When Mr. Jesse Howell took his Biology 3 students outside for a lesson, he did not expect to have a visitor.
In the creek near the school, students noticed a water snake struggling to free itself from a tangle of netting and plastic. Mr. Howell saw a teachable moment and took action.
“I felt compelled to do something about it,” he said. “It was like an emotional call or pull that I should take some form of action to help the snake.”
However, he said he realized that he didn’t have the tools he needed to cut the netting and free the snake from debris, so he phoned a friend, Dunbar’s environmental science teacher, Mr. Matt Turner.
The students watched as the teachers eventually freed the snake and released it back into the water unharmed.
“It was an unexpected learning opportunity,” Mr. Howell said.
And the actions of his students were something he said he was truly proud of. “They were engaged and excited about the experience,” he said, “all taking part and actively participating,” he said.
He said that throughout the year in his biology class, students focused on several different organisms’ ecosystems, but getting to actually interact with these ecosystems wasn’t in the lesson plans.
“Even though it was shocking,” he said, “it is honestly part of our curriculum involving environmental science and ecology—two main focuses in our class.”
Both he and Mr. Turner also used the experience to remind students that keeping the environment clean is a priority. Because many of the students live in these neighborhoods, Mr. Howell said that they were able to see the local impacts of their actions.
“I think my students benefited from seeing that snakes are just a part of life and they deserve a clean environment, ” Mr. Howell said.
Senior John Smith agrees. “It was neat to see the lessons on ecosystems, the environment, and local… Mr. Howell has taught all year come together in front of us.”
