How it started: 📝 “Next year I want to work on some space stuff.” – 2nd grader 🪐 “I want to build a solar system… it feels hard and fun!” – 3rd grader (EOY Reflections) How it went: 👇 Solar System Marble Drop Game #STEM #StudentVoice #EduSky

600 students, 1200 skewers, and one mission: safety first! ⚠️ 🔥✂️🖐🏾 This weekend, I’m trimming sharp tips and pre-gluing beads to protect curious hands from pokes and hot glue burns. Let the next engineering challenge begin—safely! #STEM #EduSky

Build Your Own Bean Grab Game! Our 2nd–5th grade engineers created their own version of Hungry Hungry Hippos—with perimeter walls, a soccer field layout, 20 beans, and one instant-win pom-pom! Now they’re equipped to challenge their families to build, play, and talk! #STEM #EduSky

I’m incredibly humbled and grateful @jaciemaslyk.bsky.social chose to include me as one of the featured educators in the 2nd edition of #STEAMMakers! ✅Pre-order it today! #ThankfulThursday #STEM #EduSky

🛹 The Feel Good Skatepark and beyond! Check out these epic fingerboard parks built by our 2nd–5th grade engineering pros! From kicker ramps to mini bowls, flat bars, spine ramps, and more — creativity and design skills are rolling full speed ahead! #STEM #EduSky

From a kind colleague assisting with the book fair: “Some kids were checking out this skateboarding book all because of your lesson.” This was a meaningful reminder that when #STEM education is made accessible and engaging, it can ignite curiosity far beyond the lesson itself! #EduSky

⬇️ Pass the Pom Pom! ➡️ ♻️ My students got creative with cardstock, bottle caps, and straws to engineer a super fun and challenging passing game! They overlapped two cardstock boxes where rotating straws (with bottle caps attached) guide a Pom Pom across or down the path. #STEM #EduSky

“I created a skatepark today. It was hard to build the ramp because you had to tape it down & it took a while. Next time I would use more hot glue to make it more sturdy. Engineering is fun because I like building stuff.” - 4th grader (✏️written reflection & design plan) #STEM #EduSky

“I created a mini skate park. It was fun! It was challenging to do, but I did it in 25 minutes. I am proud of my work. Skate parks are fun to make and to play on. It helps me build my creativity up! I love this class!” - 5th grader (✏️ written reflection) #STEM #EduSky

In our elementary engineering class, K–2 students used bottle caps to build numbers, traced them into circles, and created their own coloring pages. A fun blend of STEM, design thinking, and creativity—all from a simple recycled material! ♻️ 🖍️ ⭕️ #STEM

A colleague asked for some bottle caps a few days ago. Today, she surprised me with a LEGO flower bouquet in a vase made from those caps. Such a thoughtful gift—and a great conversation starter about ♻️ upcycling in my engineering classroom! 🌻 #STEM #EduSky

What would you build with bottle caps and jumbo craft sticks? Here are just three creative takes: a cat, an apartment complex, and a school. Now imagine the rest! Simple materials. Endless possibilities. 💡 #STEM #EduSky

How it started: a chaotic pile of 6,000 straws How it went: neatly color-sorted boxes 🎨 A “small” #STEM classroom management win—less time rummaging, more time creating, testing, improving, and sharing! In a 50-min class, every minute counts! #EduSky

Math in a Stack: Counting with Bottle Caps! 🔢🟣 K–2 students started by stacking caps to represent numbers—then turned it into a self-selected exploration of balance and design! ⚖️💡 Early numeracy, engineering, fine motor skills, and creativity with bottle caps! ♻️ #STEM #EduSky

What an a-MAZ-ing start to the school year! ♻️🎉 Grades 3–5 designed and built their own maze or marble run using cardboard, bottle caps—and just 30 minutes on the clock! ⏱ Best part? Each student will take their work home to share with friends and family! #STEM #EduSky

Early Literacy + #STEM = 💡♻️ 📕 To kick off the year, I introduced myself as the author & illustrator of a nonfiction book about my name: #MyNameIsAnAddress. 🔵 Then K–2 students took on a creative design challenge—building letters & their names with bottle caps! #EduSky

Just received my FREE LEGO® Brick Play Boxes from @firstbook.org (only paid shipping)! 🎉 They’re filled with colorful bricks in all shapes and sizes—perfect for engineering challenges and open-ended learning. I can’t wait to see what my students build this year! 🧱✨ #STEM #EduSky

