District News

Waco ISD is thrilled to announce that the Texas Mobile STEM Lab is visiting our students this week, May 12–14, 2026! Operated by the nonprofit organization Learning Undefeated in partnership with the Texas Education Agency (TEA), this custom-outfitted, immersive laboratory is a traveling hub of innovation. It offers high-energy, hands-on experiences designed to teach science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) skills in a way that truly brings the curriculum to life.

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Join Us for STEM Family Night!

While the lab will be busy during the school day, we are opening the doors to our entire community for a special event:

• When: Wednesday, May 13, from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
• Who: All Waco ISD students and their families are invited!
• What: Come explore the mobile STEM lab and try out the high-tech equipment for yourself.
• Bonus: Students who attend will be treated to a free pizza dinner!

 

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A Laboratory on Wheels

The mobile lab provides a unique environment where students from Kindergarten through Grade 5 can step out of the classroom and into the shoes of professional engineers. Throughout the three-day visit, our students will engage in the engineering design process: a cycle of brainstorming, designing, and testing solutions to real-world problems. Learning Undefeated provides all the specialized materials needed for these challenges, ensuring every student can collaborate and explore the content fully.

Engineering Challenges for Every Grade

Our students are "putting on their engineering hats" to tackle a variety of exciting tasks:

• Grades K-2: Storybook STEM
  • Students are solving problems from Jack and the Beanstalk by building structures tall enough to reach the "castle in the sky".
  • They are helping the Three Little Pigs by engineering homes that can withstand a "sneezing wind disaster".
  • Teams are designing sturdy chairs for the Bear family’s guests in a challenge inspired by Goldilocks and the Three Bears.
  • Young learners are exploring acoustics by building musical instruments that can be heard from a distance of six meters.
     
• Grades 3-5: Sustainability & Structural Integrity
  • Students are designing artificial pollinators or bee-friendly environments to protect local crops.
  • They are using geometry and physics to design "dream barns" for livestock that can survive windstorms.
  • Teams are exploring ecosystem balance by designing tools to remove invasive species.
  • Using an AR sandbox, students are engineering flood barriers made from earth materials to protect property. 

Building Bridges to the Future

While the lab is packed with excitement, every activity is meticulously aligned with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for Science, Math, Social Studies, and even Music. For instance, students exploring westward expansion by building bridges are meeting both Science and Social Studies standards.

We are incredibly grateful for this partnership and for the opportunity to provide our students with the immersive experiences they need to succeed in the 21st century.

Let’s get ready to build, test, and innovate, Waco!