Teaching Science and STEM On A Cart: Traveling Teacher Classroom Management Tips
What do you do when you have no dedicated classroom for teaching science or STEM? This happens often in elementary schools, since we're viewed as special-area teachers. It brings real challenges, but that doesn't mean you can't run engaging, hands-on activities — you just have to plan wisely. Here are the challenges I faced teaching science and STEM Lab from a cart, and what actually helped.
- Get a cart with a built-in sink and water container — pour out dirty water to avoid trips to the bathroom. (Downside: it gets heavy — more on that below.)
- Pre-fill plastic wash bottles, one per group. Most labs only need a little water, and the squirt-control makes measuring easy. Find them in science catalogs or the dollar store.
- Use disposable materials when washing isn't practical.
- Keep sanitizing wipes, hand wipes, and good paper towels stocked in the cart.
- Puppy pads are a lifesaver — lay one down per desk, and spills get absorbed. Kids just wrap it up and toss it.
Problem2: Every classroom is laid out differently — and it can change without warning.
- For K-1st, keep experiments individual or partner-based, done right at the desk. Little ones aren't ready for group projects, and the classroom teacher won't want desks rearranged.
- Ask the classroom teacher ahead of time what you can and can't move — the ability to use tables opens up options.
- Create stations for the topic, then place bins with all supplies wherever the classroom layout allows when you walk in. Kids like to stand for labs, so chairs rarely need to move; some stations can even go on the floor.
- Perform whole-class demos (like elephant toothpaste) for topics that might be too messy for school desks. Volunteers can come up, and students will enjoy the science show.
Problem 3: Passing time is short, and a full cart — especially with water — is heavy to move.
- Don't run an extensive lab with every class every week. Alternate: one grade gets a water lab, another gets something lighter (like paper airplanes) in the same week, then flip the following week.
- For 3rd-5th, alternate lab days and analysis days by grade so you're never running three full labs in the same week. For example: 3rd grade water lab, 4th grade paper airplanes, and 5th grade graphing and writing the lab report from last week's lab.
- Get one or two mobile utility carts for lighter, single-activity supplies, and save the big sink cart only for labs that truly need it.
Problem 4: You're a guest in someone else's room, so supply passing, safety, and cleanup all need a system.
- Teach science safety and procedures explicitly at the start of the year.
- Assign group roles (recorder, measurer, cleaner, gopher) on cards kept in envelopes — pick roles yourself when needed to head off arguments.
- Build a fast attention-getter: count down from 5 and say, "listening positions," or use a call-and-response like "Who ya gonna call?" → "Ghostbusters," or "Flat tire" → "Shhhhh."
Problem 5: You need a few minutes to set up and time for students to transition, but many classroom teachers don't pause their lesson until the second you walk in.
- Play a science song as you enter — it signals transition time without you saying a word.
- Post a question of the day on the cart for students to answer in their journals while you set up.
- Use science tickets: students fill in their name (and the question of the day) as you enter. The goal is to follow good lab practices and still have their ticket by class end.
If you're looking for classroom management resources that are all set and ready to use, you'll find these options flexible for traveling and classroom teachers.
Here are some labs that are easy to prepare, need only a few supplies, and promise a fun, stress-free experience. Perfect for days when you want to keep things simple. Just click on each image to see all the K-5 versions. They also work well for middle school students.
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