From curiosity to the cosmos: EMS 8th grader guides classmates through deep space with ClassVR

A middle school student holds VR goggles outside a classroom.

Escalante Middle School 8th grader Alexis "Storm" Myers holds a ClassVR headset outside science teacher Emily Rypkema’s classroom. Myers coordinated with the district’s Ignite Mobile Learning Lab to bring the virtual reality headsets into class, guiding peers through an immersive, hands-on lesson on star life cycles and the formation of black holes.

When Escalante Middle School eighth grader Alexis "Storm" Myers set out to lead a science lesson on black holes, the goal was not just to present facts — it was to make the mysteries of deep space tangible and unforgettable.

In Emily Rypkema’s 8th-grade science class, every student takes ownership by designing a hands-on, engaging STEAM lesson during the first quarter, then stepping up to teach their peers on scheduled Fridays throughout the rest of the year.

"I developed this unit because I want students to be responsible for contributing to the learning community, and I want to do something really fun and cool in class every week," said Rypkema. "I want students to find the joy in learning."

Myers — whose fascination with black holes began at just 4 years old — embraced the challenge of turning a complex astrophysical concept into an interactive experience. Collaborating with staff from the district's Ignite Mobile Learning Lab, she explored virtual reality resources, selected curriculum-aligned ClassVR experiences on star life cycles, scripted out the entire lesson plan, and guided classmates through an immersive journey across the cosmos.

Turns out, the lesson was a stellar success.

"The students found the lesson fun and engaging — and they learned a lot about black holes!" Rypkema said.

By responding to planning challenges with persistence, finding innovative ways to view science concepts, and taking full ownership of peer learning, Myers brought Durango School District's Portrait of a Graduate competencies of Creative Problem-Solver, Agile Thinker, and Courageous Leader into vibrant focus.

It was student-led learning at its best: turning individual passion into shared discovery and proving that when students take the lead, the entire classroom reaches new heights.

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School Storytellers: Thank you to District Technology and Media Support Specialist Nathan Van Arsdale, who took time out of his day to share this classroom story and accompanying media.

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