In 1991, Intel Corporation came to a group of elementary teachers in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, and challenged them to improve, with Intel's help, their teaching of math and science.

In 1994, after becoming a self-sufficient organization providing science kits to local schools, the Center became a non-profit corporation.

Now the Center provides educational materials to people all over the world.

New Mexico
• Art and Science of Balloons**
• Ecosystems of the Southwest
• Every Drop Counts - Water Education
• New Mexico Science Kits

Classrooms
• Art Kits
• Hands-On Science Kits
• Math Manipulatives
• Math Kits
• New Mexico Science Kits

Schools
• Family Math
• Hands-On Science Kits
• Math Fun for Families of Young Children
• Math Explorer
• Science Explorer for Families

After School
• Multicultural Games
• Multicultural Math Mini-kits**
• Scence and Math Kits for Groups

Special Programs
• Ecosystems of the Southwest
• Every Drop Counts - Water Education
• Proyecto Futuro - Bilingual Science kits in Life, Earth, and Physical Science

Everyone
• Art and Science of Balloons**
• Games People Played
• Native American Games and Toys**

Groups
• Family Math
• Math Fun for Families of Young Children
• Math Explorer
• Multicultural Games
• Science Explorer for Groups

Museums
• Games People Played
• Native American Games and Toys**


Training

Site Map

**indicates products suitable for homeschoolers

A Group of Teachers and a Big Idea

The Center for Hands-On Learning in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, began in 1991 under a grant from Intel Corporation. A group of teachers in the elementary schools were interested in doing a better job teaching science but were tired of gathering, buying, and begging for materials. We also knew that teaching science was important but that reading a textbook and answering the questions at the end wasn't really science. With Intel's support and encouragement, this group of teachers built and distributed to five local schools kits that included everything needed to teach a complete unit of science.

Because we were all teachers, we knew the difficulties (and great rewards) of teaching hands-on science and that made our materials very popular. After many requests from other teachers and schools to use our materials, we incorporated in 1994 as a non-profit corporation. Our products are now in use all over the country. We continue to expand because, as teachers, we know the challenges of teaching and we make our decisions based on that knowledge and experience.

From our beginnings in the back of a classroom, we now have an entire warehouse. Please note, this photo was taken just after we moved in. We haven't seen this much floor in years!

Some of our partners