The Dominguez Dream in Memory of H. Frank Dominguez

STEAM Career Spotlight: Website & App Designer

Every website you visit and every app you use started with a designer's idea.

Website and app designers combine creativity, technology, and problem-solving to create digital experiences that are easy to use, visually appealing, and accessible to people around the world. From educational platforms and online stores to mobile apps and social media, their work shapes how we interact with technology every day.

Interested in this career? Start by learning the basics of design, exploring tools like Figma or Adobe XD, building your own projects, and developing a portfolio that showcases your creativity and technical skills.

Website and app design is a growing field that offers opportunities to make a real impact through technology and innovation.

STEAM Experiment: Water Filtration Challenge

Can you turn dirty water into cleaner water using everyday materials?

In this hands-on STEAM experiment, young scientists and engineers build their own water filter and discover how different materials work together to remove dirt and particles from water.

Materials (use what you have available):
• Empty plastic bottle
• Small rocks or gravel
• Sand
• Activated charcoal (optional)
• Cotton balls
• Coffee filters (optional)
• Dirty water
• Clear cup or container

You do not need every material listed above. Try using the materials you have available and compare how different filter designs affect the results.

Steps:

Cut a plastic bottle and turn the top upside down.
Place a coffee filter or cotton balls at the bottom.
Add layers of available materials such as charcoal, sand, and rocks.
Slowly pour dirty water into the filter.
Collect the filtered water in a clear cup.
Observe and compare the results.

Where can you find these materials?
Most items can be found at home, in your backyard, at grocery stores, craft stores, garden centers, pet stores (aquarium charcoal), or hardware stores.

Challenge Question:
Which combination of materials worked best? How could you improve your filter design?

Important:
Your filtered water may look much cleaner than it did before, but it is still not safe to drink. This experiment removes some dirt and particles, but it does not remove all bacteria, viruses, or other contaminants that can make water unsafe.

STEAM Career Spotlight: Civil Engineer

Have you ever wondered who designs the roads, bridges, water systems, and transportation networks that communities rely on every day?

Civil engineers use science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics to plan, build, and improve the infrastructure that keeps our world connected. Their work helps create safer roads, stronger bridges, reliable water systems, and more sustainable communities.

Becoming a civil engineer typically involves building strong skills in math and science, earning a degree in civil engineering, gaining hands-on experience through internships and projects, and working toward professional engineering licensure.

If you enjoy solving problems, designing solutions, and making a lasting impact on the world around you, civil engineering may be a career worth exploring.

Marie Curie changed the world through curiosity, courage, and discovery.

As a physicist and chemist, she helped uncover the science of radioactivity and became the first woman to win a Nobel Prize. She also became the first person to win two Nobel Prizes, showing generations of students that determination and learning can open new doors.

Her work helped shape medicine, scientific research, and the future of STEAM. More than that, her story reminds us that asking questions, working hard, and staying curious can lead to discoveries that make a real difference.

In our History of STEAM series, we celebrate trailblazers like Marie Curie whose ideas still inspire young scientists, problem-solvers, and dreamers today.

What is something you are curious to learn more about?

Dive into the world of marine biology and discover how STEAM helps us explore, understand, and protect our oceans. From studying coral reefs and marine animals to using advanced technology for underwater research, marine biologists combine science, creativity, innovation, and problem-solving to make a real impact on our planet.

Marine biology is more than studying sea life. It connects every part of STEAM:
Science helps researchers understand ecosystems and ocean health.
Technology powers underwater cameras, drones, and tracking systems.
Engineering creates tools and equipment for ocean exploration.
Art helps communicate discoveries through photography, illustration, and storytelling.
Math helps scientists analyze data and identify patterns in the environment.

Every discovery begins with curiosity. Whether exploring tide pools, protecting endangered species, or researching deep-sea ecosystems, marine biologists help shape a better future for our oceans and our world.

What ocean animal would you want to study most?

The invention of the airplane changed the world forever.

When Orville and Wilbur Wright achieved the first successful powered flight in 1903, they proved that big ideas can become reality through curiosity, creativity, and persistence. Their work was not just about building a flying machine. It was about asking questions, testing new ideas, solving problems, and refusing to give up.

The Wright brothers used science to study air and motion, technology to build new tools, engineering to design and improve their aircraft, art to sketch and imagine possibilities, and math to measure and refine their work. Their story is a powerful reminder that STEAM can help turn imagination into innovation.

From one short flight came a future filled with new possibilities.

What do you think people can create when they combine curiosity and determination?

Cybersecurity analysts help protect the digital world we rely on every day. From keeping personal information safe to defending schools, businesses, and communities from online threats, this career shows how technology can make a real difference.

It is a path for curious minds who enjoy problem solving, critical thinking, and using digital tools to help others. Careers in STEAM are not just about learning new skills. They are about building solutions that keep people safe and connected.

At Dominguez Dream Academy, we believe students should have the opportunity to explore careers that turn curiosity into impact. Cybersecurity is one powerful example of how STEAM can open doors to a meaningful future.

Create your own sundial and explore how people told time long before clocks and phones. Using simple materials and the power of the sun, this hands-on STEAM challenge helps you observe patterns, think critically, and learn by doing.

All you need is a paper plate, a pencil or stick, something to hold it in place, and a sunny spot. Mark the shadow throughout the day and watch how it moves as the sun changes position in the sky.

This activity connects science, math, and creativity in a fun and meaningful way. It is a great reminder that innovation often starts with simple observations.

Save this post to try it later and share it with someone who loves hands-on learning.

Rocks, fossils, mountains, and caves all tell a story and geologists help us uncover it. Geologists study the Earth to better understand how our planet changes over time, from volcanoes and earthquakes to natural resources and landforms. Their work helps protect communities, care for the environment, and reveal the history hidden beneath our feet.

A career in geology is perfect for curious minds who love nature, discovery, and science in action. Whether exploring rocky landscapes, studying minerals, or asking big questions about how the Earth works, geologists turn observation into understanding.

At Dominguez Dream Academy, we love showing students how STEAM can connect curiosity to real world careers and opportunities.