Educator Spotlight: Meet Ms. Buikema!

As part of Lysol®’s Here for Healthy Schools initiative, The GIANT Room has collaborated with the Lysol® team to create the Minilabs Science Kit, a hands-on science and health program now being implemented by more than 15,000 educators across the country.

We know that the program’s real impact comes from the incredible teachers who bring these lessons to life with care, creativity, and deep expertise. That’s why we’re always thrilled to spotlight our partnering educators. We were especially excited when Candace Buikema, a teacher at Jefferson Elementary School in Dixon, IL, shared photos of her students’ projects from the first Minilabs module.

Candace’s students transformed their learning about microbes and the spread of germs into original trading cards, each featuring a unique microbe they imagined and designed themselves. They then took the activity a step further by building 3D models of their microbes. It’s inspiring to see how this hands-on approach engages students and helps them understand concepts that are normally invisible—like bacteria—in a tangible, meaningful way.

Inviting students to act as scientists empowers them to take ownership of their learning while building awareness of how to protect their own health and the health of others. In fact, 99% of last year’s participating teachers reported improved student hygiene habits and knowledge of germs, reinforcing the value of this work.

Candace shared more about her experience implementing the program:

“I found out about the Lysol Minilabs program last year. My students have enjoyed the high-quality hands-on projects while learning about healthy habits. Lysol has provided all needed stem materials: from Stickers to chenille stems, to creating their own sand timers. The online portion of the program is engaging and informative for my elementary kiddos. Making their own microbes- complete with trading cards, was a highlight of this semester's Science activity.  They wanted to take them home immediately, so I took several photos. We even created one named after our school nurse.  I appreciate the clear lesson plans, all needed materials, and fun activities for my students to use with the Lysol Minilabs.”

Below are some examples of the fabulous microbes that her students created in class!

This is Candace’s 29th year of teaching, and we are so grateful that she shared both her experience with the Minilabs program and her students’ imaginative work. Seeing how educators use these lessons in their classrooms is invaluable as we continue to strengthen and expand the program in the years ahead.

If you’re interested in sharing your own class’s projects or your experience implementing the Lysol® Minilabs lesson plans, we would love to hear from you! Reach out anytime at minilabssupport@thegiantroom.com.

If you’d like to bring the free Lysol® Science Minilabs program to your own classroom, you can explore lesson plans, slides, videos, printables, and professional development webinar recordings here, and you can also RSVP for our upcoming webinar.

There is nothing more powerful than a network of caring educators working together to change lives. Here at The GIANT Room, we are proud to partner with you—and honored to help connect and support this vibrant community of teachers.