What does a scientist look like? Most people think of an older man in a white lab coat with beakers and bubbling test tubes around him. I wanted the kids to realize that this is not always the case and they are actually scientists, too.
When I did this activity last year, I hung the drawings up in the hallway. This year, I want them to draw the pictures into their interactive science notebooks. This would be a right page activity after we do the science classroom scavenger hunt.
I wanted the kids to view themselves as real scientists and draw themselves in a scientific setting of their choice. The kids came up with some great scenarios such as a marine biologist, zoologist, vet, chemist, astronaut, researcher, paleontologist, entomologist, etc... They really got a sense of how there are so many different kinds of sciences to study and types of scientists, not just the usual stereotype most people think of.
I condensed the handout so that they can glue the instructions to the top of their notebook page and have about 3/4 of the page to draw themselves as a scientist in a setting of their choice. Here is the new handout: http://www.middleschoolscience.com/i-am-a-scientist-isn.pdf
I also mention that the creator of SpongeBob SquarePants, Stephen Hillenburg, was actually a marine biologist before he started the cartoon series.
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Here's a fun link with a cartoon showing unsafe activities in a science lab.
ReplyDeletehttp://expedioscientiam.net/school/resources/
Thanks Marcia, I forgot about that one! I remember looking at it last year, thanks for the link!
ReplyDeleteLoved the link. Will use that in my notebook this year. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteEve Heaton
www.sciencenotebooking.blogspot.com
I didn't know that about the creator of Sponge Bob....we are doing this activity tomorrow and I'll be sure to share with my kids.
ReplyDeleteThis is the first year I'm trying ISN, and you have some great ideas...thanks for sharing!