Teaching about famous female scientists is a great way to inspire students and promote gender equality in STEM fields. More information about this day:
https://www.un.org/en/observances/women-and-girls-in-science-day
https://www.womeninscienceday.org/
Here are some things you could try:
Profiles of Pioneers: Research and Presentation
Introduce students to famous female scientists like Marie Curie, Ada Lovelace, Rosalind Franklin, Mae Jemison, and Jane Goodall.
- Activity: Assign students a female scientist to research. They can create a poster or short presentation highlighting the scientist’s life, achievements, and contributions to science. Encourage students to use pictures, timelines, and key facts.
- Extension: Have students present their work to the class, fostering public speaking and sharing knowledge.
STEM Challenge Inspired by Female Scientists
Link the achievements of female scientists to a hands-on science activity.
- Example: For Jane Goodall, they could create a mini nature observation diary, documenting wildlife or plants they observe around the school. For Ada Lovelace, have students create their own “codes” using simple instructions for a classmate to follow (e.g., “Step 1: Move forward two steps. Step 2: Turn left.”). This introduces the concept of algorithms, similar to how Ada Lovelace wrote the first algorithms for Babbage’s machine.
- Objective: Help students relate the achievements of these women to real-world science and get them excited about conducting experiments.
