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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Natural Selection Lab — Cryptic Coloration Simulation & Analysis
This lab uses predatory selection to demonstrate how an organism's "fitness" is entirely dependent on the environment they live in. By acting as the predator, you are the force that determines which genetic traits are "passed on" to the next generation and which are removed from the gene pool. Activity DescriptionThe Natural Selection SIM focuses on cryptic coloration (camouflage). In this simulation, the "prey" (likely insects or small mammals) come in two varieties: Gray and Brown. As you
5th - 10th
Applied Math, Biology
Also included in: Evolution and Natural Selection Bundle
Create-a-Baby Genetics Lab — Coin-Flip Mendelian Inheritance Sim
This lab brings the laws of probability and heredity to life. By using a coin flip to represent the random "shuffle" of genes during fertilization, you are simulating how every human becomes a unique individual. Activity DescriptionThe Create-a-Baby Lab is a hands-on simulation of Mendelian Inheritance. In this model, each "parent" (student) carries a set of alleles. The coin flip represents Segregation—the biological process where a parent passes on only one of their two alleles to their off
5th - 10th
Applied Math, Biology
Also included in: Genetics, DNA, and Heredity Bundle
Cookie Mining Lab — Resource Extraction & Environmental Tradeoffs
This lab uses a popular culinary analogy to simulate the economic and environmental trade-offs involved in extracting natural resources from the Earth. Activity DescriptionThe Mining & Reclamation Lab (Cookie Mining) is a hands-on simulation of Colorado’s mining history and modern environmental practices. Students act as mining engineers using "iced oatmeal cookies" to model strip mining (removing surface icing/coal) and "chocolate chip cookies" to model open-pit mining (extracting deep-seate
4th - 8th
Applied Math, Earth Sciences, Economics
Also included in: Earth and Space Science: Geology & Earth’s Systems Bundle
Climate Graphs Investigation — Analyze Climatographs & Compare Regions
This lab introduces students to climatology by teaching them how to read and interpret climatographs—the standard visual tool used by scientists to represent a region's long-term weather patterns. Activity DescriptionThe Climate Graphs & Patterns Lab is a data-analysis exercise that moves students beyond daily weather observations into the study of climate. By comparing two distinct geographic locations (such as the tropical climate of Honolulu vs. the polar/subarctic climate of Fairbanks), s
5th - 9th
Applied Math, Earth Sciences
Also included in: Atmosphere, Weather, Climate, and Hydrosphere Bundle
Genetics Traits Survey Lab — Collect Class Data on Inheritance
This lab turns the classroom into a biological "sampling site," allowing students to see how invisible genetic codes manifest as visible physical diversity within a community. Activity DescriptionThe Genetics Traits Survey is a data-collection lab that bridges the gap between individual genetics and population biology. By surveying traits like "Widow’s Peak" or "Attached Earlobes," students move from anecdotal observations ("My mom has dimples") to statistical realities. This activity highligh
4th - 9th
Applied Math, Biology
Also included in: Genetics, DNA, and Heredity Bundle
Candy Crisis Natural Selection Lab — Selective Pressure Simulation
This lab uses the concept of selective pressure to show how "consumer preference" in the classroom acts exactly like "predatory pressure" in the wild. Activity DescriptionThe Candy Crisis lab is a simulation of Natural Selection. In this model, the students are the "predators" and the different flavors of Jolly Ranchers are the "prey" population. When a student chooses a specific flavor, they are effectively "eating" that individual. If one flavor is chosen more often (perhaps because it tast
5th - 9th
Applied Math, Biology
Also included in: Evolution and Natural Selection 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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