Students taking AP Biology and English 10 courses brought creativity to the classroom by dressing up as class-related content or characters on Halloween. In return, students received one extra credit, a bonus point that encouraged both learning and Halloween spirit.
This class costume credit started at SIS when James Kowalski, a former AP US History teacher, first introduced the costume credit to the AP US History class. At the time, as the majority of sophomores took either AP US History or AP Biology, Niko Lambert, AP Biology teacher, also offered the costume credit. Each year, the classes that officer costume credits differ slightly, yet AP Biology has continued this tradition for several years consecutively now.
“I think this [costume credit] allows students to think a little bit more creatively about the various concepts that we’ve learned in AP Biology, to try to represent them in a more visual costume,” Mr Lambert said. “And hopefully the students have a little bit of fun with it.”
Many students have participated in the class credit activity, especially for AP Biology. Although the students participated in the class costume event for the extra credit, many found the process of designing costumes enjoyable and thought it made learning more interactive.
“Something good about this [AP Biology extra credit system] is that we get to change all the things we didn’t really enjoy learning or studying for the exam to something fun to do for Halloween and put effort into a cute costume,” Chloe Kim (10), AP Biology student and costume dresser, said. “So I feel like that’s one point that makes this system very good—obviously, we’re doing it for the extra credit, but while doing it for the credit, it really helps us make, quote on quote, studying this more fun.”
As the tradition continues, students and teachers alike find joy in this blend of education and imagination, as well as a little boost to their grade. What began as a Halloween activity has become a fun and memorable way for students to celebrate learning and the spirit of Halloween.
