Mobile Engineering Education Lab
The ME2L program trains University engineering students to provide engaging activities to foster curiosity about STEM topics. Our engineering students visit Washoe County School District classrooms and facilitate 1-hour grade-appropriate, interactive lessons for kindergarten through fifth grade. See our gallery below for photos of ME2L in action.
Thank you to all of our past teachers and students for participating in our Mobile Engineering Education Lab! We visited 292 K-5 classrooms and taught 6,674 elementary students in the 2025-2026 school year.
What ME2L offers
- Introduction to engineering presentation: University engineering students explain what it’s like to be an engineering student and discuss the different types of engineering disciplines.
- High-quality instruction: Content is developed by University engineering students.
- Hands-on activity: Participants get to conduct an engineering experiment.
ME²L availability and sign-ups
Due to limited availability of time slots, schools will be allowed four time slots per semester. Classes are allowed to combine with other classes (for example, a third-grade class with another third-grade class). Our lessons can accommodate groups of up to 40.
To sign your class up for an ME2L lesson, please use the ME2L lesson registration link. Lessons are offered from September through April.
Current lessons
- Blow That House Down!
Once upon a time, in a kindergarten classroom not too far away, students learned about structural engineering by building a home strong enough to stand against the Big Bad Wolf. In this fairy tale-inspired engineering challenge, students learn about the duties of civil engineers and gain an understanding of the engineering design process through the planning, creation, testing and modification of structures. - Little Forces, Big Moves!
Kindergarteners step into the shoes of a mechanical engineer as they explore forces and motion! Using push and pull factors, kindergarteners will learn about Newton’s second law of motion by creating ramps and testing factors that impact speed. Students will act as mechanical engineers, using the engineering design process to build critical thinking skills through hands-on testing.
- Let’s Talk About Sound
In this lesson, first-graders become electrical engineers-in-training, learning about the concepts of sounds and sound waves. Students will explore vibrations and sound waves to craft a new form of communication, experiment with different materials, and test how tension and length affect sound. They’ll learn how engineers design systems to help people communicate. Using the engineering design process, students will test, tweak, and redesign their invention to create the clearest connection possible. - Lights, Camera, Engineer!
First-graders will become material science engineers on a mission to harness the power of light. Students will explore how light helps us see, how cameras capture light, and how solar-powered cars transform sunlight into motion. Through the engineering design process, students investigate which materials are best at reflecting, absorbing or letting light through, and they’ll use that knowledge to test a vehicle that can harness light, just like the scientists and engineers shaping the future of energy.
- A Monster of a Problem
Disaster has struck the town of Smallville: a mischievous monster has been smashing buildings and causing chaos! Luckily, a team of second-grade materials science engineers is on the case. In this engineering challenge, students investigate the properties of everyday materials to design and test monster-resistant solutions that can protect the town. Using the engineering design process, students brainstorm, prototype and test their ideas, learning that different materials have different uses depending on the purpose of a structure or invention. - Engineering for Healing
Today’s challenge: a friend has taken a tumble and hurt his arm – and it’s up to a team of second-grade biomedical engineers to help him heal. This lesson using a model arm allows students to explore the world of medical design by creating and testing arm casts. They’ll investigate the properties of materials (Is it stiff? Is it flexible? Will it hold? Is it absorbent?) and use the engineering design process to craft a supportive, lightweight and comfortable solution to protect a broken arm. As they test their designs and make improvements, students learn how real engineers design medical tools that keep people safe and help them heal. - Lift Off! The Weight of Flight
In this hands-on lesson, 2nd graders become aerospace engineers as they design, build, and test their own paper airplanes. Students explore how engineers use the forces of flight—lift, thrust, drag, and gravity—to make aircraft fly. Through materials design testing and flights, students discover how simple changes in materials can impact performance, while sparking curiosity about the science and engineering behind real airplanes.
- Destination: Space!
