Wiesbaden High School NHS Students Teach Buoyancy at Wiesbaden Elementary

In a vibrant display of cross school collaboration, Wiesbaden High School National Honor Society (NHS) students brought science to life for Mrs. Rhoten’s elementary scholars through an engaging, hands-on lesson on buoyancy.

As educators, we know that learning is most powerful when it’s active, collaborative, and rooted in real world connections. That’s exactly what unfolded in our classroom. With tin foil, marbles, and a healthy dose of curiosity, our young scientists worked in small groups to design and build their own boats. The challenge? To test which design could hold the most weight before sinking. Cheers erupted as the winning boat held an impressive 52 marbles. Further depicting the importance of teamwork, creativity, and scientific thinking. 

But the real magic wasn’t just in the marbles. It was in the mentorship of the NHS students. In Wiesbaden, Germany, a place where our military connected students often navigate transitions and new beginnings, the relationships we build across grade levels matter deeply. When high school students stepped into the classroom, they brought more than knowledge. They brought excitement, leadership, and a sense of continuity that helped younger learners see what’s possible. 

Mrs. Rhoten partnered with Ethan, a dedicated NHS student from Wiesbaden High School, to plan and lead the activity. Ethan crafted an experience that not only taught buoyancy but also modeled collaboration, patience, and the joy of learning. Ethan took the reins and led the class and additional support educators (six additional high school students). These moments remind us that teaching isn’t confined to one classroom or one age group… It's a shared journey. 

Our elementary students were captivated and asked to see the NHS students again. As Samuel from Mrs. Rhoten’s class shared: "Working with high school students was nice. We got to build foil boats. We got to see how many marbles our boat would hold. Ours held 34. Overall, it was very fun!" 

We look forward to welcoming our NHS mentors back soon. In Wiesbaden, we’re not just building boats, we’re building bridges