Scientific Method

Braden Whitmere (left) and Ryan Anderson, both 9, examine a soil sample in Jeanette McPherson’s third-grade science class at Plains Elementary School in Timberville on Tuesday. Local students are honing their science skills for the new SOLs. (Photos by Stephen Mitchell / DN-R)

Third-graders (left to right) Jenna Gabb, Andrew Campbell, Kyla Weaver and Fabiola Contreras, all 8, study soil samples Tuesday during a soil composition lesson in Jeanette McPherson’s third-grade science class at Plains Elementary School in Timberville. County schools are beefing up their science lessons as the Standards of Learning test gets tougher.