My Time at Coyote Elementary School

I had the joy of working with many students specifically in the fourth grade, and I was surprised at how much they already knew about what germs are and why people become sick. Each group of students I interacted with had their own unique enthusiasm and unique sets of questions. From asking about what probiotics were to telling me about “zombie bugs” and relating that back to getting sick with parasites and viruses, their endless questions never ceased to amaze me and challenge my knowledge and creativity. 

I started out by asking them how germs spread and the most dirty surfaces we interact with. After getting a myriad of different answers, I segued into my Germs Activity, teaching them the importance of washing hands and being aware of the amount of surfaces we touch on a daily basis. I provided a worksheet for them to take home, and I was surprised by the number of students who told me they were going to research more about what Tuberculosis is and how it spreads after I spoke about it.

What I didn’t anticipate was how profoundly my lessons would resonate with these students. Seeing the surprise, realization, and even fear on their faces gave me comfort because it showed me that my lessons did have a tangible impact on them. Oftentimes, I wasn’t able to get through my entire lesson plan because of the number of questions I received and my determination to answer every single one of them. They often lead to productive and insightful conversations, giving the space for students to reflect and reply with more questions, reinforcing their understanding of diseases. I was pleasantly surprised at how meaningful and intentional each question was, and it was amazing to see how their brains worked in real time!