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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Air Car STEM Challenge: Propeller Car Engineering Design Project (NGSS)
🚗 Air Car STEM Challenge: Build a Propeller-Powered Vehicle! Engineering Design Project | NGSS-Aligned | Grades 5–10 Turn your classroom into an engineering lab with this fast-paced, high-engagement STEM challenge where students design, build, and improve a battery-powered air car. The Goal: Create a propeller-driven vehicle that moves efficiently using thrust from a spinning fan. Students don’t just build—they test, analyze, and iterate, just like real engineers. ⚡ Why This Activity Work
5th - 10th
Basic Principles, Engineering, Physics
Nature's Cleanup Crew Lab — Isopods & Decomposers in Soil Ecosystems
Title: Nature’s Cleanup Crew — Isopod Ecosystem Lab & Decomposer Investigation Summary: In this hands-on ecosystem investigation, students explore how consumers and decomposers work together to recycle nutrients in soil ecosystems. By observing organisms such as isopods, earthworms, and springtails, students identify their ecological roles and document how these “cleanup crew” organisms break down leaf litter and support nutrient cycling. Students complete observational drawings, analyze the rol
5th - 9th
Biology, Earth Sciences, Environment
Also included in: Ecosystems & Ecology Labs Bundle
Submarine Engineering Challenge — Buoyancy & Ballast Tank Design
Title: 🌊 Density Exploration Lab — Build a Submarine Summary: In this hands-on engineering lab, students design and test a simple submarine to explore how density and buoyancy control floating and sinking. Using plastic cups, a balloon, tubing, and a syringe, teams adjust the submarine’s density by inflating or deflating the balloon, mimicking how real submarines use ballast tanks. Students observe how adding or removing air affects displacement and buoyant force, record results, and draw thei
5th - 10th
Engineering, Physical Science
Also included in: Scientific Method and Measurement Skill Labs Bundle
Matter in Motion Lab — PhET Simulation & Ice Cream Energy Lab
Title: Matter in Motion — Energy & Particle Behavior Summary: In this lab, students investigate how energy affects particle motion and states of matter. Using simulations, demonstrations, and hands-on activities, students observe how adding energy causes particles to move faster, spread farther apart, and change state, while removing energy slows particles, brings them closer, and can induce freezing or condensation. Activities include a PhET States of Matter simulation, a penny heating demonst
5th - 8th
Chemistry, Physical Science
Also included in: States of Matter and Phase Changes Labs Bundle
From Trash to Treasure: Making Recycled Paper – Sustainability Lab
Title: From Trash to Treasure: Making Recycled Paper – Sustainability Lab Summary: In this hands-on sustainability lab, students recycle used paper to create brand-new sheets of paper. By blending scrap paper into pulp and forming it with a mold and deckle, students explore how recycling and reuse reduce waste and conserve natural resources. The activity introduces key concepts such as recycling, reuse, and sustainability, while encouraging observation, reflection, and real-world connections t
5th - 9th
Earth Sciences, Environment, Physical Science
Also included in: Mixtures, Solutions, and Separation Chemistry Labs Bundle
Plant Adaptations Field Lab — Observe Local Plants & Survival Traits
Title: Local Plant Adaptations Lab: Survival in Action 🌵 Summary: In this hands-on lab, students observe native desert plants such as prickly pear, cholla, agave, and yucca to identify adaptations that help plants survive and reproduce. Students record how traits like spines, thick leaves, and narrow foliage help access resources, avoid herbivory, and conserve water. The activity connects adaptations to population survival, resource availability, and carrying capacity, and includes an observ
5th - 10th
Biology, Environment
Also included in: Evolution and Natural Selection Bundle
Ecosystem Diorama Project — Model Biotic & Abiotic Interactions
Title: Ecosystem Diorama Project – Biotic & Abiotic Interactions Summary: In this hands-on project, students create a 3-D diorama of an ecosystem to explore how living (biotic) and nonliving (abiotic) components interact. Students model an ecosystem of their choice—forest, desert, grassland, freshwater, marine, or tundra—by including producers, consumers, decomposers, and abiotic factors. The project emphasizes energy flow, food webs, predator–prey relationships, populations, and niches. Inclu
5th - 9th
Biology, Environment
Also included in: Ecosystems & Ecology Labs Bundle
Invasive Species Project — How Non-Native Organisms Disrupt Ecosystems
Title: 🌎 Invasive Species Poster Project — Invaders That Change Everything Summary: Students research an invasive species and create a poster explaining how a non-native organism changes ecosystems. The poster includes the species’ ecosystem (native and invaded regions), its behavior and interactions with native species, and the environmental impacts caused by its introduction. Students also include labeled visuals such as images, maps, or food web diagrams to communicate ecosystem effects. T
5th - 8th
Biology, Environment
Also included in: Ecosystems & Ecology Labs Bundle
Keystone Species Research Project — How One Species Shapes an Ecosystem
Title: 🐾 Keystone Species Poster Project — Animals That Keep Ecosystems Together Summary: Students research a keystone species and create a poster explaining how one organism can have a major impact on an ecosystem. The poster includes the species’ ecosystem, its ecological role, and what could happen if it disappeared, along with images or a simple food web diagram. The activity helps students understand food webs, biodiversity, and ecosystem balance while practicing research and scientifi
5th - 8th
Biology, Environment
Also included in: Ecosystems & Ecology Labs Bundle
Perler Bead Phase Change Lab — Melting, Freezing & Particle Diagrams
Title: Phase Change Lab: Meltable Bead Fusion Summary: In this hands-on lab, students observe phase changes using Perler beads, exploring how energy affects particle motion. They create designs on pegboards, watch the beads melt under teacher-operated heat, and then cool to solidify, recording observations and particle diagrams at each stage. Students discuss how heating causes melting and cooling causes freezing, linking particle motion to energy changes. Vocabulary terms such as melting, free
