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Biology in the Park
A Southwest High School student observes an egg he put in a syrup solution to demonstrate osmosis.
Students and teachers may not be in school following the devastation of Hurricane Florence, but that does not mean that all learning has stopped.
Southwest High School science teacher Julie Pollock and some of her 10th grade biology students met at Onslow Pines Park this week to do some hands-on learning and experimentation.
Ms. Pollock, who saw an opportunity to work in a chance to learn for her students, reached out to her high schoolers and asked if anyone was interested in doing some learning at the park. She received more interest than she expected and had several students show up for the opportunity.
Ms. Pollock, from Southwest High School, teaches a biology lesson in the park.
In a picnic area at the park, passersby could hear discussions of cellular transport, osmosis and enzymes. All the while, students learned those concepts firsthand through experiments involving placing eggs in vinegar, carrots in salt water and raisins in water to see what would happen.
Ms. Pollock said that the opportunity was voluntary and no grades would be given for the work. She just wanted to do something with her students “to keep them in the mindset of learning” while out of school.
She said getting together and learning has also been fun for the students. “You see the smiles and the giggles and the laughs,” she said.
One of her students, McKenzie Bulris, confirmed that meeting with his teacher and classmates has been fun and informative.
“I just knew that we needed to get some instruction in,” he said. “I’m excited to get back to school and get back to some normalcy … This is getting me back in the routine of getting up early, going to school and learning.”