Mobile STEM lab sparks curiosity, creativity at EJ Moss

Published 5:30 am Friday, February 13, 2026

LINDALE — Fifth graders at Lindale ISD’s EJ Moss Intermediate dove into hands-on engineering challenges this week as the Texas Mobile STEM Lab bus rolled onto campus. Explorer 7, Learning Undefeated’s newest mobile lab, features touchscreen workstations and colorful graphics, giving students real-world STEM experiences.

“The objective is really to connect what the students are learning in class to real-world problem-solving,” said Stephen Hitt, assistant principal at EJ Moss. “It’s hands-on, it’s relevant, and the kids get to see the science in action.”

The Texas Mobile STEM Lab, operated by nonprofit Learning Undefeated and funded by the Texas Education Agency, gives students in kindergarten through eighth grade a chance to explore circuits, robotics, and engineering design through hands-on challenges.

“We want them to know that if they put forth effort, and they try, and they’re curious and engaged, they can do anything they put their mind to,” said Ariel Steele, Education Outreach Coordinator with Learning Undefeated.

The activities are designed to align with Texas Essentially Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) and incorporate real-world constraints, like limited budgets to help students build problem-solving and critical thinking skills.

On one of the days, the students worked on circuits inside the lab, experimenting with both parallel and series setups to make a Wiggle-Bot light up, buzz, and wiggle. 

To complete the circuit project, students were given a set amount of “money” to spend on materials, including tape, plastic cups, and other craft supplies. They had to plan their purchases carefully, then build, test, and adjust their Wiggle-Bot to meet their challenge – learning how to balance creativity with limited resources, just like engineers do in the real world.

“Whether you work in science, engineering, or other fields, you have to work within a budget,” Hitt said. “This gives students that extra real-world experience.”

According to Steele, the activity challenged students to test, adjust, and try again, connecting the concepts they learned in class to real-world problem solving.

“Seeing them move from being less confident to more confident in themselves is the best reward,” she said.

Hitt said the response from students and teachers has been overwhelmingly positive.

“It’s hands-on, it’s relevant, and the kids get to see the science in action,” he said, adding that the program helps bridge classroom lessons to practical applications in science and engineering.

Each of the nine Texas Mobile STEM Labs follows a similar setup but travels to different regions across Texas – at no cost to the schools. This year, EJ Moss was one of hundreds of schools chosen to host the lab, giving fifth graders and teachers the chance to experience immersive, hands-on STEM lessons that go beyond the textbook.

“A lot of myths about engineering aren’t really stumbling blocks,” Steele said. “Many students think you have to be really good at math or have special degrees, but we want them to know that curiosity and effort can take them far.”