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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Ecosystems & Ecology Labs Bundle
⭐ Ecosystems & Ecology Labs BundleDescription: This bundle includes 16 hands-on labs, simulations, and projects designed to explore ecosystems, species interactions, energy flow, and human impacts on the environment. Students investigate biotic and abiotic factors, food webs, trophic levels, population dynamics, and ecological relationships through engaging hands-on activities, collaborative projects, and guided investigations. Perfect for Grades 5–10 Biology, Life Science, and Environmental
5th - 10th
Biology, Environment, General Science
Earth and Space Science: Geology & Earth’s Systems Bundle
Earth & Space Science: Geology & Earth’s Systems BundleDescription: This bundle now includes 15 hands-on labs, simulations, and engineering challenges that help students explore the structure, processes, and dynamics of Earth and the solar system. Students investigate rocks and minerals, plate tectonics, the rock cycle, crystallization, seismic activity, and solar system concepts through engaging experiments, models, and STEM design challenges. Perfect for Grades 3–9 Earth Science, Physical S
3rd - 9th
Earth Sciences, Environment, Physical Science
Photosynthesis & Plant Systems Bundle
🌱 Photosynthesis & Plant Systems BundleDescription: This bundle includes 10 hands-on labs, simulations, and guided activities designed to explore plant biology, energy flow, and the processes of photosynthesis and cellular respiration. Students investigate how plants capture and use energy, the exchange of gases, plant propagation, and growth in different conditions through engaging experiments, observations, and collaborative projects. Perfect for Grades 5–10 Biology, Life Science, and Envi
5th - 10th
Biology, Environment, General Science
Homeostasis & Osmosis Lab — Carrots & Grapes in Salt vs. Fresh Water
Title: ♻️ Homeostasis & Osmosis Lab: Kidneys, Water Balance, and Osmotic Pressure Summary: In this lab, students explore how osmosis helps maintain homeostasis by modeling water movement in carrot matchsticks and grape halves placed in tap water (hypotonic) and salt water (hypertonic). They observe how cells gain or lose water, complete cloze notes and diagrams illustrating hypotonic vs. hypertonic solutions, and answer video-based questions about the kidneys’ role in regulating water and salt.
6th - 10th
Biology, Chemistry, Environment
Also included in: Human Body Systems Bundle
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
Atmosphere, Weather, Climate, and Hydrosphere Bundle
Atmosphere, Weather, Climate, and Hydrosphere BundleDescription: This bundle includes 14 hands-on labs, modeling projects, and data analysis activities to explore the dynamics of Earth’s atmosphere, weather patterns, climate, and water systems. Students investigate atmospheric layers, air pressure, cloud formation, condensation, climate graphs, the water cycle, evapotranspiration, density-driven ocean layering, groundwater filtration, and climate impacts on local economies. Engaging experiment
3rd - 9th
Earth Sciences, Environment, Physical Science
Populations & Survival – Rabbit Simulation & Ecosystem Lab
Title: Populations & Survival – Rabbit Simulation & Ecosystem Lab Summary: In this interactive lab, students explore how populations grow and fluctuate under different conditions. Using cloze notes, real-life examples, and the PhET Rabbit Population & Survival simulation, students investigate how resources, limiting factors, predation, and environmental conditions affect survival. Activities include vocabulary practice, guided observations, and reflection questions that help students connect
6th - 10th
Biology, Environment
Also included in: Evolution and Natural Selection Bundle
Weather vs. Climate Investigation — Graph Climatographs & Compare
Title: 💡 Weather vs Climate Investigation Summary: Students explore the difference between weather and climate. Weather is short-term atmospheric conditions (temperature, precipitation, wind, clouds, humidity), while climate is the long-term pattern of weather in a location. Students gather current weather data for two contrasting locations, create climate graphs, and analyze differences in temperature, precipitation, and extremes. The investigation reinforces that weather changes quickly, cli
6th - 10th
Environment, Physical Science
Solar System Mobile Project — Planet Types & Characteristics
Title: 🪐 Solar System Mobile Project — Planet Types & Characteristics Summary: Students create a tiered mobile of the solar system to compare planets by size, distance from the Sun, composition, and moons. Each student contributes research and builds scaled planet cutouts with labeled scientific facts. The activity reinforces patterns between inner and outer planets, relative scales, and space visualization. A simple rubric and peer review form are included to assess accuracy, scale, comm
6th - 10th
Earth Sciences, Environment
Also included in: Earth and Space Science: Geology & Earth’s Systems Bundle
Weather Map Lab – Surface Pressure & Temperature