5th - 8th
Chemistry, Physical Science
Also included in: States of Matter and Phase Changes Labs Bundle
Phase Change Exploration Lab — Ice, Steam, Wax & Wax-Resist Art
Title: The Great Shape-Shift: Exploring the Magic of Matter Summary: In this hands-on lab, students explore how energy affects particle motion and drives phase changes in matter. Using demonstrations with ice, water, steam, and wax, students observe melting, freezing, condensation, evaporation, and sublimation, recording changes in state and particle behavior. A guided chart helps students connect each phase change to real-world examples, while a “super-vision” activity encourages imagining par
5th - 8th
Chemistry, Other (Arts), Physical Science
Also included in: States of Matter and Phase Changes Labs Bundle
Syringe Compression Lab — Comparing Solid, Liquid & Gas States
Title: Matter Under Pressure: The Great Syringe Challenge Summary: In this hands-on lab, students explore the properties of matter and how different states—solids, liquids, and gases—respond to compression. Using syringes, students test air, water, and a solid object to observe compressibility and record their findings. The lab also includes a hydraulic system demonstration, showing how incompressible liquids can transfer force between connected syringes. Students complete cloze notes, record o
5th - 8th
Physical Science
Also included in: Scientific Method and Measurement Skill Labs Bundle
Creature Adaptation Engineering Project — Build a Survival Model
Title: 🐾 Creature Adaptation Modeling Project – Hands-On STEM Activity Summary: In this creative project, students design and build a model of an organism to showcase a key adaptation that aids survival. Using materials like paper, clay, cardboard, or recycled items, students highlight traits such as camouflage, fur, claws, or specialized roots. Each model includes an information card detailing the adaptation, its environment, and survival benefit. Students present their models briefly, rein
4th - 8th
Biology, Environment
Also included in: Evolution and Natural Selection Bundle
It Takes Guts! Anatomy Project — Research an Organ & Model the Body
This project turns the classroom into a collaborative anatomy lab, where each group contributes a specialized component to a unified "Class Body." By focusing on one organ in-depth and then integrating it into a life-size model, students visualize the spatial relationships and biological dependencies that define human life. Activity DescriptionThe "It Takes Guts!" Poster Project is a research-based modeling activity. Students move from abstract diagrams to a physical, to-scale representation
4th - 8th
Anatomy, Biology
Also included in: Human Body Systems Bundle
Changes of State Lab — Liquid Duster, 3D Pen & Phase Transitions
This lesson takes the invisible energy shifts of thermodynamics and turns them into a high-pressure, tactile experience. By observing a liquid duster rapidly expand into a gas and using heat to reshape polymers with a 3D pen, students gain a deep understanding of how energy dictates the physical state of matter. Activity DescriptionThe Changes of State Exploration is an inquiry-based lab that focuses on phase transitions and the Kinetic Molecular Theory. The lab uses two high-interest tools:
5th - 10th
Chemistry, Physical Science, Physics
Also included in: States of Matter and Phase Changes Labs Bundle
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
Scientific Method in Action — Penny Drop Lab: Design & Analyze
This lab transforms the abstract steps of the Scientific Method into a hands-on physical challenge, using the unique properties of water to teach students how to isolate variables. Activity DescriptionThe Penny Drop Lab is a classic introduction to experimental design. It focuses on Surface Tension and Cohesion—the "stickiness" of water molecules. Students observe how water can stack into a high dome on a penny before gravity finally wins. By introducing soap (a surfactant), they see firstha
5th - 9th
Basic Principles, General Science, Physical Science
Also included in: Scientific Method and Measurement Skill Labs Bundle
Water Filtration Engineering Design Lab — Filter with Geology Layers
This engineering challenge connects the geological concept of percolation to environmental engineering, demonstrating how Earth’s natural layers act as a massive purification system for the water we drink. Activity DescriptionThe Engineer Your Own Water Filter lab is a STEM-based simulation of groundwater movement. Students explore how different geological materials—gravel, sand, and soil—interact with water. By layering these materials in a tube, students mimic the Earth’s saturated and unsa
5th - 8th
Earth Sciences, Engineering, Physical Science
Also included in: Atmosphere, Weather, Climate, and Hydrosphere Bundle
Sustainability & Human Impact Projects Bundle
♻️ Sustainability & Human Impact Projects BundleDescription: This bundle includes 6 hands-on labs, modeling projects, and data analysis activities designed to explore sustainability, human impacts on the environment, and the life cycle of products. Students investigate recycling, resource use, mining effects, e-waste, and climate change through engaging experiments, collaborative projects, and poster-based learning. Perfect for Grades 5–10 Environmental Science, Earth Science, and STEM classe
5th - 10th
Biology, Environment, General Science
Water Cycle in a Bag Lab — Model Evaporation & Condensation
This lab provides a contained, accelerated model of Earth’s hydrological system, allowing students to witness the transition of water between states of matter in real-time. Activity DescriptionGetty Images The Water Cycle in a Bag Lab is a classic "closed system" experiment that demonstrates how energy drives the movement of water. By using a hair dryer to simulate the Sun’s radiant energy, students accelerate the evaporation process. As the warm water vapor hits the cooler plastic at the top
3rd - 8th
Earth Sciences, Physical Science
Also included in: Atmosphere, Weather, Climate, and Hydrosphere 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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