Teaching Like a Scientist: How One Educator Turns Curiosity into Impact

“I didn’t get nominated; I nominated myself. Because I knew what $25,000 could do for my students.”
— Robert Arrendell, America’s Favorite Teacher Semi-Finalist  

Meet Robert Arrendell, a science teacher at the School of the Arts in Rochester, NY. Mr. Arrendell’s journey, from a resourceful self-starter to a national semifinalist, is a lesson in scientific thinking itself. Not just in how he teaches science, but in how he’s built his classroom, his curriculum, and his community impact. 

At Ward’s Science, we believe that every great teacher is also a great problem-solver. And if that sounds like the Scientific Method in action, it is! Here’s how Mr. Arrendell mirrors the scientific method in real life to build an engaging classroom:

Step 1: He Asked Questions

“How do I get materials for my classroom?”

Like many teachers, Mr. Arrendell started with more passion than materials. “I noticed there were teachers who had a lot of different types of resources.” He asked his mentors about it, and one of them encouraged him to make the request by saying, “…the worst anyone can tell you is no."

Step 2: He Conducted Background Research

He explored sources of help and support, as well as available funding opportunities. That led him to advocate for his classroom needs, from administrators to peers.

Watch how Mr. Arrendell’s science journey began.

Step 3: He Formed a Hypothesis

Mr. Arrendell then determined that if he used his limited resources effectively, it might earn him support for more. He outlined exactly what he needed and explained why it mattered for student engagement. His principal responded by setting up an account with Ward’s Science.

Step 4: He Tested with an Experiment

With a $2,500 materials account, Mr. Arrendell got to work designing lessons that sparked student curiosity and brought science to life. One standout activity? Frog dissection using Ward’s specimens, a perennial student favorite.

“What I love about the frogs from Ward’s is that they’re preserved beautifully, they don’t smell, and the organs are clear and easy to identify. The students love it,” Mr. Arrendell. 

Step 5: He Analyzed Results

His students weren’t just learning; they were energized. And administrators took notice, reinforcing their support and validating his efforts.

Step 6: Share Results

Seeing the difference even modest resources could make, Mr. Arrendell took his mission to the next level. He nominated himself for America’s Favorite Teacher contest, not for recognition, but to win a grant to fund classroom supplies and student scholarships. 

Watch here:

Although Mr. Arrendell did not receive the final award, he was selected from a pool of over 100,000 educators to advance to the highly competitive semifinal round.

Bonus Step 7: Expand the Experiment

Just like scientists publish and scale their findings, Mr. Arrendell knew his work could go further. That’s why he continues to look for new opportunities to amplify what’s working, from classroom activities to community partnerships.