By Nicole Thomas
The Youth Environmental Science (YES!) program, a unique partnership between the Starkville Oktibbeha Consolidated School District and Mississippi State University, has expanded to include all students in grades K-6.
The YES! program, now housed at Sudduth Elementary School and the Larry Box Education Center located on the Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge, introduces STEM disciplines via environmental topics through an innovative immersion approach.
Sudduth Elementary Principal Elizabeth Mosley welcomed this opportunity for younger students to experience learning at the refuge.
“The refuge provides the perfect environment to introduce our youngest students to science discovery,” said Mosley.
First graders in Ms. Taylor and Ms. Black’s classes at Sudduth Elementary School recently participated in their first field trip experience of the year to the Noxubee Refuge.
Just in time for the changing of the seasons, Ms. Taylor and Ms. Black’s first graders examined the anatomy of a leaf through the lens of a microscope after collecting different leaf varieties for leaf rubbings.
“My students loved finding the leaves and looking at all of their parts,” said Taylor. “I think I have some future scientists.”