Curricula

Activities & Experiences

US Scientists in the 21st Century

All Levels

Narrative

This is another way to develop knowledge about women in science and to fill in gaps of history and textbooks. It involves students in directing their own scope of study and working together to assemble a project that all can contribute to.

	Objectives Create a forum for studying the contributions to STEM of women throughout history. Develop personal and educational empowerment skills for young women. Develop sensitivities for students of both genders to career options decision-making for girls and women Increase awareness of possible careers and career paths in the STEM professions. Materials Needed Access to the Internet and library for research The Gender Chip Noted Female Scientists list

Guided Experience

This is also a variation on several previous activities where the limits of investigation are grounded in a contemporary time frame. The value of this exercise is to obtain a sense of what is going on now for women in science. The availability of images and information in news media make this particularly exciting and the recency helps demystify some of the connection between students and historical approaches. (It might be interesting and helpful to ask students why they chose their subject.) Again, students would then find an opportunity to display and share their information in several possible venues such as ‘A Walk Through History’ or wall and art displays or a collection bound into a book. Students collect and write up information about scientists, and rhwn display and share this information.