#18-Culturally Responsive Teaching
Activity 1: Journeys in Science-A Multicultural Perspective
Developed by my long-time friend and colleague Annie Maben, here is a great activity that supports scientific contributions from a multicultural perspective.
Students often seem to have the stereotype that all scientists and engineers are white males who wear glasses, pocket protectors, have wild hair and are forgetful about the little things in life. They are passionate only about science and lead dull lives outside of their discoveries. They are super smart, always excelled in school and knew they wanted to be a scientist from the start. Our textbooks seem to take a Western European viewpoint on great scientists, and you are often left with the impression that anyone who isn’t a white male obviously can’t do science.
Today, you will have a chance to read and reflect on minority scientists (teacher can access Google folder with a variety of biographies) who have made HUGE contributions to science despite major barriers on the road to success.
| 1. Read the short article on the scientist you have been given. Make marginal notes as you are reading: questions you want to discuss with your group; connections to your own life that come to mind; a quick picture that captures an idea in the reading. | 7 min |
| 2. Form groups of 4 – you may work at the lab tables, at your seats or in Zoom/Google Meet breakout groups. | 3 min |
| 3. Using Jamboard stickies, share out your questions and impressions of the scientist’s life and their work with your partners. | 5 min |
| 4. Fill in the 4 sections of the multiple perspectives “4-square” on a large piece of chart paper or Google doc for your group | 20 min |
| 5. Select a “leader” and share out your perspectives to the class. (whole class) | 15 min |
| 6. Write a 2-3 sentence summary in your notebook about what new things you learned about becoming a scientist. | 5 min |
(on large sheet of chart paper or Google doc)
| Summary: (of the scientists journey through life) | Drawing: (of highlights, obstacles to overcome, main discovery OR impression of the scientist) |
| Personal Connections: (to your own life) | Connection to Content: (how has this scientist increased the knowledge or use of something we have studied?) |
Here is an exemplar of what a completed “4-square” might look like:
I hope you enjoy this activity!
Stay healthy and safe! Dean
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