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Ekuwah Mends Moses 🇬🇭 🇺🇸 @ekuwah.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Our orchard-inspired cardboard challenge was powered by community support! Tissue paper + glue sticks: donated by colleagues ChompSaws: grant-funded Cardboard: FREE (Costco) Grants & donations expand student choice, creativity, and engineering possibilities for 700+ students. #EduSky #STEM

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Ekuwah Mends Moses 🇬🇭 🇺🇸 @ekuwah.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

If you leave a puzzle out, they’ll naturally play with it. Some sort. Others flip, rotate, rearrange, and build the biggest arrangement possible. Same materials. Different choices. Everyone thinking mathematically. Give students access to materials worth exploring! #EduSky #STEM

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Ekuwah Mends Moses 🇬🇭 🇺🇸 @ekuwah.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

POV: You’re a teacher who can’t walk past cardboard at Costco! The pallet separators are teacher gold. They’re clean, blank, flat, residue-free, and perfect for my ChompSaws. They make prepping 1-inch cardboard strips for student engineering challenges quick and efficient. #EduSky #STEM

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Ekuwah Mends Moses 🇬🇭 🇺🇸 @ekuwah.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

What does a condiment container have to do with fire safety? In our fire evacuation chute challenge, students had to design, test & redesign until their people/materials safely reached the “meeting spot” every time. I hope this will ignite fire safety planning at home! #EduSky #stem

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Ekuwah Mends Moses 🇬🇭 🇺🇸 @ekuwah.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

A parent shared that Audriana watched my students’ maze video and said she wished her school had a class like that. Today, she came home excited about a 2nd grade STEM Club and hopes she gets in! Sometimes seeing what’s possible inspires families to seek new opportunities. #STEM #EduSky

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Ekuwah Mends Moses 🇬🇭 🇺🇸 @ekuwah.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

One of my favorite parts of teaching engineering is watching students transfer what they’ve learned into a new challenge. The printed maze gave them the experience. The cereal box gave them the opportunity to apply their knowledge, take risks, and push their designs further. #stem #EduSky

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Ekuwah Mends Moses 🇬🇭 🇺🇸 @ekuwah.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Me: What do we build first? Students 🗣️: THE PERIMETER! I intentionally embed academic vocabulary into design challenges to connect standards with hands-on learning. Building the perimeter first connects math to engineering, and keeps the marble from escaping if time runs out! ⏰ #STEM #EduSky

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Ekuwah Mends Moses 🇬🇭 🇺🇸 @ekuwah.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

Civil engineers design roads, and it’s a lot like designing a maze! Students brought an engineer’s plan to life by measuring, cutting, & gluing cardboard strips onto a printed maze. Then they tested their designs with a marble, guiding a “new neighbor” from home 🏠 (start) to school 🏫 (finish).

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Ekuwah Mends Moses 🇬🇭 🇺🇸 @ekuwah.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Why LEGO for the 1st challenge? I read 600+ end-of-year reflections, & hundreds of students ranked LEGO among their favorite challenges. So, I listened! My engineering challenges are prioritized by student interest & available materials. This year, LEGO is kicking us off! 👟 #STEM #EduSky

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Ekuwah Mends Moses 🇬🇭 🇺🇸 @ekuwah.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

First engineering challenge of the year! Students kicked off the school year by building the first letter of their name or their age. The challenge? Make it 12 inches tall and strong enough to stand on its own without leaning or falling. #STEM #EduSky #LEGO

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Ekuwah Mends Moses 🇬🇭 🇺🇸 @ekuwah.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

New school year, old materials, new possibilities! A retiring colleague gifted me these pentominoes at the end of last school year. Rather than let them collect dust in my closet, I added dot magnets to the back and turned them into a new hands-on engineering station! #STEM #math #EduSky #STEAM

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Ekuwah Mends Moses 🇬🇭 🇺🇸 @ekuwah.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

STEM treasure hunt! 🔍♻️ My favorite summer routine: 50%-off Mondays at the thrift store. These inexpensive finds become design challenge materials, prototype supplies, & fresh additions to my scrap/surplus bins. You never know what might spark a student’s next creative idea. #stem #steam #EduSky

For just $20 today, I found magnetic wands, a giant Rubik’s Cube, bags of artificial flowers and leis, corks, craft netting, and more!

