A Collection of Local Science Mentors

All Levels

Narrative

This is also a variation on several previous activities where the limits of investigation are grounded in a contemporary or geographical frame. The value of this exercise is to obtain a sense of what is going on now 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.)

	Objectives Develop personal and educational empowerment skills for young women. Increase awareness of possible careers and career paths in the STEM professions. Enhance formative assessment skills so that young women and their mentors may continually identify learning strengths and hurdles. Materials Needed Access to the Internet and library for research Current movies portraying women in science on video or DVD (Volcano, etc., paper or transparencies to record group work) The Gender Chip

Guided Experience

Students collect and write up information about scientists, and then display and share this information 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. Featured local scientists might be invited into the class or to the center of girls’ group to view the work of the students and comment on their own careers.