Lakewood Ranch High student creates 'Science Stars' to inspire tweens

When Yulia Morales noticed that science test scores for some students in the School District of Manatee County had room to improve, she decided to do something about it.

Less than half of Manatee County students tested at or above their grade level in Grade 5 and Grade 8 statewide science assessments the past two years, according to the Florida Department of Education’s yearly scores.

Morales, a Lakewood Ranch High junior, is a member of Family, Career and Community Leaders of America and thought she could apply those skills she’s learned — and help younger students become interested in science — by creating a monthly science lesson for local students ages 8-12.

Morales and five of her peer volunteers hosted her first lesson, called "Science Stars," in the workshop room of the Lakewood Ranch Library on Jan. 3.

Science Stars is currently scheduled to next take place 4:30 p.m. Feb. 7 at the same location.

“I began to research what I could do to help benefit my community," she said. "I thought if I could come here and kind of teach a basic science lesson that maybe I could make some sort of impact.”

Fourteen kids learned how to power a Christmas tree light with a lemon, a penny, a screw, a wire and alligator clips, and they also learned the science behind it. 

After some tinkering — and a brief moment in which no one could get the light to work — each group of students was able to power their lights through some collaboration and problem-solving. 

Photo by Vinnie Portell

“We had a positive science experiment,” Farrah Dalnodar said after her group’s light began to glow.

The idea for Morales’s first Science Stars project came from one of her first inspirations in science — a Smithsonian book with experiments. 

Though the setting of a library quickly eliminated some of the messier options, Morales soon settled on using a lemon as a battery. 

The lesson was as much of an experiment for Morales as it was for the tweens in attendance. 

The presentation was capped at 20 pre-registered sign-ups, and most showed up, with 14 of the 20 coming.

Photo by Vinnie Portell

But there were lessons that could be used for future projects.

Morales said she might include an additional lesson or go deeper in her lesson plan since her hour-long class ended early. 

She one day wants to become a general physician, and said she hopes that her "Science Stars" lessons inspire other kids to become passionate about science, too. 

“Maybe I can inspire some other kids to be interested in it, and think, ‘Science is cool,’” Morales said.