The hours I spent washing bottle caps were totally worth it to see this 4th grader crush her first engineering build on day one! Here’s to a year of creativity and problem-solving! 💡 ♻️ #STEM #EduSky

It’s the day before school starts, and my back is aching from washing millions of donated bottle caps. This murky water is a reminder that every detail matters, and our students deserve our best—always. Here’s to a fresh, clean start to a brand new year! ♻️ #STEM #EduSky

I’m back online & students arrive Monday! Heading into my 25th year of teaching and still just as passionate! 💛 Weekend prep = washing MILLIONS of donated bottle caps & lids ♻️🤪 STEM friends—send your BEST K–5 engineering design challenges using bottle caps! 💡🛠️ #STEM #STEAM #EduSky

Yay! I’m finally figuring out bluesky and you’ve made it much easier! Thank you!

🟣SEASON 1 RECAP🟣 @drcmamaj.bsky.social : The Fierce Urgency of NOW in Today's Schools Podcast is a GATHERING and CALL TO ACTION for all educators from every level, parents/caregivers, and community partners. ▶️ youtu.be/Le_ruIRW7qg?... #EduSky #EduMatch

🗓 Mark your calendar and make plans to join me inside the Elementary STEM Teachers Club Membership with @carlyandadam.bsky.social ! 🖥 The online STEM Teacher Summit is happening July 17-19, 2025 from the comfort of your own home! 👉 www.stemteachersclub.com #stemteachersummit

🎯Note to self: Don’t wait 4 years to introduce something just because you don’t know it yet. Students thrive when they explore, collaborate, and learn from each other. Trust the process — learning doesn’t always need direct teaching! #STEM #HotWheels #EduSky

I tried to wait until summer break to crack open this book… but I couldn’t do it! Just a few pages in and I’m already hooked—learning new ways to enhance my practice and grow as an educator! @mrstemurray.bsky.social , thanks for the recommendation! #PLN #STEM #EduSky

How it started:
“In 5th grade, I want the challenge of building a rollercoaster.” — 4th grader (EOY reflection) How it’s going:
♻️ 🧻 📦 Cardboard
♻️ Cardstock
⏰ 35 minutes She paused mid-test with a confident, “Wait, wait!” — knowing she could improve. And she did. 🎉 #STEM #EduSky

We've had so many incredible #teachers on the Legend Makers podcast! Thank you all for your time. We are actively seeking new guests for our spring '25 season. Do you, or a teacher you know, want to help us inspire the next generation of educators? Comment and tag them below!

SKYSCRAPERS… ▶️ Engineer of the week: Sofia Puerto 📏 36 inches 🪵 Built with @KEVAplanks ⏰ 25 minutes 🤝 Teams of 2-4 (K-5 students) 🌃Lights ON! 🌇Lights OFF! ✏️ diagram & personal reflection #EduSky #STEM #KevaPlanks

“In Social Studies this week we have been talking about school helpers and how they help us. Each of my kids picked someone that has helped them. Thank you…for being such a big part in my kids' lives that they thought of you!” - Kindergarten teacher Happy FriYAY! 🥰 #STEM #EduSky

Why wait until October? 💡 The flickering light of the Halloween flameless candles made building houses with #KevaPlanks more exciting! ✅ Add a little glow to your creations year-round! #STEM #EduSky

🌻 A big thank you to my amazing colleague for this #LEGO flower bouquet! It’s a brilliant and generous gift for helping with STEM night! Yes, my students immediately noticed the new vase of flowers & LEGO-based conversation blossomed! 🌻 #STEM #EduSky

How it started: “Next year, I want to make a house made of KEVA planks because I love making homes for people.” - 3rd grader (EOY reflection) How it’s going: Neighborhood Challenge: How many different 1 foot houses can you build with #KevaPlanks? #STEM #EduSky

“I like your new mug!” - 🔁dozens of students Students notice little things like changing from a red solo cup to a @carlyandadam.bsky.social mug! (As students enter my classroom, they pick a numbered stick from my mug & sit at the corresponding table. Instant teams are formed!) #STEM #EduSky

If one teacher shares #STEM classroom examples on social media, then a countless number of teachers and students/families can benefit all around the world! That’s WHY I choose to share my work! 🌱🪴 🌼 #PLN 🔄 #EduSky

