The following blog was written by Mrs. Laura McGuire, an EC Teacher at Carson High School. In addition to teaching, she is also a member of the school data team.
As a self-proclaimed nerd and co-teacher, I feel fortunate to spend most of my time in Science classrooms with students of all abilities. I get to work with them, help them discover, facilitate group projects, and support students who may not have much support otherwise. Some of my favorite moments in the classroom are when students ask questions. With some of the topics that we discuss, there’s really no telling what will be asked, but more often than not, the questions are on-topic and lead to great teachable moments. All children are born with a natural curiosity that knows no bounds; only as we age do we begin to lose the natural curiosity that is so important to scientific discovery and the advancement of human civilization. Where would be without those curious people who wondered…what if? In a science classroom, I get to see students’ natural curiosity re-emerge as we discuss all types of topics. On any given day you may walk into a science classroom at JCHS and hear questions such as as why do we need billions of bacteria to live in our gut to keep us healthy, how is it possible to be born with two different colored eyes, am I more likely to get cancer because my mom/dad/grandma/grandpa had it, how does nuclear fusion work to create energy, do mosquitoes transmit diseases other than malaria, why is it important to recycle?
The other day I watched a student throw an empty plastic bottle into the trashcan and walk away. This happens countless times a day, I’m sure. The next thing that happened is most likely not a common occurrence in most high school classrooms; the student immediately turned right back around, got the bottle out, and put it in the recycling bin. Why do I mention this? Well, it’s all about relevance. This student obviously knows and understands something about science and how we as humans impact our world by our actions otherwise they would not have made the effort to change their action.
As science teachers, we are responsible for educating our students on many topics such as what it means to be a living thing, how do we inherit traits, what are the different types of energy and why are they important, how does matter change from one state to another, what are cells and what is all the “stuff” inside of them, and how do our actions impact others living on this earth now and in future generations?
Next Wednesday, April 22nd, is Earth Day. A day that has been set aside to celebrate the amazing, intricate, and beautiful planet that we live on, and also to inform others about the need to take care of our world. When an occurrence like the one described above occurs in one high school classroom in one tiny corner of our world, it is worth a small celebration. It is a victory for science teachers, educators, activists, and all living things because obviously we are our students are learning and understanding why it is important to do our part in maintaining the integrity and valuable resources of our earth. No doubt, this student will continue to recycle, and will probably take the time to inform others about the importance of habits that conserve resources. As part of the curriculum, we have discussed and completed projects on alternative energy, ecosystems, global climate change, ecological footprints, carbon emissions, and sustainability. Throughout these lessons the message has been received by our students that our actions as individuals are important, and worthy of the effort that it takes to make changes and not do things the way they’ve always been done just because it’s easier.
John Muir was one of the first advocates for preservation of wilderness and wrote many books about his travels throughout the western part of our country. He understood that in nature, we begin to see how humans are connected to the natural world, and we must hold onto our connection to the natural world in order to remember its importance and not destroy the very things that allow us to thrive. He said “When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world.” This is what we hope our students understand. That everything we learn in class is related to our lives, and is relevant to our world because we are a part, a very important part, of our tiny piece of our solar system, Earth. We have the intelligence and responsibility to choose our actions, act responsibly, and educate others. So yes, it was one simple plastic bottle being put in the recycle bin instead of the trashcan, but is that all it was? I say no; it is so much more.
I hope everyone enjoys Earth Day next week; please take some time to inform others about small changes that can be made in our own lives that are important to preserving the health of our planet for us and all creatures big and small. Or, you may want to take that day as opportunity as ask questions or seek information about how you may make changes to your lifestyle that will allow you to assist in the preservation of our natural resources and take accountability for what the future holds.
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