Canyon Rim Students Teach Science to K-2 Classrooms

Earlier this school year, Canyon Rim students represented the largest single-district delegation of Chief Science Officers (CSOs) in the United States at a meeting for the Leadership Training Institute (LTI). These students gathered for one mission: to move beyond being just students of science and become advocates for it. After months of planning, collaborating with industry professionals, and setting goals, Canyon Rim’s Chief Science Officers are seeing their visions come to life.

CSOs at Canyon Rim Elementary have stepped into the role of guest teachers for the school’s younger grades. These student leaders take on the responsibility of developing and delivering full science lessons to K-2 classes, covering topics like the relationship between the Earth, Moon, and Sun. Rather than just reading from a book, the CSOs created interactive ways to explain these celestial rotations.

Katie Gifford, a 5th grade teacher at Canyon Rim and the CSO's advisor, noted that the students took complete initiative, creating their own lesson plans and supplementary "filler" activities to keep the younger students engaged with very little adult assistance. This experience gave our CSOs a newfound perspective and appreciation for their teachers, with one student saying, “It’s really important for us to get an education, and our teachers are working hard to prepare lessons and teach kids. So, they're doing a good job.”

To learn more about what students are learning at Canyon Rim Elementary, visit CanyonRim.GilbertSchools.net/Academics.