Learning Unleashed: Tackling Environmental Impact

Step into Mr. Selmon’s 3rd grade classroom at Our Lady of Hungary in South Bend, and you can feel it—the energy, the excitement of young minds ignited by the GLC Unit - Nature‘s Influence! This isn’t your typical science lesson; it’s an experience, a journey into the heart of how the environment shapes our world. Discovering how droughts, floods and extreme temperatures can impact living things. Let me tell you, these kids are all-in!

Armed with curiosity and a stack of cards, these young scientists aren’t just learning about environmental impacts—they’re living it! Picture this: One student picks cards with a rabbit and subzero temperatures. His prediction? Survival is tough when food is scarce and the cold is relentless. 

Tables come alive with chatter as students discuss different scenarios and sketch out solutions with crayons and pencils flying across their papers! One side of the page bursts with colors, showing an environmental factor that helps their animal thrive.  On the other side, things get intense with illustrations of challenges their animals can face.

Voices buzz with excitement as students share their masterpieces, and swap ideas. “What if a drought hit?” one asks. “Or a flood?” chimes in another. The discussions are lively, the ideas are flowing, and every sketch is a story of survival and adaptation. 

This is engaged learning at its finest. No passive listeners here—just eager minds making real-world connections that stick.

“This is the best kind of science because it’s always fun!”

Mr. Selmon’s students are ready to tackle the big question: “What’s the most dangerous environmental factor?” Hands shoot up, and the debate is on! Fire? Floods?  One bold thinker drops a plot twist: “What about extended daylight? It can actually be harmful to some wildlife”

It’s clear—these students aren’t just learning science, they’re living it. They’re not parroting facts; they’re thinking critically, making connections, and seeing the world through the eyes of real scientists.

As a former librarian, Mr. Selmon loves the integration of literacy books and articles with each lab lesson helping students build reading skills while exploring the wonders of the natural world.

“Without GLC, many students wouldn’t have the opportunity to make these real world connections.”

Here’s what Mr. Selmon understands at a fundamental level: every student learns differently. Some students struggle with reading. Some need visuals. Some thrive in conversation. That’s why he’s embraced Graphic Instruction Guides (GIGs)—step-by-step visuals that ensure every student can dive into the lesson, no matter their reading level. Because learning should never be a privilege. It should be accessible to everyone.

Here’s the truth: kids don’t thrive when they’re passive consumers of knowledge. They thrive when they own their learning. That’s why Mr. Selmon champions the Grade Level Certified (GLC) curriculum. It’s hands-on. It’s student-driven. It makes science relevant. He sees firsthand: when students are engaged, when learning is meaningful, and when fun isn’t seen as the enemy of education—students don’t just learn. They thrive. 

Through his passion for teaching and commitment to hands-on learning, Mr. Selmon is making a lasting impact on his students- one exciting GLC lesson at a time!

When students thrive? The future looks a whole lot brighter. WELL DONE MR. SELMON!