About the store
Dr. Debbi Bloomquist and Jamie Pafford have decades of combined experience in science education. Together, we created The Tree Lab Trio, a fun and educational science graphic novel series designed for kids ages 5–10. Through the adventures of Stacie, Sam, and Kai, students explore real-world science concepts in ways that are developmentally appropriate, engaging, and often hilarious.
In addition to our book, you’ll find a variety of lesson extensions, activity guides, data collection sheets, and hands-on challenges right here to help you bring science to life all year long. Whether you're teaching in a classroom, homeschooling, or running a library or camp program, these tools are designed to make high-quality science instruction both approachable and fun.
At the heart of our resources is a powerful instructional routine:
Think it – Tell it – Try it – Test it.
This method encourages students to wonder, explain their thinking, build and create, and test ideas just like real scientists and engineers. It helps young learners deepen their understanding while developing critical thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.
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Winter STEM: Forces & Motion Skier Ramp Engineering Challenge (K–3)
Description⛷️Get ready for snowy winter STEM fun! In this hands-on engineering challenge, students design and test a skier that slides down a ramp while exploring forces and motion. Young scientists investigate how gravity pulls objects downward and how different pushes and design choices affect how fast and smoothly their skier moves. ❄️ Students act as engineers as they plan, build, test, observe, and improve their designs. Through simple testing and discussion, they collect data, make
K - 6th
Basic Principles, General Science, Physical Science
CCSS, NGSS
K.MD.A.1
, 1.MD.A.1
, W.2.8
+16
STEM Zip Line Challenge K-3 | Pushes, Pulls, Gravity & Friction
✨Get ready for a jolly burst of winter STEM fun! In this hands-on challenge, students explore how forces and motion work by building a reindeer that can race down a zipline. Using simple materials, young scientists test how gravity pulls objects down, how friction can slow things down, and how design choices can make their racer move faster or slower. Students become real engineers as they plan, build, test, and improve their designs. Along the way, they observe how things move, solve probl
K - 6th
Engineering, General Science, Physical Science
CCSS, NGSS
K.MD.A.1
, 1.MD.A.1
, K-2-ETS1-2
+6
Pumpkin Mix Up: Exploring Properties with our Senses
Pumpkin Mix Up! Exploring Properties of Matter✨Get ready for some delicious fall science fun! In this hands-on investigation, students will explore how different ingredients have properties that we can observe, describe, and compare. Using their senses (safely!), students will look closely at each ingredient before mixing everything together to create their own pumpkin dessert in a bag.Students will become real scientists, observing, recording, predicting, and discussing what changes happen w
K - 5th
Basic Principles, General Science, Physical Science
CCSS, NGSS
W.K.2
, SL.K.1
, SL.K.1a
+6
Sorting Scientists: Classifying Materials by Properties (K-3)
Sorting Scientists: A Hands-On Investigation of How Scientists Observe and Group Objects✏️ Get ready to sort and classify just like real scientists!In this hands-on investigation, students will explore how scientists observe, compare, and classify objects based on their physical properties. Using a tray filled with a variety of materials, young learners will use their senses and reasoning skills to sort and group items according to patterns they notice—such as color, shape, size, texture
K - 3rd
Basic Principles, General Science, Physical Science
CCSS, NGSS
K.MD.A.1
, K.MD.B.3
, 1.MD.B.3
+8
Forces and Motion: Huff and Puff Hockey (K-3)
🏒 Get ready for some action-packed science fun with Huff and Puff Hockey! In this hands-on investigation, students will explore how different strengths of force can change how an object moves. Using just their breath, they’ll experiment with gentle puffs and strong huffs to see how much force it takes to send a pom pom puck gliding across the hockey rink! Students will act as scientists and players, making predictions, testing pushes and pulls, and observing how each force affect
K - 8th
Basic Principles, General Science, Physical Science
CCSS, NGSS
K.MD.A.1
, K.MD.A.2
, K.MD.B.3
+13
Static Electricity Balloon Experiment | K-3 Hands-On Science
Ghosts on the Go! A Hands-On Static Electricity Investigation✨ Get ready for some shocking spooky Halloween fun! In this hands-on investigation, students will discover how an invisible force can make objects move without even touching them. Using balloons, they’ll build static electricity and then test different objects to see how each one reacts. Students will become real scientists, making a hypothesis, r ecording their predictions and results on a data sheet, and observing whether obje
K - 6th
Basic Principles, General Science, Physical Science
CCSS, NGSS
K.MD.A.1
, K.MD.A.2
, K.MD.B.3
+12
Tree Lab Trio Method
Free Poster! A bright 20x30 printable that brings the Tree Lab Trio Method to life: Think it, Tell it, Try it, Test it! The perfect companion to all of our resources and a classroom visual you can keep up all year long. More Resources: Think it! Tell it! Try it! Test it! Method- FREE Operation Sink or Float!- FREE Static Electricity: Ghosts on the Go!Sort and Classify: Sorting ScientistsForces and Motion: Huff and Puff HockeyStrengths of Forces: Ski Slope SprintsSTAY CONNECTED: Our Books T
K - 3rd
Basic Principles, General Science, Other (Science)
Forces and Motion: Air Force Rally STEM Activity
Airforce Rally: Design and Test Cars Powered by Air for K-3 Start your engines for the Airforce Rally lesson! In this hands-on activity, students will design and build their own cars that are pushed forward using the power of air from a fan. They'll test different car designs, experiment with how the force of air pushes their cars forward, and record their findings on provided worksheets. It’s a fun, interactive way to explore concepts of force and motion while encouraging creativity and proble
K - 8th
Basic Principles, Engineering, Physical Science
CCSS, NGSS
K.MD.A.1
, 1.MD.A.2
, 2.MD.A.1
+21
Sink or Float Science Experiment | K-2 STEM Activity
Operation Sink or Float: A Hands-On Adventure for K-3 Get ready for a splash of fun as your students dive into the world of sink or float! In this hands-on activity, kids will become scientists as they investigate different objects to see if they sink or float. They'll sort their findings and record their results on a super easy worksheet. Plus, there's a one-of-a-kind, original comic made just for this lesson to engage students creatively before the hands-on activity begins! It’s a fun and int
K - 3rd
Basic Principles, General Science, Physical Science
CCSS, NGSS
K.MD.A.1
, 1.MD.A.2
, 2.MD.A.1
+12
Showing 1-9 of 9 results
About the store
Experience
Dr. Debbi Bloomquist and Jamie Pafford have decades of combined experience in science education. Together, we created The Tree Lab Trio, a fun and educational science graphic novel series designed for kids ages 5–10. Through the adventures of Stacie, Sam, and Kai, students explore real-world science concepts in ways that are developmentally appropriate, engaging, and often hilarious.
In addition to our book, you’ll find a variety of lesson extensions, activity guides, data collection sheets, and hands-on challenges right here to help you bring science to life all year long. Whether you're teaching in a classroom, homeschooling, or running a library or camp program, these tools are designed to make high-quality science instruction both approachable and fun.
At the heart of our resources is a powerful instructional routine:
Think it – Tell it – Try it – Test it.
This method encourages students to wonder, explain their thinking, build and create, and test ideas just like real scientists and engineers. It helps young learners deepen their understanding while developing critical thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.
Teaching style
Perfect for classrooms, homeschools, or science centers—bring real science to life in a way your students will love!
Awards & shining teacher moments
The Tree Lab Trio: Forces and Motion was a #1 New Release on Amazon and proudly holds a 5-star rating!
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