“If you know you are on the right track, if you have this inner knowledge, then nobody can turn you off… no matter what they say.”
Barbara McClintock, cytogeneticist and winner of the 1983 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
As we approach the International Day of Women and Girls in Science on February 11th, it’s an excellent opportunity to spark the spirit of curiosity and discovery by sharing the stories of brilliant women in science. Before immersing students in the world of women in science, take a moment to explore the history of this day. By familiarizing yourself with the origins of this global event, you’ll be better equipped to share its importance with your students!
Interactive Activities to Engage Students
One way to keep students engaged while providing them with some background knowledge on women in science is to create fun interactive quizzes and games. Platforms like Kahoot! (reviewed here) and Quizizz (reviewed here) enable you to create customized quizzes on any topic.
- Kahoot and Quizzizz Games – One way to structure this activity is to take a week where they do a different mini pop quiz. For example Day 1 could focus on women pioneers in science, Day 2 contemporary women scientists currently making waves in their field, Day 3 shed a light on lesser known but equally influential women in science, and so on.
Here are a few websites that can help you build these schema generating quizzes:
Connecting with Women Scientists
Did you know that you can request a video conference with a scientist? The organization, Skype a Scientist, let’s you organize virtual sessions with scientists from around the globe. Teachers can specify the scientific field and choose a specific speaker from a list of scientists, making it easy to find a female scientist to speak to the class. Let’s explore some engaging student activities your students can do to reflect on the virtual conversation.
- Digital Reflection Journals – Encourage students to use Google Docs (reviewed here) to jot down key insights, questions, and reflections on the scientist’s experiences. This not only reinforces writing skills but also provides a personal connection to the session!
- Class Discussions – Provide students an opportunity to discuss what they learned from the virtual session with the scientist through collaborative discussion protocols such as Think Pair Share or Turn and Talk. You can even host an online discussion using platforms like Padlet (reviewed here) or Flip (reviewed here). Students can share their thoughts, ask questions, and respond to each other in a visually engaging way.
- Podcast Creation – Have students create short podcasts discussing the highlights of the virtual session. Checkout this special topics collection of available podcast creators. Podcast creation combines writing, research, and technology.
Integrating Women in Science All Year Long
I’d also like to take the time to invite you to go beyond celebrating the efforts of women in science for one day. There are ways to honor the work of these amazing women throughout the entire school year. You can try to integrate books or stories of remarkable women scientists into your lessons and activities all year long.
Furthermore you can extend the practice of acknowledging female accomplishments to include achievements in various fields. Incorporate a “Subject Achiever of the Month” recognition during announcements, showcasing the accomplishments of outstanding females in different subjects.
Additional Resources
Lastly, to ensure that you’re able to best celebrate this amazing day in your classroom I want to make sure your toolkit is fully stocked. Below are some additional resources that provide even more ideas and activities, adding richness to our celebration of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science.
- Check out these posts from our TeachersFirst blog:
- World Wildlife Fund’s Women in Science Resources for Educators is designed to teach learners about the important contributions of women and girls in the fields of science and technology.
- The “Unlocking Science” video series from the International Science Council in partnership with BBC Storyworks highlights how scientists around the world are addressing major global issues like climate change while promoting inclusion. Several stories in the series spotlight the contributions of female scientists across the globe, such as:
- Battling bias in AI explores how a team weeds out discrimination for an inclusive AI world.
- The female future of science in Africa introduces Africa’s female scientists as they challenge traditional norms.
- How one young woman’s big tech dreams became a reality introduces Ileana and how an all-female STEAM camp changed her life forever.
- The scientists saving Malawi’s crops illustrates how one woman is helping to shape the future of farming.
The resources shared here are just a small snippet of what’s out there. I encourage you to do your own exploration of ideas and share your insights in the comments below. Together, let’s continue championing the achievements of women in science and cultivating a culture of curiosity, learning, and empowerment!