Most individuals put trip locations and paint colours on their imaginative and prescient boards. Naomi Meredith put a STEM trailer on hers.
And never simply any trailer—one full of engineering challenges, construct‑it-yourself actions, and all of the spark that made her Colorado STEM classroom on wheels legendary. Whereas it took a couple of years and a few laborious work, Naomi was capable of flip her vision-board dream into a totally functioning cell STEM house that now rolls as much as faculties, occasions, and anyplace children are able to tinker.
On this Q&A, Naomi shares the story behind her thought and the enjoyment of educating STEM wherever the street takes her. You can even observe Naomi on her Instagram.
Q: How did you give you the concept for a cell STEM classroom?
I bear in mind once I was within the earlier days of being a Okay–5 STEM trainer, and I used to be taking a web based coaching the place there was a makerspace on wheels for instance. I believed this was such a neat thought to carry extra STEM experiences to children locally. That is one thing I knew I needed to do for myself sooner or later, so it was on my imaginative and prescient board since January 2020. Then in summer time of 2024 once I was looking Fb Market, I discovered the trailer to show my dream right into a actuality. (You’ll be able to see the method for your self on Instagram proper right here.)
Q: What was the method prefer to convert the trailer right into a STEM classroom?
Whereas I used to be totally different choices to have a cell STEM classroom, I began by buses. I did see a trailer that saved popping up, however I simply thought a bus can be simpler since you might flip the important thing and be in your manner. (Aspect word: I’m not driving children on this classroom—I arrive to the location and keep in a single place.)
The primary bus I noticed on-line seemed so excellent, and it was scorching pink, which is my foremost model shade. Nevertheless it was run-down. The following bus I noticed had virtually 400,000 miles on it and wouldn’t even shift out of park. Whereas I saved looking for buses, this little trailer saved popping up. It was so cute and was additionally used as a cell vogue boutique. However on the time, I didn’t actually have a automotive to drag the trailer.
Within the fall, this trailer was nonetheless on-line and I believed to myself, You recognize what, it doesn’t harm to look! After I walked into the house, I had chills and I virtually cried. It had stunning flooring and shelving and a cute form and paint job, so all it wanted was the “classroom” half. I knew proper then and there the trailer was what I used to be presupposed to have as a cell STEM classroom.
Q: How lengthy did it take to place collectively?
The precise setup of the within of the trailer wasn’t tough in any respect. It was quite a lot of enjoyable! The entire house wanted a recent coat of paint, after which I might add the enjoyable stuff. There’s a LEGO wall that strains the perimeter across the counter tops that college students can construct on. One wall is ready up with a complete whiteboard sticker. There’s a metallic pegboard that can be utilized for storing provides and even magnet actions. My sister was so candy and sewed curtains for me to hold up. I really like them! I additionally found out a strategy to preserve provides I repeatedly use displayed on the highest shelf however not fall all over by attaching Velcro to the underside of the buckets. It really works out nice!
Q: Did you come throughout any challenges?
To be sincere, the toughest half about having this cell STEM classroom trailer has been studying the right way to hook it up and drive it. The attaching and detaching to my automotive, I obtained that down in a short time. I’ve to retailer the trailer in a parking house since I’m not allowed to maintain it in my neighborhood. The primary time I attempted backing up my trailer into its spot, I couldn’t do it in any respect and I used to be crying. It was so complicated! I known as my husband to assist me, however from that day on, I used to be decided to get it alone. Now I can again it up and unhook it from my automotive in lower than 5 minutes.
Q: What actions or classes do you educate within the trailer?
It’s been so enjoyable educating on this house. It’s like enjoying faculty if you find yourself a child, however this time I’m actually educating and they’re actual children, not stuffed animals. It’s such a cheerful house. When I’m educating elementary teams, I’ve one foremost subject that I heart my classes round and both have one massive challenge we’re engaged on throughout our time collectively, or a wide range of STEM stations that join collectively concerning the subject. To date, the whole lot has been screen-free and electronics-free by way of classes, although I do have electrical energy and a projector I can use in my house. I educate quite a lot of hands-on, makerspace-style classes which are standards-based.
Q: Do you might have any favourite initiatives to share?
A giant favourite of the youngsters was once we made paper-plate curler coasters. It was so cool that the youngsters all had sufficient room to construct, whether or not they have been in a stand-up or sit-down spot, and be capable of check their design. I’ve additionally branched into toddler and preschool STEM, and that’s been a blast to show. Once more, I’ll plan round one subject, learn a narrative, have a gaggle motion sport or experiment, then a wide range of STEM stations they will transfer by way of freely. I additionally full a craft with them, a couple of children at a time, that they get to take dwelling. Out of all the teachings, I believe the spider lesson was my favourite one to plan.
Q: How do children react after they see the trailer for the primary time?
The children are at all times so cute and excited once I pull as much as my trailer. They usually suppose it’s a meals truck, which is smart. Nobody in my space is pulling round a classroom like me! I’ve one group I educate virtually biweekly, and I seen the counter tops have been too tall for them to entry. I ended up shopping for a handful of wood step stools they might use, and that made their day. All of them climbed on prime of them and so they have been yelling, “We will see the whole lot! We like your curtains!” One little woman additionally instructed her mother that she wants her personal cell STEM classroom trailer so she will be able to do extra experiments at dwelling. Everybody—children and adults—tells me how cute it’s, which I completely agree with. That’s my type!
Q: How far do you journey with the trailer, and the way usually do you employ it?
I’m so fortunate to stay in an space the place there are quite a lot of locations I can simply take my trailer. That is at all times one thing I’m increase as properly by way of native connections. At the moment, I don’t drive greater than 15 to twenty minutes away from my dwelling base. I at the moment meet up with homeschool teams both at a neighborhood park or their houses. I’ve an at-home daycare that I pull as much as as properly. Whereas I do educate after-school golf equipment, I’ve but to carry my trailer, which I hope to do that summer time.
Q: What impression have you ever seen on college students and households due to this cell classroom?
What’s been wonderful about this trailer is that it seems like a classroom however in a non-traditional manner, which the dad and mom and other people I work with love. They actually worth my expertise being within the classroom over a decade and my M.Ed. in STEM Management. They like how I’ve been capable of mix these issues into my enterprise. Mother and father additionally love the way it’s a distinct and inventive expertise for his or her children however they’re nonetheless actively studying classes in a hands-on manner. Likewise dad and mom benefit from the comfort of me coming to them. I can usually carry messy initiatives since I’m exterior. It’s one thing they don’t essentially should do at dwelling.
Q: What recommendation would you give to different educators who wish to create one thing comparable?
The largest factor I might say is to be affected person if that is one thing you wish to do. I had this dream for nearly 5 years earlier than it began to take form, and it’s nonetheless evolving. I additionally want to inform myself to be affected person as a result of there are issues with the trailer that I would like to determine or strive.
Your schooling expertise is such an asset to this expertise, however you additionally must have a enterprise mindset to place it into motion. For scheduling and pricing this system, I actually should suppose by way of that course of. Positively do your analysis earlier than leaping in. It’s a lot enjoyable to have, however it’s not at all times glamorous. With any enterprise, it may be an extended sport, particularly increase your native partnerships and connections.
Q: The rest we must always know?
Even in case you don’t have a flowery trailer like mine, you may nonetheless educate packages in your neighborhood. Strive it to see in case you like that sort of schedule. That’s the place I began and nonetheless proceed to do, even with out the trailer. This may enable you to construct up the behind-the-scenes group for what additionally, you will want when having a cell classroom. It can additionally enable you to construct up your connections and clientele and take a look at several types of classes.
