Title – Scientist Biography

By – Dan Gonzales

Primary Subject – Science

Secondary Subjects – Language Arts

Grade Level – 9-12

Lesson Title: Scientist biography

Results Focus: Students will focus on combining library and internet research with several computer programs.

Unit Big Ideas Appropriate to this Lesson: Using technology, research skills and working in groups to bring together a project. Students must also bring skills used in English and History to complete a science project.

Essential Questions Appropriate to this lesson: What did your scientist contribute to science? What field of science does your scientist work in? Does science only deal with Biology and Chemistry?

Subject(s): Various areas of science, English, History, and computer science.

Academic Content Standards Addressed:
Biology H.S. investigation and Experimentation. Analyze locations, sequence, or time. Recognize the cumulative nature of the scientific evidence. Investigate a science based societal issues.

Unit Knowledge & Skills Objectives: Students will become experts in the life of their scientist. Students will write compositions and construct various pieces of evidence. Evidence will be given a score and total points given

Student Assessment strategies: Students are given a rubric and complete description of documents so they can self-check. If students follow the rubric then they will receive full credit.

“Hook” Background, Prior Knowledge: The hook is making a tombstone or grave site for their scientist. Also students are able to pick a scientist they are interested in.

Time: Students will be given about four weeks to complete the project.

Teacher-Led Instruction/Guided Practice: Students will be introduced to the project and given a detailed handout with rubric. Students are shown examples that are good and not so good. Students work with a partner and are given the chance to be very creative.

Resources needed: Document handout, Rubric, Computer with internet access, materials to build a freestanding tombstone, document printer and library books.

Closure: Each project is given back with a detailed scoring guide. Students will also be asked to share in class three never before asked known facts about their scientist

Post Lesson Reflection/Assessment: Upon reflection, working with groups went very well, but next time there should be check points. Make sure groups are only two people instead of three. Must give more detail on tombstone and epitaph. Also to use a video camera instead of just a digital camera.

Next Steps: Revise the rubric and document guide with appropriate dates and examples. Will also try to have a scientist bank so students can choose a scientist right away and get started.

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Dan Gonzales

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