Most people put vacation destinations and paint colors on their vision boards. Naomi Meredith put a STEM trailer on hers.
And not just any trailer—one packed with engineering challenges, build‑it-yourself activities, and all the spark that made her Colorado STEM classroom on wheels legendary. While it took a few years and some hard work, Naomi was able to turn her vision-board dream into a fully functioning mobile STEM space that now rolls up to schools, events, and anywhere kids are ready to tinker.
In this Q&A, Naomi shares the story behind her idea and the joy of teaching STEM wherever the road takes her. You can also follow Naomi on her Instagram.
Q: How did you come up with the idea for a mobile STEM classroom?
I remember when I was in the earlier days of being a K–5 STEM teacher, and I was taking an online training where there was a makerspace on wheels as an example. I thought this was such a neat idea to bring more STEM experiences to kids in the community. This is something I knew I wanted to do for myself one day, so it was on my vision board since January 2020. Then in summer of 2024 when I was browsing Facebook Marketplace, I found the trailer to turn my dream into a reality. (You can see the process for yourself on Instagram right here.)
Q: What was the process like to convert the trailer into a STEM classroom?
While I was looking at different options to have a mobile STEM classroom, I started by looking at buses. I did see a trailer that kept popping up, but I just thought a bus would be easier since you could turn the key and be on your way. (Side note: I am not driving kids in this classroom—I arrive to the site and stay in one place.)
The first bus I saw online looked so perfect, and it was hot pink, which is my main brand color. But it was run-down. The next bus I saw had almost 400,000 miles on it and wouldn’t even shift out of park. While I kept searching for buses, this little trailer kept popping up. It was so cute and was also used as a mobile fashion boutique. But at the time, I didn’t really have a car to pull the trailer.
In the fall, this trailer was still online and I thought to myself, You know what, it doesn’t hurt to look! When I walked into the space, I had chills and I almost cried. It had beautiful flooring and shelving and a cute shape and paint job, so all it needed was the “classroom” part. I knew right then and there the trailer was what I was supposed to have as a mobile STEM classroom.
Q: How long did it take to put together?
The actual setup of the inside of the trailer wasn’t difficult at all. It was a lot of fun! The whole space needed a fresh coat of paint, and then I could add the fun stuff. There is a LEGO wall that lines the perimeter around the countertops that students can build on. One wall is set up with an entire whiteboard sticker. There is a metal pegboard that can be used for storing supplies or even magnet activities. My sister was so sweet and sewed curtains for me to hang up. I love them! I also figured out a way to keep supplies I regularly use displayed on the top shelf but not fall all over the place by attaching Velcro to the bottom of the buckets. It works out great!
Q: Did you come across any challenges?
To be honest, the hardest part about having this mobile STEM classroom trailer has been learning how to hook it up and drive it. The attaching and detaching to my car, I got that down very quickly. I have to store the trailer in a parking space since I’m not allowed to keep it in my neighborhood. The first time I tried backing up my trailer into its spot, I could not do it at all and I was crying. It was so confusing! I called my husband to help me, but from that day on, I was determined to get it on my own. Now I can back it up and unhook it from my car in less than 5 minutes.
Q: What activities or lessons do you teach in the trailer?
It’s been so fun teaching in this space. It’s like playing school when you are a kid, but this time I am really teaching and they are real kids, not stuffed animals. It’s such a happy space. When I am teaching elementary groups, I have one main topic that I center my lessons around and either have one big project we are working on during our time together, or a variety of STEM stations that connect together about the topic. So far, everything has been screen-free and electronics-free in terms of lessons, though I do have electricity and a projector I can use in my space. I teach a lot of hands-on, makerspace-style lessons that are standards-based.
Q: Do you have any favorite projects to share?
A big favorite of the kids was when we made paper-plate roller coasters. It was so cool that the kids all had enough room to build, whether they were in a stand-up or sit-down spot, and be able to test their design. I’ve also branched into toddler and preschool STEM, and that’s been a blast to teach. Again, I will plan around one topic, read a story, have a group movement game or experiment, then a variety of STEM stations they can move through freely. I also complete a craft with them, a few kids at a time, that they get to take home. Out of all the lessons, I think the spider lesson was my favorite one to plan.
Q: How do kids react when they see the trailer for the first time?
The kids are always so cute and excited when I pull up to my trailer. They often think it’s a food truck, which makes sense. No one in my area is pulling around a classroom like me! I have one group I teach almost biweekly, and I noticed the countertops were too tall for them to access. I ended up buying a handful of wooden step stools they could use, and that made their day. They all climbed on top of them and they were yelling, “We can see everything! We like your curtains!” One little girl also told her mom that she needs her own mobile STEM classroom trailer so she can do more experiments at home. Everyone—kids and adults—tells me how cute it is, which I totally agree with. That’s my style!
Q: How far do you travel with the trailer, and how often do you use it?
I am so lucky to live in an area where there are a lot of places I can easily take my trailer. This is always something I am building up as well in terms of local connections. Currently, I don’t drive more than 15 to 20 minutes away from my home base. I currently meet up with homeschool groups either at a local park or their homes. I have an at-home daycare that I pull up to as well. While I do teach after-school clubs, I have yet to bring my trailer, which I hope to do this summer.
Q: What impact have you seen on students and families because of this mobile classroom?
What’s been amazing about this trailer is that it feels like a classroom but in a non-traditional way, which the parents and people I work with love. They really value my experience being in the classroom over a decade and my M.Ed. in STEM Leadership. They like how I’ve been able to combine those things into my business. Parents also love how it’s a different and creative experience for their kids but they are still actively learning lessons in a hands-on way. Likewise parents enjoy the convenience of me coming to them. I can often bring messy projects since I’m outside. It’s something they don’t necessarily have to do at home.
Q: What advice would you give to other educators who want to create something similar?
The biggest thing I would say is to be patient if this is something you want to do. I had this dream for almost five years before it started to take shape, and it’s still evolving. I also need to tell myself to be patient because there are things with the trailer that I need to figure out or try.
Your education experience is such an asset to this experience, but you also need to have a business mindset to put it into action. For scheduling and pricing the program, I really have to think through that process. Definitely do your research before jumping in. It’s so much fun to have, but it’s not always glamorous. With any business, it can be a long game, especially building up your local partnerships and connections.
Q: Anything else we should know?
Even if you don’t have a fancy trailer like mine, you can still teach programs in your community. Try it to see if you like that type of schedule. That’s where I started and still continue to do, even without the trailer. This will help you build up the behind-the-scenes organization for what you will also need when having a mobile classroom. It will also help you build up your connections and clientele and try different types of lessons.
Plus, encourage a love of STEM in your classroom with these free posters.
