Junior Engineer Enrichment Class Jump Starts STEM Learning

One of AEF’s favorite STEM after school enrichment classes in the fall of 2025 was Junior Engineer – described as a hands-on adventure in engineering and space exploration. Kids dove into projects –  like aviation, space science, and engineering. From building models of the solar system to experimenting with compass headings, students learned by doing—building, asking questions, and testing real-world engineering concepts. The program was designed to inspire the next generation of innovators, showing kids that they have what it takes to become future engineers, scientists, and problem-solvers.

The class was held at Ruby Bridges school (where 16 students received AEF needs-based scholarships in the fall, of which 6 were for STEM classes). In each Junior Engineer class, kids had the opportunity to build Junior Engineer STEM kits for about half the class and then do guided experiments for the other half of the class. Students built foam airplanes and tested how the control surfaces on the wings and tail impact the movement of the airplane. They built a magnetic compass with a navigation bezel, and learned about magnets and how to properly use a compass. They constructed Balloon-Copters – mini helicopters powered by air and a balloon rather than fuel and an engine. Students also learned about clockwise and counterclockwise rotation and experimented with the balloon-copters taking flight. Finally, the class built a solar-powered Mars Rover and learned about vibration and friction as they tested the Rovers on different surfaces outdoors. The remaining weeks remaining focused on space and our solar system.

This program was taught by Amisha Prakash, a mechanical engineer with 20 years of experience working on planes, helicopters, rockets, and drones in the aerospace industry. As a seasoned professional, a mom of two, and an Alameda resident, Amisha brought an mix of technical expertise and a passion for making STEM fun and accessible for kids.  Amisha started Junior Engineer (www.junior-engineer.com) making re-usable STEM kits that teach children about engineering concepts and aerospace through hands-on building and fun experiments.