Cassidy Cathors, a third grader at Broad Street Elementary School, pedals a stationary bicycle as fast as she can Monday at the power generating station in the mobile STEM Museum, which visited the school. STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.

The gym at Broad Street Elementary School on Monday was transformed into a hands-on museum, giving students bite-sized lessons in friction, energy, robotics and other areas.

The mobile STEM museum, for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, was assembled by Mobile Ed Productions of Redford, Mich., a group that offers a variety of programming for students. It also offers anti-bullying and science programs, which go all over the country.

“STEM is kind of a focal point for education right now,” said Mark Bishop, an administrator with the Mobile Ed STEM Museum.

He said with the financial cuts that schools across the country have had in recent years, it's difficult for students to take field trips to museums. But in this case, the museum comes to them.

Museum stations for students included a stationary bike they could ride to produce kinetic energy, which in turn, lit up a sign. Also, they could create tracks for robots and build obstacles that robots were designed to avoid.

“It's a sobering thought that this might be their only exposure to these kinds of things,” Bishop said.

Nine-year-old Joshua Zeigler said he's never been to the Pittsburgh Children's Museum or the Science Center, which are a few places that offer similar hands-on workshops for children.

Although he liked many of the activities at the mobile museum, trying out a pulley system with weights was probably his favorite. The fourth grader also enjoyed making an arch with foam pieces.

Not only is it a lesson in architecture, but teamwork, too. Joshua said he and five other students put the arch together.

“You can't build that arch by yourself,” Bishop said. “You must work together.”

Students in each grade level had a chance to experience the museum for 45 minutes. Many second graders were mesmerized with the stationary bike that lit up a display board.

“It goes fast like you're on a real bike,” said Olivia Kendrick, 7.

Fourth grade teacher Megan Ratica, who helped coordinate the visit, said everyone enjoyed the experience.