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Ekuwah Mends Moses 🇬🇭 🇺🇸 @ekuwah.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

Anyone else get attached to their prototypes? 😅 It was hard to toss the quick builds I made this school year. They were never meant to be fancy, just 10-minute prototypes to test ideas before students spent 30–40 minutes creating their own take-home versions. #stem #steam #EduSky

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Ekuwah Mends Moses 🇬🇭 🇺🇸 @ekuwah.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

The last day of engineering class still included the design process! Students chose their own materials, machines, pacing, and whether to work independently or collaboratively. What did they create? Watch! #STEM #StudentInterest #studentautonomy #EduSky

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Ekuwah Mends Moses 🇬🇭 🇺🇸 @ekuwah.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

Why do I save cardboard scraps? ✏️ Many K–5 students are still developing spatial reasoning, scale, & efficient material use. Smaller pieces often lead to even smaller designs! We’ll use the scrap bin to create even more engineering learning opportunities next year! ♻️ #stem #EduSky

Small drawing of a person on a strip of cardboard

Small drawings of a circle and a robot on a strip of cardboard

Small drawing of a square on a strip of cardboard

Small drawing of a heart on a square piece of cardboard

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Ekuwah Mends Moses 🇬🇭 🇺🇸 @ekuwah.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

I’m honored to receive a retiring colleague’s pentominoes & pattern cards (1984). She wanted them to go somewhere they would continue to be used & appreciated. Like Tetris, they’re a timeless tool for building spatial reasoning, problem-solving, and geometric thinking! #stem #EduSky

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Ekuwah Mends Moses 🇬🇭 🇺🇸 @ekuwah.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

It’s the last days of school, the lights are dimmed, & the engineering stations are buzzing. K-5 students are free to explore, collaborate, and create at their own pace with Lite-Brites, Ultimate Fort Builder, magnetic marble runs and gears, ChompSaws, and more. No time limits! #stem #steam #EduSky

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Ekuwah Mends Moses 🇬🇭 🇺🇸 @ekuwah.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

Woohoo! 🙌🏾 Last 6:30 a.m. haul of Costco cardboard sheets/pallet separators for the school year! They’re free, clean, print-free, no tape to peel, easy to cut to size, under 3mm thick, and perfect for students using ChompSaws. #stem #steam #EduSky

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Ekuwah Mends Moses 🇬🇭 🇺🇸 @ekuwah.bsky.social · 16/05/2026

Our first ChompSaw challenge focused on slot cardboard attachments and free choice. In our final class together, students are leveling up by creating pivoting connections with brass fasteners. Simple joins to moving mechanisms… confidence is growing! #stem #steam #EduSky youtube.com/shorts/CRDAI...

youtube.com

Cardboard Attachment Techniques with ChompSaws

YouTube video by Ekuwah Mends Moses, Author

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Ekuwah Mends Moses 🇬🇭 🇺🇸 @ekuwah.bsky.social · 15/05/2026

700+ students…unlimited cardboard practice?! How?? No space for a cardboard library, just bins! I cut sheets, save scraps, and restock daily so students can independently create whatever they want, as much as they want, with the ChompSaw. Take a look! 👀 #stem #steam #EduSky

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Ekuwah Mends Moses 🇬🇭 🇺🇸 @ekuwah.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

Today’s classes averaged 30–38 students, & 8 ChompSaws kept them creating safely & independently! Students focused on designing, problem-solving, & bringing ideas to life instead of waiting for turns. ChompSaws are a win for autonomy, classroom management, & STEM! #EduSky #stem #steam

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Ekuwah Mends Moses 🇬🇭 🇺🇸 @ekuwah.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

Let’s play I Spy… 👀 ChompSaw edition! What’s one interesting thing you noticed my students creating with the ChompSaws? Drop it in the comments using an emoji! #stem #steam #EduSky

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Ekuwah Mends Moses 🇬🇭 🇺🇸 @ekuwah.bsky.social · 10/05/2026

Mother’s Day is year-round. Students are thankful for opportunities to design, create, and problem-solve while making something meaningful for their loved ones. It’s not about a perfect product, it’s about student voice. It’s about their ideas & ability to create with purpose. #EduSky #stem #steam

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Ekuwah Mends Moses 🇬🇭 🇺🇸 @ekuwah.bsky.social · 10/05/2026

On Wednesday, 1st graders got to play the cardboard games they designed for homework and the excitement was everywhere. Students proudly shared their creations, explained their ideas, and cheered each other on. I enjoyed walking through and celebrating their success with them! #stem #steam #

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Ekuwah Mends Moses 🇬🇭 🇺🇸 @ekuwah.bsky.social · 10/05/2026

If you’ve ever wondered how art, engineering, and storytelling can help us heal and connect, I’d love for you to listen. I’m honored to be a guest on Episode 54 of The Fierce Urgency of NOW in Today’s Schools with @drcmamaj.bsky.social ▶️ youtu.be/POYWkB3tpL0?... #EduSky #stem #steam

youtu.be

Episode 54 - Learning About a Mother’s Life, Struggle, and Protective Care by Going Through Her Art

YouTube video by The Fierce Urgency of NOW in Today's Schools

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Ekuwah Mends Moses 🇬🇭 🇺🇸 @ekuwah.bsky.social · 09/05/2026

Introducing our K–5 students to ChompSaws during these final rotations! After learning the basics, they’re exploring engineering through free-choice building, problem-solving, & creative design with simple scrap materials. Thank you to the City of North Las Vegas for the Ed Micro-grant!