Title: 💡 Weather Map Lab – Surface Pressure & Temperature Summary: Students practice reading and interpreting weather maps by creating surface air pressure and air temperature maps. They draw isobars to connect equal pressure values, label highs (“H”) and lows (“L”), indicate likely weather, and show wind directions around pressure systems. For temperature, they draw isotherms, shade warm and cold regions, identify air masses, and use interpolation to estimate values between stations. The
6th - 10th
Earth Sciences, Environment, Physical Science
Food Web Mobile Project — Build a Hanging Energy Flow Model
Title: Ecosystem Food Web Mobile Project — Visualizing Energy Flow & Matter Cycling Summary: In this collaborative project, students research an assigned ecosystem and create a hanging mobile that visually demonstrates how energy and matter move through a food chain and food web. Working in small groups, students identify producers, consumers, and decomposers, and arrange them vertically to show energy flow from sunlight to producers and up through consumers. The activity emphasizes trophic leve
6th - 10th
Biology, Environment
Also included in: Ecosystems & Ecology 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
Nature’s Cleanup Crew: Isopod Ecosystem Lab
Title: Nature’s Cleanup Crew: Isopod Ecosystem Lab Summary: In this hands-on ecosystem investigation, students explore the tiny organisms that act as nature’s “cleanup crew.” By observing isopods, worms, springtails, and evidence of fungi and bacteria, students learn to identify biotic and abiotic components of ecosystems, classify organisms as producers or consumers, and understand how decomposers recycle nutrients in soil systems. The lab includes observation prompts, scientific drawing spa
6th - 10th
Earth Sciences, Environment
Also included in: Ecosystems & Ecology Labs Bundle
Colorado Climate Change & Economy Poster
Title: 💡 Colorado Climate Change & Economy Poster Summary: Students investigate how climate change impacts Colorado’s economy by reading about climate trends, water availability, and sector-specific effects on agriculture, tourism, energy, and wildfire management. They create a poster highlighting three climate impacts with graphics, labels, and sentences explaining how each impact affects economic activity. The lab emphasizes climate literacy, critical thinking, and scientific communicatio
6th - 10th
Earth Sciences, Environment, Physical Science
Also included in: Atmosphere, Weather, Climate, and Hydrosphere Bundle
Mini Greenhouse Engineering Challenge — Heat Trapping
Title: 🌱 Mini Greenhouse Engineering Challenge — Heat Trapping Design Lab Summary: Students design, build, and test a mini greenhouse to investigate how structures trap heat through the greenhouse effect. Working in teams, students plan and construct models using craft materials, then measure temperature changes under the same light source to determine which engineering choices are most effective. The activity integrates concepts of energy transfer, infrared radiation, albedo, absorption, in
6th - 10th
Engineering, Environment, Physical Science
Also included in: Energy & Heat Transfer Bundle
Surface Heat Absorption Lab — Albedo & Specific Heat Comparison
Title: 💡 Surface Heat Showdown Lab – Sun, Sand, and Water Summary: Students investigate how different surfaces absorb and retain solar energy. Using thermometers, they measure temperature changes on sand, water, white/black paper, and Mylar over time. Concepts include albedo (how much light a surface reflects) and specific heat (how quickly a material changes temperature). Observations show that low-albedo surfaces like sand heat quickly and get hottest, while water with high specific heat h
6th - 10th
Environment, Physical Science, Physics
Also included in: Energy & Heat Transfer Bundle
Gas Grabbers Lab — BTB Indicator: Track CO2 in Photosynthesis
Title: 🌱 Gas Grabbers: Photosynthesis vs. Respiration Summary: In this lab, students explore how CO₂ and O₂ cycle between producers and consumers. Using Bromothymol Blue (BTB) as a CO₂ indicator, they observe photosynthesis in Elodea under light vs. dark conditions and respiration in yeast with and without sugar. Students track color changes in BTB and balloon inflation to visualize gas exchange, then analyze how photosynthesis removes CO₂ while respiration produces it. The exit ticket reinforc
6th - 10th
Biology, Chemistry, Environment
Also included in: Photosynthesis & Plant Systems Bundle
E-Waste Separation Science Project — Mixtures & Recovery Methods
Title: ♻️ E-Waste Mixtures & Separation Project Summary: In this project, students investigate how electronic waste contains complex mixtures of materials and how separation science can reduce environmental impact. They create a poster or infographic focusing on one e-waste mixture—such as circuit boards, batteries, or plastic casings—and explain either how the component is manufactured via separation or how recycling recovers valuable materials. Students describe at least one separation method
6th - 10th
Chemistry, Environment, Physical Science
Also included in: Mixtures, Solutions, and Separation Chemistry 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
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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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