Spring Branch ISD Featured News

Maybe it was the gravity-defying water or the self-inflating balloon, or perhaps it was the connection between learners that transformed a typical Thursday morning into something extraordinary at Spring Branch Elementary School recently. 

Students in kindergarten to second grade gathered in the school cafeteria to welcome a unique visitor, KPRC TV-2 meteorologist Britta Merwin. Merwin, the smile at the center of the action, could also be called the pied piper of science by a survey of the rapt faces in the audience. Adults and children alike followed each move in Merwin’s demonstrations, anxious to see how a simple experiment turned into something akin to magic. 

Sporting a white lab coat and safety glasses, Merwin quickly transformed from scientist to teacher. And it’s the teacher in Merwin who delivered the real magic. Merwin's connection to what she called "Spring Branch's littlest scientists" promised to make the most significant impact from the morning's lesson. Asked if that’s the point, Principal Lynn Austin quickly acknowledges it is.

Austin, along with her team of educators, viewed the experience as a way to expand and reinforce instruction while creating an opportunity to build connections beyond the walls of the traditional school day. 

“It’s been a wonderful opportunity for kids to learn from real-life scientists,” Spring Branch Elementary educator Juan Suarez Ortiz said. “We want kids to see real scientists…and hear how they decided to become scientists.”

Along with demonstrating some nifty science, Merwin shared her own story – providing a behind-the-scenes look at her journey – one that began when she was a second-grader. Merwin's story is something Austin felt students needed to hear now more than ever.  

“We wanted her (Merwin) to come in from the community so our kids can see what kind of careers are out there and especially to have a love for science,” said Austin. 

Like all great teachers, Merwin challenged students to keep on learning, providing access to her online Weather Lab, an educational website housing videos from experiments and weather explainers. View Merwin’s Weather Lab at: https://bit.ly/2p79zQQ

“Thank you, Britta, for bringing that love of science to Spring Branch Elementary. You’re inspiring our youngest children here at our school,” said Austin.

#ScienceRocks at Spring Branch Elementary from SBISD on Vimeo.

Or, click here to view this video. 

Submitted by Melissa Wiland, SBISD Communications, melissa.wiland@springbranchisd.com.