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Ekuwah Mends Moses 🇬🇭 🇺🇸 @ekuwah.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

Here’s my teacher’s eye view of elementary engineering! Students designed and built pinball games in just 30 minutes using accessible materials and their own story/theme ideas. Every creator approached the challenge differently through creativity, problem-solving, and iteration. #stem #EduSky

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Ekuwah Mends Moses 🇬🇭 🇺🇸 @ekuwah.bsky.social · 02/05/2026

“Fun Friday” in action! A 4th grader called me over again and again to show each upgrade: a stand on the back, marble return to launcher, starting tunnel, and a full scoring system. He proudly went beyond the criteria and even named it perfectly to close out the week! 🎉 #stem #steam #EduSky

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Ekuwah Mends Moses 🇬🇭 🇺🇸 @ekuwah.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

A 2nd grader’s partner leaves early. I jump in. I felt the rush of building, iterating, and racing the clock for one last improvement on our LEGO roller coaster. I wanted 5 more minutes, but gained a deeper sense of students’ urgency, persistence, and joy! #stem #steam #EduSky

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Ekuwah Mends Moses 🇬🇭 🇺🇸 @ekuwah.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

Engineering is about more than building something cool. It’s about designing things that help real people. I asked our students to list 20 models they can build with LEGO bricks! They could list and build models that help friends learn, move, sleep, talk, see, or feel better. #STEM #LEGO #EduSky

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Ekuwah Mends Moses 🇬🇭 🇺🇸 @ekuwah.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

Give 4th & 5th graders a platter of Nurcs, craft sticks, & a challenge, and watch what happens. Task: design and build a wheeled creation that can transport 10+ plastic eggs. They didn’t just meet the goal…they engineered solutions, tested ideas, and delivered in a big way. #stem #EduSky #steam

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Ekuwah Mends Moses 🇬🇭 🇺🇸 @ekuwah.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

✨What would you build? Working with a partner, students designed and built wheeled creations using Nurcs and craft sticks to transport 10+ plastic eggs safely across the table. Teamwork, creativity, and hands-on problem solving in action… 👀 @nurcstoy.bsky.social #stem #EduSky #steam

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Ekuwah Mends Moses 🇬🇭 🇺🇸 @ekuwah.bsky.social · 28/03/2026

No ruler? No problem! After collaborating on their Nurcs & craft stick tower, a fourth grader captured their design with a detailed sketch (including drawing her arm to show scale). That’s measurement, spatial reasoning, & engineering design thinking in action. @nurcstoy.bsky.social #STEM #EduSky

Tower built with Nurcs and craft sticks with pencil sketch

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Ekuwah Mends Moses 🇬🇭 🇺🇸 @ekuwah.bsky.social · 27/03/2026

In just 35 minutes, two 5th graders designed and built this tank using Nurcs and craft sticks! They nailed the collaborative planning, structural thinking, and rapid creation. @nurcstoy.bsky.social #STEM #EduSky

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Ekuwah Mends Moses 🇬🇭 🇺🇸 @ekuwah.bsky.social · 26/03/2026

A Bridge ✏️ “To start, we worked on the bottom road. Working with my friend helped because she knew that one road is not enough.” ✏️”Thank you for giving us the Nurcs. It really helps us build better instead of using glue. Thank you for the inspiration.” -5th grade team @nurcstoy.bsky.social #stem

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Ekuwah Mends Moses 🇬🇭 🇺🇸 @ekuwah.bsky.social · 26/03/2026

“I love Nurcs now. They are so fun. [My friends and I] built a beach house with stairs. I love how fun and cool Nurcs are. They are very easy to use.” “…these are the best things ever…” 📸: 3rd graders @nurcstoy.bsky.social #stem #steam #EduSky

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Ekuwah Mends Moses 🇬🇭 🇺🇸 @ekuwah.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

Basket: “My plan worked because I could hold it without breaking.” Chair: “I was going to make a bridge, and then I made it into a chair.” Circus: “I built a circus with a rainbow floor. One thing I learned is that small things can do a lot.” 📸: 5th graders @nurcstoy.bsky.social #stem #EduSky

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Ekuwah Mends Moses 🇬🇭 🇺🇸 @ekuwah.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

A Nurcs Daycare “[My partner and I] thought since it is going to be a daycare the kids would love the rainbow roof. We also built a bunch for the kids.” “I loved how [ @nurcstoy.bsky.social ] gave us Nurcs to build. I love how they help put the sticks together.” -3rd grader #stem #steam #EduSky

