Bright Minds Shine in Miss Martinez’s First Grade Classroom!

The moment you step into Miss Yadira Martinez’s first-grade classroom at Our Lady of Hungary Catholic School, you can feel it — joy, energy, and a spark of curiosity that fills the air. Science time isn’t just another part of the day here—it’s the best part.During the Sound & Light unit from the Grade Level Certified (GLC) National Science Curriculum, The classroom becomes a mini-laboratory of discovery. Her enthusiasm for teaching science is contagious. Students eagerly review key vocabulary and prepare to investigate one big question: Why is light so important for seeing? Miss Martinez guides her young scientists through an experiment that brings science to life using a peepbox. One by one, they peek into the hole on the side of their boxes, gathering back on the rug to report their findings: “It’s too dark—I can’t see anything!” A little bit of light was added, the excitement grew as they looked inside their peepbox and saw something inside. Finally, each student was given a mini flashlight to shine into the box and the classroom lit up with joyful discovery as they spotted the ping pong ball clearly inside.

“What I love about the GLC science curriculum is the excitement it brings to my classroom. Every time my students know it’s time for science, their faces light up with anticipation. Watching their eyes sparkle as they see concepts come to life is truly one of the most rewarding parts of teaching.”

Then came the best part! Students got to choose a “secret item” to hide inside their own peepbox! Working with a partner, they took turns investigating, predicting, and recording their observations in their Student Data Notebooks, building understanding as they increased the amount of light each time. Laughter and excitement fill the room as Miss Martinez encouraged each moment of curiosity and success.

Miss Martinez beams with pride….in that moment, her students weren’t just learning science, they were thinking like scientists.

“As a teacher, I appreciate how easy and enjoyable this curriculum is to use. It takes away the stress of planning and allows me to confidently guide my students, even when the topics are new to me. I’m able to teach and learn right alongside them, which makes science such a joyful experience for everyone!”