, circuits, and magnetism. Students will investigate static electricity, current electricity, series and parallel circuits, electromagnetism, AC/DC, magnetic fields, and energy transformations using engaging experiments, simulations, and STEM challenges. Perfect for 4th–12th grade Physical Science, Physics, Chemistry, and E
4th - 12th
Engineering, Physical Science, Physics
Aluminum Foil Boat Engineering Challenge — Density & Displacement
Title: Engineering Challenge — Aluminum Foil Boat Design Summary: In this hands-on engineering lab, students design and test aluminum foil boats to explore how density, buoyancy, and displacement determine whether objects float or sink. Each team builds two boat designs, predicts how many pennies each will hold, tests their designs, and records results. Students analyze how shape changes affect water displacement and buoyant force, then improve their second design based on observations. The lab
4th - 9th
Engineering, Physical Science
Also included in: Scientific Method and Measurement Skill Labs Bundle
Scientific Method and Measurement Skill Labs Bundle
Scientific Method & Measurement Skills BundleDescription: This bundle includes 16 hands-on labs, simulations, and projects designed to develop foundational science skills. Students explore experimental design, observation, data collection, measurement, and reproducibility through engaging activities such as penny drop challenges, reaction time tests, density experiments, procedural writing exercises, and hands-on engineering design projects. Perfect for Grades 4–10 Physical Science, General Sci
4th - 9th
Biology, Engineering, Physical Science
Paper Circuit Engineering Lab — Build an LED Name Tent Project
This is a fantastic "entry-level" Paper Circuit activity that combines art with basic electrical physics. In this project, students use conductive tape, a coin cell battery, a paperclip, paper fastener, and an LED to turn a standard name tent into a glowing, expressive piece of technology. Activity DescriptionThe LED Name Tent Paper Circuit is a hands-on exploration of Current Electricity. Students learn the difference between an Open Circuit (off) and a Closed Circuit (on) while investigat
4th - 12th
Engineering, Other (Arts), Physics
Also included in: Electricity and Magnetism Labs Bundle
Flood & Landslide Mitigation Challenge — Design & Test Structures
This project is an engineering and environmental science challenge that tasks students with designing and testing solutions to protect a simulated community from natural disasters. Activity DescriptionThe Flood & Landslide Mitigation Challenge is a hands-on STEM lab where students act as civil engineers. After a brief literacy exercise defining floods, landslides, and mitigation, students select a specific strategy to defend their "city" on a sloped landscape. By choosing between structural
4th - 8th
Earth Sciences, Engineering, General Science
Also included in: Earth Science Weathering, Erosion, and Landforms Bundle
Robotic Hand Anatomy Engineering Lab — Tendons & Movement Model
This lab transforms engineering materials into a functional anatomical model, allowing students to visualize the mechanical "pulley system" that allows our bodies to move. Activity DescriptionThe Robotic Hand Model Lab is a biomimicry challenge where students recreate the complex interaction of the human hand. By using rigid straw segments as bones and flexible string as tendons, students observe how a pulling force (contraction) at the wrist results in motion at the fingertips. This models t
4th - 9th
Anatomy, Biology, Engineering
Also included in: Human Body Systems Bundle
Seismograph Engineering Lab — Build a Working Earthquake Detector
This lab transforms students into seismologists by having them construct a functional model of the most important tool in earthquake science. Activity DescriptionThe Simple Seismograph Lab demonstrates the principle of inertia in a geological context. In this model, the "stable frame" (the shoebox) represents the ground, while the "pendulum" (the weighted marker) represents a mass that stays relatively still due to its weight. When the table shakes, the box and paper move with the ground, but
4th - 9th
Earth Sciences, Engineering, Physical Science
Also included in: Earth and Space Science: Geology & Earth’s Systems Bundle
Earthquake-Proof Structures Challenge — Design & Shake Test Lab
This engineering challenge shifts students from observing geological processes to applying physics and design principles to mitigate natural hazards. Activity DescriptionThe Earthquake-Proof Structures Challenge is a hands-on STEM activity where students apply the concepts of seismic waves and magnitude to structural engineering. By building towers out of lightweight materials like straws and craft sticks, students explore how geometric shapes—particularly triangles and cross-bracing—distri
4th - 8th
Earth Sciences, Engineering, Physical Science
Also included in: Earth and Space Science: Geology & Earth’s Systems Bundle
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About the store
Experience
The Expertise Behind the Innovation: With over 14 years of experience in the trenches of STEM education, we've led everything from all-female engineering cohorts to district-wide science initiatives. Our background isn't just in teaching science—it’s in advancing it through accessible technology. We’ve integrated programmable drones, CAD design, micro:bits, and 3D printing into curriculum that meets standards while capturing imaginations.
Teaching style
Our Classroom Philosophy: We energize the learning environment with a blend of "maker" spirit and pedagogical expertise. Our style is experiential, hands-on, and deeply relevant. We don’t want students to just read about a concept; we want them to hold it in their hands. By bringing 3D design and cutting-edge tech into the classroom, we foster a space where students transition from being consumers of information to innovators and problem-solvers.
Beyond the Bells: Our commitment to the "educational frontier" extends to leadership and advocacy. We have successfully spearheaded mentoring initiatives and secured significant funding through DonorsChoose to revitalize science departments. At mindMESA, we aren't just selling files or prints—we are sharing a philosophy of collaborative, tech-forward, and joyful learning.
Awards & shining teacher moments
Georgia Tech STEM Educators Network Member, 2024
DeKalb PATH Academy Impact Teacher Award, 2021
U.S. Army Garrison, Fort Carson, CO, Mountain Mover Award, 2012
My own education history
Our educational journey is the DNA of mindMESA. With a Docctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Curriculum and Leadership from Columbus State University, where we specialized in how 3D printing and engineering interventions shape the way students see the world. Our 'E' and 'M' (Engineering and Math) come from a Master of Science in Biosystems Engineering Technology from the University of Tennessee, where we researched the physics of vehicle-terrain interaction. The 'S' (Science) was born at Berry College, where I earned a B.S. in Environmental Science, concentrating in Biology with a minor in Geology. Every print we make is backed by a lifetime of scientific inquiry.
Additional biographical information
Our journey reflects a deep commitment to innovation, collaboration, and educational excellence, with a clear vision to make a lasting impact on the field of STEAM education.
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