The smell that fills the hallways is unmistakable. Students are tentatively excited, but secretly a little bit nervous as they enter the science lab…
Dissection Days
The smell that fills the hallways is unmistakable. Students are tentatively excited, but secretly a little bit nervous as they enter the science lab for their turn at dissection. Seventh-graders have the long-standing privilege of investigating dogfish sharks and eighth-graders look at cow eyeballs.
Science teacher Amber Yeager says, “The dissection unit provides our students with a hands-on opportunity to explore anatomy and practice safe laboratory practices along with implementing the scientific method. Dissection also allows our students to understand how body systems function and the importance of taking care of their own bodies.”
Eighth-grader Harmond Richardson said, “The frog at times was fun, but also disgusting.”
Vito Rosace added, “The frogs have lots of eggs inside.”
Reece Schneider and Melanie Schaefer said as eighth-graders the dogfish and the frog were their favorite things to dissect, adding, “We learned that the frog’s body systems are similar to ours and they can breath through their skin.”
Seventh-grader Cody Svoboda said, “The shark was cool when we opened the yolk sac and discovered the shark pups.”
Loreali Gandolf-Glover said, “It was a cool experience to dissect the shark and could especially inspire kids to become a doctor or marine biologist.”
St. Mary School’s STEM program continues to keep students engaged and learning in ways they have not before. The 2015 Thomas Edison STEM winning program reaches all areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics for the students and small class sizes help to reinforce active engagement for all students with great support from their teachers.
