Expanding the School Science Community Through Volunteering

Science helped to bridge the age gap between students and created deeper community bonds.

Somers High School students who are a part of the Science National Honor Society recently spent time with younger students in multiple schools, helping them with various science-related activities. Helping the younger students counts toward honor society service hours, but it means far more than that to the students involved.

“These experiences allow us to both solidify our capabilities while learning so much from the young scientists that will one day fill our shoes!” said Makaila Eagleton, society representative for the Science National Honor Society. “Teaching others is an amazing way to retain information, which also helps us to be more successful in the future.”

As fifth-grade students at Somers Intermediate School prepared for their annual Science Night, held on March 27, they received support and encouragement from high schoolers. For the fourth year, Science National Honor Society students worked with small groups of students and helped them with science projects for two 45-minute sessions held after school to plan and prepare their science presentations. High school students also helped during practice night and on the evening of the event.

“Many of us are in the science research program or a research-based class,” said Eagleton. “We have lots of experience in this area to share with others still learning.”

High schoolers helped the younger students gain a deeper understanding of the experiment design process and brainstormed ways they could enhance the most important parts of their projects. Together they were able to outline different sections of the science experiment while having fun in the process. Projects ranged from sound waves to culinary science to a non-Newtonian fluid called oobleck.

Another way the Science National Honor Society reached out to younger students was with the Somers Middle School Science Club Convention on March 25. Honor students, along with representatives from each science-related club, stopped by the middle school to show current eighth graders the different clubs that they will have an opportunity to join as freshmen next year. The high school students had presentations and activities to get students excited about participating in the clubs. The goal is to inspire incoming freshmen to join the science community in high school.

“The SMS Science Fair Convention is a great chance to meet some of the students that will be entering our school next year,” said Eagleton. “It helps to get them excited about student life and the wide variety of science clubs we have!”