Engineering Mom Brings Infrastructure Home in a New Way

Like many moms during the pandemic in 2020, Akyiaa Morrison, P.E., had a new responsibility added to her shoulders — homeschooling her two children while continuing to grow a recently launched business (in her case, a consulting firm that builds and implements systems for civil engineers).

As she responded to this challenge, she noticed that while there were many engineering resources for children that focused on developing skills in computer, electrical, and mechanical engineering, there were few that promoted construction and civil engineering. Those that did were narrowly focused on either buildings or bridges.

Despite all going on in her life, she couldn’t look the other way.

“I’m a multi-passionate who has never fit neatly into any one box,” said Akyiaa, who was born in the twin island nation of Trinidad & Tobago, and has been intrigued by engineering and construction since she was a young girl. “When people ask why I do all that I do, I ask, ‘Why not?’”

So she tapped into her talent for teaching and passion for STEM, and developed a dynamic early-elementary homeschool curriculum enhanced with gamification that inspired a love of learning and curiosity in her children. Akyiaa started offering virtual group tutoring so other students could learn along with her children in real-time. After just two years, she taught almost 400 students.

Taking it a step farther, Akyiaa authored “Awesome Construction Activities for Kids," a resource for young children that promotes an understanding of construction and civil engineering beyond buildings and bridges. Drawing primarily on her experience in the field in transportation infrastructure, she identified activities that would be fun for children but also illustrate and impart critical engineering concepts. The book keeps kids on track with step-by-step instructions for building paper cup towers, railroads, and more. Along the journey, they’ll learn about the infrastructure that frames our neighborhoods while also discovering how science, technology, engineering, art and math all play important parts in construction.

“My work in early elementary education along with actively teaching my two children helped me hone my voice to explain advanced material in a fun and digestible way,” Akyiaa said. “Unlike other children’s books written by authors who may do some research related to that topic, I have real-world experience. I’ve been in the trenches, worked on jobsites and know firsthand which concepts — often not discussed — are significant for future engineers in the construction field.”

Book Info

Title: Awesome Construction Activities for Kids: 25 STEAM Construction Projects to Design and Build (Awesome STEAM Activities for Kids)
Author: Akyiaa Morrison, PE
Publisher: Rockridge Press (December 21, 2021)
ISBN-10: 1638074526
ISBN-13: 978-1638074526
Reading age: 5 - 10 years
Available on Amazon. You can even grab a free copy if you have a Kindle Unlimited membership.