In this high-flying design challenge, third-grade students become aerospace engineers, designing and launching their own rockets! Using the engineering design process, students explore how shape, stability and force affect flight. After building their rockets, they’ll test them using a safe launch system. It’s a hands-on journey into thrust, gravity and trajectory that is perfect for future space explorers. - Drop Zone Engineering
Students take to the skies, designing and testing a working parachute system. Along the way, they’ll explore the forces of gravity and air resistance and apply their knowledge to protect an “astronaut” in free fall. Using the engineering design process, students test their parachute prototypes for a safe, gentle landing. Slower can sometimes mean smarter in aerospace engineering! - Code a Robot
Beep boop! In this hands-on lesson, students become robot wranglers and code commanders, using the engineering design process to program a real robot to complete a maze challenge. As computer science engineers, they’ll brainstorm, debug and redesign their code, learning that even robots need a little trial and error before they follow orders. - Force Fighters
The ground is shaking, and our city needs help! In this civil engineering challenge, third-graders become community problem-solvers, designing structures that resist the force of earthquakes using the engineering design process. With a focus on safety and teamwork, the class works together to build a model city that can withstand a simulated quake. Students will explore how civil engineers use materials, shapes, supports, and even AI to protect buildings and lives when the ground rumbles. - Loopy Flight Challenge
In this exciting lesson, students take on the role of aerospace engineers as they design and launch hoop gliders to reveal the science behind flight! By experimenting with different designs, students see how the forces of thrust, drag, lift, and gravity work together to create motion. This hands-on activity builds curiosity about aerospace engineering while giving students a fun way to explore how engineers solve real-world challenges of flight.
- Force Fighters
The ground is shaking, and our city needs help! In this civil engineering challenge, fourth-graders become community problem-solvers, designing earthquake-resistant structures using the engineering design process and knowledge of tectonic forces. With a focus on safety and teamwork, the class works together to build a model city that can withstand a simulated quake. Students will explore how civil engineers use materials, shapes, supports, and even AI to protect buildings and lives when the ground rumbles. - Zip Line Rescue
There’s a daring rescue in progress, and only fourth-grade engineers can save the day! In this fast-paced, hands-on lesson, students design and test a working zip line system to safely transport a passenger to safety. Using the engineering design process, students explore force, gravity, energy transfer and friction as they build prototypes, refine their designs and problem-solve like real mechanical engineers. - Code a Robot
Beep boop! In this hands-on lesson, students become robot wranglers and code commanders, using the engineering design process to program a real robot to complete a maze challenge. As computer science engineers, they’ll brainstorm, debug and redesign their code, learning that even robots need a little trial and error before they follow orders. - Flying on Air
What keeps a plane in the air? Your inquisitive will students become Aerospace Engineers in this hands-on lesson as they apply the engineering design process to create a glider that flies as far as possible! While applying their newfound knowledge about how wing shape affects airspeed and energy transfer, students create their very own gliders and improve on wing design. Discover how thrust, drag, lift, and gravity work together to make real planes fly!
- Solar S’Mores!
In this sunny lesson, fifth-graders become renewable energy engineers, using the power of light to build solar ovens that can cook delicious s’mores. Through hands-on design and experimentation, students explore how solar energy works; learn about clean, renewable power; and discover how engineers harness sunlight to solve real-world problems. It’s a fun, sweet and science-packed way to shine a light on our energy future! This lesson is best during September, October, and April; but is available year-round per request. - Recipe for Reactions
Mix, fizz, and foam your way into the world of chemical engineering! In this hands-on lesson, 5th graders become junior chemical engineers as they explore the science behind chemical reactions. Using safe, everyday materials, students experiment with bubbling mixtures, surprising color changes, and fizzy eruptions—learning how engineers use chemistry to solve real-world problems. - Code a Robot
Beep boop! In this hands-on lesson, students become robot wranglers and code commanders, using the engineering design process to program a real robot to complete a maze challenge. As computer science engineers, they’ll brainstorm, debug and redesign their code, learning that even robots need a little trial and error before they follow orders. - Force Fighters
The ground is shaking, and our city needs help! In this civil engineering challenge, fifth graders become community problem-solvers, designing earthquake-resistant structures using the engineering design process and knowledge of tectonic forces. With a focus on safety and teamwork, the class works together to build a model city that can withstand a simulated quake. Students will explore how civil engineers use materials, shapes, supports, and even AI to protect buildings and lives when the ground rumbles. - Wildfire Detectives
In this lesson, 5th graders step into the shoes of environmental engineers to investigate why wildfires release smoke and harmful emissions into the air. Through hands-on experiments and design challenges, students explore the impact of these emissions on people and the environment, and discovering the 'why' behind smoke.
ME²L in action
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Future Material Science Engineers brainstorm, prototype and test their ideas. -
Inspiring young learners to explore engineering, one experiment at a time! -
Future Biomedical Engineers empathetically test material properties of casts. -
Our thoughtful STEMbassadors guide students through engineering investigations.
Support
All of our K-12 outreach programs are made possible through the generous support of The Mallory Foundation and Nevada Gold Mines. We appreciate their continued support.
Interested in supporting Engineering? Please visit the Engineering support page.