High Impact Practices Student Showcase Fall 2025

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Course Code

BSC

Course Number

4310

Faculty/Instructor

Dr. Linda Walters

Faculty/Instructor Email

Linda.Walters@ucf.edu

About the Author

We’d like to give a big thank-you to Dr. Walters for her support, encouragement, and guidance throughout this project. We also want to thank Ms. Jones and her amazing fourth-grade class for welcoming us into their classroom and making this such a meaningful experience!

Abstract, Summary, or Creative Statement

What started as a simple lesson plan grew into an unforgettable journey of inspiring young minds to explore the mysteries of the deep sea. The goal of our service-learning project was to spark curiosity and make a meaningful impact on our community by inspiring the next generation of young scientists. We designed and taught an interactive marine science lesson for fourth graders at Rainbow Elementary School, diving deep into the fascinating world of the ocean’s darkest zones. Through hands-on games, creative crafts, and lively discussions, students explored how extraordinary adaptations help deep-sea creatures survive where sunlight never reaches. We wanted to make science come alive and show that learning can be exciting, personal, and full of wonder. To measure growth, we conducted pre- and post-quizzes, revealing a 20% increase in understanding. Beyond the numbers, our project highlighted the true power of service through education, showing how sharing knowledge connects generations, builds confidence, and inspires curiosity. Teaching the lesson gave us a chance to step into the role of mentors, strengthening our communication and teamwork skills while experiencing the joy of giving back. This project reminded us that even small acts of learning and teaching can ripple outward, creating a lasting impact in our community.

Additional Resources

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (n.d.). Deep ocean exploration and research. U.S. Department of Commerce. https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov

Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute. (n.d.). Deep-sea animals and their adaptations. MBARI. https://www.mbari.org

National Geographic Society. (n.d.). Deep sea ecosystems. National Geographic.

Smithsonian Ocean Portal. (n.d.). Life in the deep sea. Smithsonian Institution. https://ocean.si.edu

Canva. (2025). Images and design elements used for poster creation. https://www.canva.com

Keywords

Deep Sea; Inspiring Learning; Service-learning marine science project; Connecting college students with K–12 learning; Student-led science education

Divng Deep: Inspiring Young Scientists Through Ocean Exploration


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