In an era where student engagement is harder than ever to capture, creative teaching methods have become essential in the classroom. At Bellarmine, science and math teacher Bridget Nuno (B’03) is constantly finding new ways to engage students with their material, most recently in a unique debate that transformed her classroom into a space for critical thinking, collaboration, and even laughter.
The debate, done in a pro se court style, featured two opposing viewpoints on the topic at hand. The chosen topic was whether or not to keep the Columbia Basin pygmy rabbits (seen below) on the endangered species list.
Each side began the debate by presenting their claims, which included statements from several students. Following their claim, the groups gave a counterargument to their opponent’s claim, which they had to come up with on the fly during the debate. Students even took on the perspective of various Washington state citizens, such as farmers, to further expand the perspective of this important issue. After their counterarguments, a select group of student-judges proposed questions to each side, allowing them to elaborate on the nuances and complexities of their stance on the topic. Following the questions, the judges convened in order to decide a winner and provided a justification for their choice.
Upon observation of the lively AP Enivornmental Science (APES) classroom, most would assume that this activity was highly popular among students, but how did they actually feel about it?
Senior Mallory Whalin said that she “had to do a lot of prep, but doing [her] own research was super interesting.” “The preparation for the debate was worth it if you want to do well,” Whalin noted.
Whalin, as well as senior Kylia Phillips, both said that their experience in Nuno’s class has featured many unique activities, such as the pro se court debate. “APES is definitely my most interactive class,” Phillips said.
Senior Natalie Tish commented that “everyone had to look at the endangered species list to research, so we all learned a lot from that.”
It is clear that the unique classroom instruction helped students further engage with their material, and it seemed to have been an overwhelming success. Nuno recently won the 2025 Elizabeth Kelley Exemplary Teacher award, which only reinforces her incredible creativity and instruction in the classroom.
As students navigate an increasingly demanding academic landscape, activities like Nuno’s offer a reminder of the ways that hands-on learning can spark curiosity and critical thinking. Through her innovative approach to education, Nuno not only deepens understanding of environmental science, but also models the kind of teaching that produces students who are well equiped to succeed beyond the classroom.
