Sussex Academy honor students teach elementary science class

Members of the Sussex Academy Science National Honor Society traveled to the elementary campus March 21 to teach Don Ott’s fourth-grade classes about abiotic and biotic factors and how they interact in the environment.

SNHS President Alex DeEmedio and Vice President Brianna Sordi conducted the lesson with support from station leaders Jayani Boopathi, Caroline Spicer, Abby Whitcomb and Gabrielle Yablonski. Natalie Roblero Chavez, Bella Crisci, Melanie Felipe, Oliver Graves, Addison Lane, Kimia Langroudi, Grace Thomas and Jack Thomas served as station helpers.

First, student teachers did a warm up with the fourth graders, allowing them to discuss different examples of abiotic things and biotic organisms, before they conducted a short formal lesson.

“Then we broke the class up into four stations so they could further their understanding of the topic in small groups with three SNHS members at each station to give attentive assistance,” Alex said. 

SNHS members hosted a scientific reading station, a cut-and-sort station, a mini quiz and color by number station, and a flower-planting station that allowed students to take home a plant to their families. 

“At the end, almost every student raised their hand to give a summary of what they learned, and they all said it was so much fun, so we felt the project was a huge success,” Alex said. “We got to teach over 40 students, so it was an amazing opportunity for all of us too.”

“My students loved it and it was great to see so many familiar faces,” said fourth-grade teacher Don Ott.  

SNHS students who guest-taught are in back (l-r) Addison Lane, Alex DeEmedio, Natalie Roblero Chavez, Melanie Felipe, Abby Whitcomb, Jack Thomas and Jayani Boopathi. In front are Grace Thomas, Oliver Graves, Brianna Sordi, Kimia Langroudi, Bella Crisci, Caroline Spicer and Gabrielle Yablonski.