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Ekuwah Mends Moses 🇬🇭 🇺🇸 @ekuwah.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

“The most important thing I’ll remember is how Nurcs and craft sticks go good with each other.” “The 180° Nurc was my favorite!” “Thank you for the materials, @nurcstoy.bsky.social .” 📸: 4th graders 🏠 #STEM #steam #EduSky

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Ekuwah Mends Moses 🇬🇭 🇺🇸 @ekuwah.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

What are students learning at the water station? 💧 • Fine motor control • Measurement & volume • Cause & effect • Engineering thinking • Scientific vocabulary & observation … and more! #STEM #STEAM #EduSky #Kindergarten

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Ekuwah Mends Moses 🇬🇭 🇺🇸 @ekuwah.bsky.social · 24/03/2026

Back from Spring Break… Our final three classes took on the 2026 @sciencebuddies.bsky.social Engineering Challenge. Each team collected scraps in recycle bins and those leftovers became a K–1 engineering station in the afternoon. ♻️ Watch to the end to see the innovation come full circle! 🖍️ ✂️

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Ekuwah Mends Moses 🇬🇭 🇺🇸 @ekuwah.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

🗣️“Wait…” - 3rd graders Which of our 42 teams built the SLOWEST ball run & holds the highest score so far? Find out by searching “Dickens” in the @sciencebuddies.bsky.social Engineering Challenge Showcase & show our young engineers some ❤️! #ScienceBuddiesEngineeringChallenge #STEM #EduSky #STEAM

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Ekuwah Mends Moses 🇬🇭 🇺🇸 @ekuwah.bsky.social · 12/03/2026

🚨New engineering station! I rearranged my room to try something new inspired by @ms.oats.class (IG). Halved gift wrap tubes + magnetic clips + masking tape rolls = a whiteboard ball run. Kinder & 1st graders tested it with ping pong balls! It was a hit! 🎉♻️ #STEM #STEAM #EduSky

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Ekuwah Mends Moses 🇬🇭 🇺🇸 @ekuwah.bsky.social · 11/03/2026

Although the #ScienceBuddiesEngineeringChallenge doesn’t require video submissions, I record them to help with timing the ball runs and to share students’ #STEM work with our community. Search “Dickens” in the @sciencebuddies.bsky.social Engineering Challenge Showcase and ❤️ all 24 runs! #EduSky

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Ekuwah Mends Moses 🇬🇭 🇺🇸 @ekuwah.bsky.social · 04/03/2026

Did the 1st graders build the entire marble run in 40 minutes? Yes & no They folded two ramps & two supports. The remaining pieces were thoughtfully sourced from our “remix” bins (repurposed materials from upper grades). Strategic reuse saves time & expands creative capacity! #stem #EduSky #steam

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Ekuwah Mends Moses 🇬🇭 🇺🇸 @ekuwah.bsky.social · 03/03/2026

This cardboard marble run was independently designed, built, and tested by a 2nd grader in just 40 minutes. When young learners are given time, materials, and trust, they engineer far beyond expectations. #STEM #STEAM #EduSky

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Ekuwah Mends Moses 🇬🇭 🇺🇸 @ekuwah.bsky.social · 21/02/2026

Our Sustainability Cart, featured by @jaciemaslyk.bsky.social in the 2nd edition of #STEAMMakers, remains prominently placed in our main hallway. With a call-to-action from Oscar the Grouch, our community is actively donating cereal boxes for an upcoming engineering design challenge! #stem

Photo of Page 72 of the book STEAM Makers by Dr. Jacie Maslyk

Photo of the sustainability cart with more than a dozen cereal boxes

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Ekuwah Mends Moses 🇬🇭 🇺🇸 @ekuwah.bsky.social · 20/02/2026

“Next year, I want to build a water slide with a pool at the end.” – 4th grader (EOY Reflection) Students estimated how many long & short pool noodle segments their water slide would require. They tested, conducted a final count, & wrote reflections. 📸: 2nd & 3rd grade teams #STEM

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Ekuwah Mends Moses 🇬🇭 🇺🇸 @ekuwah.bsky.social · 14/02/2026

Most students showed up with Valentine’s treats today. One 4th grader showed up with a motorized vehicle she engineered and couldn’t wait to demonstrate. That’s the kind of excitement #STEM learning ignites! 🚗 #EduSky #STEAM

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Ekuwah Mends Moses 🇬🇭 🇺🇸 @ekuwah.bsky.social · 08/02/2026

Dozens of student reflections expressed authentic engineering curiosity last week! After building wind-powered cars from cardboard, many wondered what it would be like to design one using LEGO instead. That’s transfer, iteration, and material inquiry in action! Lessons learned! #STEM #EduSky #lego

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