At Plato Academy Seminole, a Monday before Earth Day looked a little different this year, and the students made it happen.
On April 20, science teacher Ms. Velazquez transformed her 6th grade classroom into what she simply called “Ms. V’s Nature Classroom,” a rotating series of hands-on learning stations where elementary students spent 30 minutes up close with live animals, real fossils, and the kind of raw, tangible science that sticks with a child long after the school day ends.
The timing was intentional. Earth Day, observed each April 22nd, has always carried a simple premise: slow down, pay attention to the natural world, and care about what you find there.
“I feel it is important for children to interact with the natural world to build a connection that will spark curiosity and build empathy for all living things,” she said. “Experiences build confidence and make us all better people.“
The Students Who Led the Lesson
What made this event stand out was not just the content, it was who delivered it. The 6th grade students served as the instructors, guiding their younger peers through each station with genuine knowledge and enthusiasm.
Students got to interact with live animals and feed a giant tortoise. They learned about chicken egg production and explored the biological connection between birds and reptiles, a concept that surprises most adults, let alone young children. At the fossil station, students handled real specimens recovered right here in Florida, physical evidence of prehistoric creatures that once roamed the same land they walk on today.
Florida’s natural history is rich and often underappreciated. Giving students a fossil to hold, to feel the weight of deep time in their hands, is the kind of experience that stays for a long time.
Community Made It Possible
None of this happened in a vacuum. Volunteers Mr. Wilson, Mrs. Pride, and Ms. Varnadore offered their time and energy to help the event run smoothly, and their presence made a real difference.
Why It Matters
There is growing research behind what Ms. Velazquez has known from classroom experience: children who spend time engaging directly with nature, not just reading about it, develop stronger environmental awareness, better problem-solving skills, and a deeper sense of responsibility toward the living world around them.
At Plato Academy Seminole, that philosophy is not reserved for a single day on the calendar. But events like this give it a sharp, memorable focus, and remind us, that the best science often begins with simply paying attention.
