The Bethpage UFSD Board of Education meeting on Nov. 18 at Kramer Lane Elementary School featured a presentation showcasing how the district's elementary science curriculum brings learning to life through hands-on outdoor experiences and real-world applications.
Director of Science Chris Pollatos, alongside Kramer Lane Principal Kerri McCarthy, led the presentation Experiencing Science Outside the Classroom, Grades 3-5, which included live testimonials from students in each grade level.
Third graders shared highlights from their weather unit in the STEM lab, including a special visit from local meteorologist Samantha Augeri. During her October visit to Bethpage's elementary schools, Augeri taught students about different weather types and gave them the opportunity to deliver their own on-camera weather forecasts in front of a green screen. Students also described building model houses in STEM class and testing whether their structures could withstand a simulated windstorm using a fan. Their work with LEGO Spike kits – programmable robotics sets that allow students to build and code interactive models – has included building houses on stilts.
Fourth graders presented about their field trip to Bethpage State Park, where they studied native plants and animals. They also demonstrated their LEGO Spike cave car project, connecting their engineering skills with environmental science learning.
Fifth graders, currently studying ecosystems, shared experiences from their field trip to Operation SPLASH in Freeport, an organization dedicated to keeping local waterways clean. Their LEGO Spike swamp boat project tied directly to their ecosystem studies.
The students' enthusiasm was evident throughout the presentation as they eagerly shared what they've learned. By connecting classroom concepts to real-world applications – from weather forecasting to protecting local waterways – the science curriculum has transformed learning into an engaging, meaningful experience that resonates with students long after the lesson ends.
