Hickson Teaches
Ms. Hickson cartoon portrait

#blkchickmagic

Hi, I'm Ms. Hickson!

I'm a science teacher

I turn science into play. When learning feels like a game, every kid can win.

"Everything in learning should be as Easy as Play!"

10+years of top TVAAS (Level 4 and 5)
95Tennessee counties reached by Easy as Play
4games to play right on this card
EVERYTHINGcan be gamified

My Highlight Reel

Coming soon! A 1 to 2 minute show of my games, my kids at play, and my wins.

Why Schools Call Me

Dedicated science teacher

  • 7th grade science
  • Robertsville Middle School
  • Every standard: physical, life, earth and space, engineering
  • All kids can succeed with opportunity and resources

Level 4 and 5 TVAAS for 10+ years

Creative Director
Easy as Play

  • UT Knoxville science outreach
  • Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
  • Hands-on, play-based science for whole schools

Every Tennessee county, and beyond

Biology in a Box Leader

  • Helped lead UT's Biology in a Box
  • Carried it on after founder Dr. Susan Riechert retired
  • Real skulls, fossils and feathers sent to classrooms

From science boxes to science games

Curriculum Designer

  • Science play packs built with real scientists
  • Units on moss, birds and beetles, ready to teach
  • Game-based reviews like Turkey Tracks and Spider Hunter

EVERYTHING can be gamified

Curriculum I Built

Whole units, ready to teach. Each one lives in its own Google Classroom. Swipe, then tap to step inside.

Moss in a petri dish with a hand lens

What the Moss

A hands-on science play pack made with the Budke Lab at UT Knoxville. Built for grades 5 to 8 and shared with rural Tennessee communities.

Singing bird with binoculars and a microphone

Birds of a Feather

Made with the Dr. Mike Harvey Group and Easy as Play. Scholars explore bird song, learn all about birds and meet STEM careers in animal behavior.

Dung beetle rolling its ball

Beetlemania

A play pack made with the Sheldon Lab at UT Knoxville. Kids dig into the amazing world of dung beetles!

And I play well with others. I build side by side with UT scientists, school coaches, teachers, and the kids themselves.

My Creations: Games

Swipe, then tap to play the real game.

โญ My best build

Turkey Tracks

A whole Thanksgiving science arcade: Fruit Slice, Corn Maze Chase, hidden object hunts, Turkey Trot, a Prize Store, and live team battles on the projector.

Spider Hunter

Hunt like a real spider scientist and learn how spiders live. A nod to UT spider scientist Dr. Susan Riechert.

Autumn Waffles Knows

Times tables, made sweet. Built from a promise to a future veterinarian.

Theo the Magnificent

A tiny arcade for preschoolers: zoo animals, shapes, letters and sight words.

Breathe Easy

Two science arcades from the Smoky Mountains, with real pollen pictures from Dr. Nancy Lei's lab at UT. Pick a door and play!

Websites and Apps I Build

From idea to live link, fast. Phones, tablets and projectors.

Videos I Make

Tap any video to watch it right here.

My Playlist

Songs that sound like me: praise, neo-soul and pure joy. The music keeps playing while you look around.

How do you feel today? Tap one and I'll pick a song!

Now playing

Song

Artist

Song 1 of 18

    Build a Game With Me!

    Welcome to the Game Lab! Make 5 picks and watch your game come alive. Then play it for real.

    1. 1
    2. 2
    3. 3
    4. 4
    5. 5
    GAME NAMEPick a subject and a hero!
    Level

    1 Pick a subject

    2 Pick a style

    3 Pick a hero

    4 Pick a game type

    5 Pick a power-up

    Book Ms. Hickson

    Let's Make Learning Play

    "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."Philippians 4:13

    Hickson Teaches ยท #blkchickmagic