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Scientists and Society

Scientists and Society

TEKS Objective

The student is expected to connect grade-level appropriate science concepts with the history of science, science careers, and contributions of scientists.


Essential Understanding

The student knows that information, critical thinking, scientific problem solving, and the contributions of scientists are used in making decisions.

Science Background

What Do Scientists Do? Try Science (website) – Science plays a crucial role in numerous jobs and influences society greatly.  Read about the importance of science careers and how students can be engaged to think about them.

What Do Scientists Do?
Try Science, www.tryscience.org

Signature Lesson

Scientists: Cornell Center for Materials Research (PDF) – This multi-lesson unit focuses on scientists.  Students are introduced to careers, research a famous scientist and create a questionnaire for a real scientist.

Scientists
Cornell Center for Materials Research, www.ccmr.cornell.edu

Supporting Lessons

The Lives of Four Famous Scientist: Core Knowledge (PDF) – Students research four scientists from different periods in history.

The Lives of Four Famous Scientist
Core Knowledge, www.coreknowledge.org

The Face of Science: Kinetic City (website) – Students draw pictures of scientists and analyze their depictions as a class.  Then, students research the work and contributions of actual scientists to evaluate the accuracy of their drawings.

The Face of Science
Kinetic City, www.kineticcity.com

Elaboration Lessons and Extensions

Famous Scientist Wanted Poster Project: Alabama Learning Exchange (website) – Students create a wanted poster that features a famous scientist.

Famous Scientist Wanted Poster Project
Alabama Learning Exchange, alex.state.al.us

Assessment Ideas

Minority and Female Contributions to Science and Industry:  Inventions.org (website) – Students chose one scientist and creates a poster illustrating the accomplishments, successes and contributions of this individual.

Minority and Female Contributions to Science and Industry
Inventions.org

Literature Connections

What is a Scientist? Lehn, B. (ISBN-13: 978-0761312987)

Scientist Ask Questions. Garrett, G. (ISBN- 978-0516246628)

Related Science TEKS

(3.1A) Science Safety
The student is expected to demonstrate safe practices as described in the Texas Safety Standards during classroom and outdoor investigations, including observing a schoolyard habitat.

(3.1B) Recycling/Disposal of Science Materials
The student is expected to make informed choices in the use and conservation of natural resources by recycling or reusing materials such as paper, aluminum cans, and plastics.

(3.2A) Plan and Implement Descriptive Investigation
The student is expected to plan and implement descriptive investigations, including asking and answering questions, making inferences, and selecting and using equipment or technology needed, to solve a specific problem in the natural world.

(3.2B) Collect Data
The student is expected to collect data by observing and measuring using the metric system and recognize differences between observed and measured data.

(3.2C) Graphs, Tables, Charts
The student is expected to construct maps, graphic organizers, simple tables, charts, and bar graphs using tools and current technology to organize, examine, and evaluate measured data.

(3.2D) Analyze Evidence and Explain
The student is expected to analyze and interpret patterns in data to construct reasonable explanations based on evidence from investigations.

(3.2E) Value of Repeated Experiments
The student is expected to demonstrate that repeated investigations may increase the reliability of results.

(3.2F) Communicate Conclusions
The student is expected to communicate valid conclusions supported by data in writing, by drawing pictures, and through verbal discussion.

(3.4A) Tools for Collecting and Analyzing Information
The student is expected to collect, record, and analyze information using tools, including microscopes, cameras, computers, hand lenses, metric rulers, Celsius thermometers, wind vanes, rain gauges, pan balances, graduated cylinders, beakers, spring scales, hot plates, meter sticks, compasses, magnets, collecting nets, notebooks, sound recorders, and Sun, Earth, and Moon system models; timing devices, including clocks and stopwatches; and materials to support observation of habitats of organisms such as terrariums and aquariums.

(3.4B) Safety Equipment
The student is expected to use safety equipment as appropriate, including safety goggles and gloves.

Related Math TEKS

3.13A  The student is expected to collect, organize, record, and display data in pictographs and bar graphs where each picture or cell might represent more than one piece of data.

3.13B  The student is expected to interpret information from pictographs and bar graphs.

Additional Resources

Secret Lives of Scientists and Engineers: NOVA (website) – Expose students to dozens of real, scientists and engineers.  Video interviews are personal and shed light on why these men and women chose to be scientists.

Secret Lives of Scientists and Engineers
NOVA, www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova

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