Community Partnerships Bring Science to Life in Ms. Paxman’s Classroom: December 10, 2025

 Last week, White Pine students experienced science in action thanks to a visit from our community partners at the Idaho Environmental Coalition. Representatives from the coalition were on campus filming a hands-on lesson focused on cloud creation in Ms. Paxman’s middle school science class, giving students a unique opportunity to see classroom learning connect directly to real-world science.

During the lesson, students explored how clouds form by observing changes in temperature, moisture, and air pressure. Rather than simply reading about weather patterns, students engaged in an interactive demonstration that allowed them to ask questions, make predictions, and observe scientific processes firsthand. The filming captured both the experiment itself and the curiosity and engagement of students as they worked through the phenomenon together.

Partnerships like this are an important part of our STEM-focused approach at White Pine. When students interact with professionals working in environmental science and education, it deepens their understanding and helps them see how the skills they are learning apply beyond the classroom. It also reinforces that science is not just something studied in textbooks, but something actively happening in the world around them.

We are grateful to the Idaho Environmental Coalition for taking the time to collaborate with our school and highlight the meaningful learning happening in our classrooms. Experiences like these help inspire students, strengthen community connections, and bring authentic learning opportunities to life for our learners.