“Today, we had to make a house out of LEGOs. Stacking LEGO was easy. Stabilizing the base was hard. The roof is something we should have worked on more. LEGO is a way to show that things DON’T have to be perfect. I felt great when I finished!” - ✏️5th grader #STEM #EduSky

“Today I built a LEGO house. I put on the chimney, roof, windows, backyard, door, and porch. I would make a bigger backyard & add more scenery. This was my favorite build because LEGOs are more sturdy. The best part was the front and the back of the house.” - ✏️4th grader #STEM #EduSky

“It was awesome & hard! We built a LEGO house. My favorite part was the roof. We could improve by adding more details. I heard that you can do anything! I wonder if we can make a small house for dolls and maybe bugs? I feel awesome and grateful!” - 4th grader (✏️reflection) #STEM #EduSky

“Today’s challenge was to make a LEGO house. The hard part was to make the roof because it kept breaking. The easy part was to make the plants & walls. Next time I will make a front porch. I felt proud because this is the 1st time I made a LEGO house.” - 5th grader (✏️reflection) #STEM #EduSky

“Today we built a house out of LEGOs. It was a challenge because the roof kept on falling, but we didn’t give up & we got it. What could be improved is to make more of the bonus features. I learned that you can build anything. I felt proud of myself.” - 5th grader (✏️reflection) #STEM #EduSky #LEGO

“We created a masterpiece. We built a Japanese house from 2026 out of LEGO bricks. Our plan worked because we made the house sturdy. Next time I would make the roof better. [Name] was a good partner. I would like to build a paper house like the paper foosball.” - ✏️ 2nd grader #STEM #EduSky

“Today’s challenge was to build a LEGO house. Our plan worked because we used teamwork. We are proud of this challenge because we added cool details to the house like a couch, bushes, a person, & a table! This is exciting! I felt happy when I finished because it took a long time.” - 4th grader

How it started: “I want to make a cardboard city because we’ve never made one before.” - 4th grader (End-of-Year Reflection) How it went: 🎯 2-D Shapes 🎯 Cardboard Stacking 🎥 Architect: Rochelle Lewis ♻️Inspired by: @darrellwakelam.bsky.social 💡 Donation: @carrific.bsky.social #STEM #EduSky

Twister towers and anchor Yankers courtesy of Baker STEM Lab and @ekuwah.bsky.social inspiration. These were so fun but very challenging. They had many fails before successes started happening!

“We built a model of a cardboard house. Our plan worked because we used teamwork. Another idea is to make more space. The purpose of the challenge was to make hinges and a door handle. I am grateful for my teammates because we did succeed.” - 3rd grader (✏️reflection) #STEM #Makedo #EduSky

“I created a building. It was hard to put the roof, but it was ok. I’m wondering if we can make a sign? I learned about how working together can help you a lot. I am proud of myself because this was really fun.” - 3rd grader (✏️reflection) #STEM #Makedo #EduSky

“Today’s challenge was to build a hotel. The things that worked well were the teamwork & the walls. We did not have enough time for the roof. We could work faster next time. The thing I learned was teamwork. When I finished, I felt good also proud.” - 5th grader (✏️reflection) #Makedo #STEM #EduSky

“Today’s challenge was to build a hotel with screws. The hinge for the door worked pretty well. We could have communicated better so we would get more work done. We finished, but the roof kept on falling down. We all were happy that we finished, & we took a picture.” - 5th grader (✏️Reflection) #STEM

“Today we built a hotel. Our plan worked because we used our time wisely. It was hard to put holes in the cardboard, but I still did it. Next time I would try to finish the roof & build better walls. It was a lot easier to use the screws than the clips.” - 4th grader (✏️reflection)

“Today we made a hotel out of cardboard and screws. Our plan worked because everybody was doing their part. I prefer working with screws than clips. Next time I will make the doors the same size. I felt happy because we finished.” - 3rd grader (✏️ reflection) #Makedo #STEM #EduSky

✏️”We built a hotel. It was fun. Our plan worked because we used teamwork. Next time we should make the hotel higher. The most important part about engineering is teamwork. I am proud of using teamwork so we can finish.” - 3rd grader (reflection) #Makedo #STEM #EngineersWeek #EduSky