HERNANDO COUNTY, Fla. -- About 30 home-schooled students from Hernando County had an opportunity to have a traditional classroom style science class Monday thanks to the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension.
“We realized that there was a need in our community because we do have a lot of home-schooled children in Hernando County and there was a need for more advanced science classes,” said Dr. William Lester.
The class, Good Bugs Bad Bugs, was the first of eight classes that will take place monthly throughout the school year. The program is called STEMInvestiGATORS.
“It gives them an opportunity for what they learned at home out of the textbook and even the computer to interact in that way and just kind of reinforce what we are teaching them at home,” said Karen Collinsworth.
Collinsworth home schools her grandsons, ages 8 and 10. She said they aren’t just learning about bugs, they are learning important social skills.
“They play well together at home as brothers, but they need to learn how to play and interact with other kids and this gives them a good opportunity,” said Collinsworth.
Her grandson Garrett had so much fun he volunteered to teach the class.
“I like Hercules Bugs because they are called Hercules Bugs because they are pretty tough,” said 10-year-old Garrett.
The next class, Game Changers, is scheduled for October 14. For more information go to https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/game-changers-tickets-68297915905.
