Title:
 The Earth Scientist Project
Summary:
 Students will work in groups of two to research and then present about a given Earth scientist.
Source:
 Courtesy of Jennifer Bergman
Grade level:
 6 - 10
Time:
 prep time to make copies and reserve library or computer time and approximately 5-6 days class time for students

Student Learning Outcomes:
  • Students will gain in-depth knowledge on a given Earth scientist.
  • Students will share their expertise through writing and through presenting to the class.
Lesson format:
Research, writing and presentation activity

National Standards Addressed:

MATERIALS AND WORKSHEETS:

  • Pen or pencil
  • Access to library and/or computers (or cart of applicable books brought to room)

Worksheets:

DIRECTIONS:

  1. Teacher should read through the Student Worksheet and Teacher Assessment Sheet. Teacher will want to make any changes with regard to schedule and organization to those two sheets prior to making copies (one copy of each for student). When using this activity in the classroom, have EACH student fill out a Student Information Sheet (in case one is absent, etc.).
  2. For flow of activity and general timing, see Student worksheet. Depending on class size and class level, timing for class may vary.
  3. After students have paired up and have completed research on their given scientist, they should write an interview between a news reporter (one student) and the scientist (other student). The interview should bring out many details of the scientist's life and or course, should be interesting!

ASSESSMENT:

Please see suggested assessment worksheet -- Teacher Assessment Sheet

This activity could be completed using the Windows to the Universe Journal. Students could complete their information sheets on paper or on-line. Then students could create a presentation/journal about their Scientist for the class to view on-line or during the interview with the Scientist (shown by projector from the teacher's computer).

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

Who made the first star map? When did people know that the Earth was round? When were sunspots discovered? Who was the first woman in space? In learning science, students need to understand that science reflects its history and is an ongoing, changing enterprise. We hope this activity will help your students understand this.

A side note from a teacher-- I had students take notes on each scientist when the interviews were being presented. I took notes as well (for each classroom separately). The encouragement for students to take good notes was that I promised we would play Scientist BINGO at some time in the not-too-distant future (I did this on days when scheduling was not 'normal', i.e., when there were class assemblies, pep rallies, etc.). I had the students draw the BINGO boards themselves and put in the list of scientists (with free space and a couple scientist names repeated depending on how many groups there were). We played for as much time as was available (blacking out a row, or column, our whole board, etc.) with me reading about 4 clues for a given scientist until someone got BINGO. Even my 10th grade class got into this!

RELATED SECTIONS OF THE WINDOWS TO THE UNIVERSE WEBSITE:

OTHER RESOURCES: