A unique partnership is taking place between eighth graders at East Tipp Middle School and kindergarten students from Hershey Elementary School that’s bringing hands-on learning to life for both age groups. Once a month, students in Connie Painter’s class walk over to the middle school to spend time with Steve Elwood’s science students.

During the most recent visit, the eighth graders worked with their buddies to create artwork that included a simple circuit, using copper tape and an LED to make their picture light up. “I was working with Lumen,” says eighth grader Addy Senasec. “She had a lot of fun coloring and making the picture light up.”

Kindergarten teacher Connie Painter says the activities are getting her students excited about science while reinforcing concepts for the older students. “They enjoy going to East Tipp and visiting different classrooms there. We use the science lab mostly,” she says. “They love completing the projects—whether it’s making oobleck, creating a card with a lightbulb that lights up, or making a water bottle with beads that separate.”

“The eighth graders seem to love working with younger kids,” says Elwood. “They want to share their knowledge and experience and be the ‘adult.’”

Eighth grader Olivia Maxwell says the science buddy program has been fun and has helped them develop leadership skills: “We aren’t the youngest students anymore. This is our opportunity to take the lead and share what we know with others.”

“I love doing science with our buddies,” adds Addy. “We laugh and learn together.”

The teachers purchased supplies for the science buddy program from a Lafayette Breakfast Optimist Club grant.