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Thoughtfully Sustainable

Something exciting is coming this summer…

Published about 2 months ago • 1 min read

The Conscious Classroom

Simple, sustainable STEM ideas that reduce waste, spark curiosity, and inspire young minds.

Hi Reader,

I’ve been working on something behind the scenes that I’m so excited to finally share…

If you know me, you know I’m always saving things like toilet paper rolls, cereal boxes, and shoeboxes for projects. But lately… that collection has grown exponentially. Friends and family have even started saving them for me too.

But it’s all for a good reason.

This July, I’ll be hosting a hands-on Summer STEM Camp series right here in Central PA — built around one of my favorite ways to teach: using everyday materials to explore real science through the lens of sustainability.

Think: building, experimenting, creating…

From composting and bridge design to solar energy and earthquake engineering.

If you’re local, this is such a fun opportunity for your kids to dive into STEM in a way that’s creative, engaging, and actually sticks. Each session is hands-on, and kids will head home with projects they’ve built themselves.

📍 Tuesday mornings in July
📍 Source The Space, New Cumberland, PA

Spots are limited, and registration opens in less than a week…

If you’re not local — I’d still love for you to take a peek. This series is a reflection of how I approach STEM learning, and I’ll be sharing more ideas and activities inspired by these sessions that you can absolutely try at home or in your classroom.

I can’t wait to meet so many of your kids this summer 💛

Tried, Tested, and Loved

A few things that we’ve been using and loving lately…

Engineering Books for Kids

Picture books are one of my favorite ways to introduce kids to STEM concepts in a fun and meaningful way. Here is a short list that I’ve integrated into our home.

This is my Bookshop list, which supports independent bookstores.

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Keats & Co Coffee

I recently discovered Keats & Co coffee, and it’s quickly become a favorite. It tastes great and adds a little good to my daily routine—100% of the profits from every cup go toward funding long-term tuberculosis treatment in Lesotho. Always love finding brands that align with making a positive impact.

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Thanks for being here,

— Jessica

Founder of Thoughtfully Sustainable​
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Thoughtfully Sustainable

by Jessica Purcell

Are you a parent or teacher that’s looking to integrate science and sustainability concepts into your learners’ lives? I’m here to help! My name is Jessica and I’m a science teacher and mom that creates hands-on sustainability and STEM lessons for grades K-8 to cultivate critical thinking skills and foster a deeper appreciation for the natural world.

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