Briefing
What does a scientist look like? There's more than one answer to that question! You'll come up with a bunch of them in this Smart Art.
Activity
What To Do:
This activity can be done alone or in a group.
STEP ONE
Draw a picture of a scientist at work. If you're in a group, don't look at anyone else's drawings until you're all finished.
STEP TWO
Take an inventory of the features of your drawing. Here is a chart you can use. If you're working alone, check off the features that describe your scientist. If you're working in a group, have each person report on his or her drawing, keep track of everyone's answers, and total up the numbers on each side.
STEP THREE
Look at the features of your scientist, or the features that were used most often in drawings by the group. Were most of the scientists male or female? Old or young? Discuss why you think some features were more common than others.
STEP FOUR
See if you can find examples of scientists who have features that are very different from what came up in your drawing, or in most of the drawings the group made. If you want some ideas, go to these Web sites:
Portraits of Development Research
Minorities in Science Program
4000 Years of Women in Science
Extreme Scientists Gallery
SACNAS Biography Project
African-American Scientists and Inventors
Debriefing
Why do you think certain ideas pop into your head when you hear the word "scientist?" Are these ideas always accurate? What kinds of scientists did you come across in your research who don't fit the first image you thought of?
If you've got your Case Journal, go ahead and answer the questions in it now!