In a lesson honoring Martin Luther King Jr., Kathleen Mellas’ seventh and eighth grade science students explored how the famous quote, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that,” reflects both Dr. King’s vision and the role of science in creating a better world. 

The lesson began through discussion of what the quote means: how hate, fear, or unfairness cannot solve problems, but understanding, kindness, and knowledge can. The students then connected this idea to science and technology by exploring how science helps make people’s lives better and how the importance of fairness is a part of science and technology. 

Students also reflected on these questions. Dylan Lanza said, “Fairness in technology means no one is left out,” while Jayannah Coffey commented, “When different kinds of people are involved in science, there are more ideas and more possible answers to questions.” 

Ian Khelawan highlighted the global perspective, explaining, “We are each other’s best teachers, and there are people all over the world with great ideas we can learn from.” 

To illustrate the quote with a hands-on experiment, students conducted a “light cancels darkness” demonstration. Mrs. Mellas placed a small black box in a darkened room, and students made guesses about what might be inside. Some predicted a phone, others a plant or a rock. One by one, the students then shined a flashlight into the box, revealing the object and seeing firsthand how light drives out darkness. They reflected on the metaphor: just as light reveals what was hidden in the dark, knowledge, fairness, and empathy illuminate solutions to problems in science and society. 

To bring their reflections to life, students also created Google Slides featuring images and explanations that show how science can make the world fairer and brighter. Their presentations highlighted examples like medical advances, renewable energy, and technologies that improve access to clean water. 

Through this project, students demonstrated that Dr. King’s vision continues to shine in classrooms everywhere and encourages fairness, empathy, and the power of light, both literally and metaphorically.