Advent of Complex Life

Are you a scientist going into a K-12 classroom to talk about your work? Your visit can have a huge impact on how students view science and scientists, but being prepared is an essential part of a successful classroom visit. The resources and handouts below can help you craft your story and prepare you for what to expect from your audience. These resources were developed and collected by our team for a series of workshops called "Telling Your Story" which you can learn more about here.

TYS Workshop Handouts

• Tips for Teachers for an effective classroom visit
• Pre-planning tips for scientists
• Planning an Effective Classroom Visit - for scientists

Resources for Scientists going into the classroom:

• Teaching That Sticks
• A Guide for Classroom Visits from Tech Bridge
• Tips for Effective Classroom Visits - for politicians, but, lots of useful tips if you replace 'government' with 'science'!
• A Handy Guide to Classroom Visits - from the society of Retired Scientists, Engineers, and Technicians. Includes ideas for activities as well. 
• A Scientist's Guide to Making Classroom Visits - from the University of Manitoba
• Scientists' Classroom Visits and Middle School Students' Interests in Science Careers
• Tips from the National Academies
• Resources from 'Understanding Science'
• MA State Science Standards
• Terms that have different meanings to scientists and the public
• Understanding Science conceptual framework

Resources For Developing Hands-On Classroom Activities

• Perspectives of Hands-On Science Teaching 
• A List of Science Education Journals - many of these have articles with activities in them
• Earth Science Activities 
• Resources for Involving Scientists in Education (RISE) —a web site of useful resources for scientists, maintained by the National Academy of Sciences 
• SEA GRANT Ocean Sciences Education Center (BRIDGE)—large collection of ocean sciences curricula for educators.  
• Digital Library for Earth System Education (DLESE) 
• New England Aquarium Classroom Activities
• Massachusetts Science Education Standards
• Understanding Evolution - lots of activities relating to evolution, earth history, biology

Research Articles on Teacher-Student-Scientist Parternships

• Sharing Science: Characteristics of Effective Scientist-Teacher Interactions
• What Good Is a Scientist in the Classroom? Participant Outcomes and Program Design Features for a Short- Duration Science Outreach Intervention in K–12 Classrooms

• What do Students Think Scientists Look Like?
• Scientists and Public Outreach: Participation, Motivation, and Impediments 

• Adapting Your Research into Inquiry-Based Lessons for Public Outreach in High School Classrooms: an Answer to the Calls to Action

A Few Background Blog Posts

• Don't Go It Alone: Making Outreach Work
• A Crash Course in Science Education and Outreach