I am a Masters of Education student at Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, Ontario. Through this portfolio, I wanted to create a platform where educators can find stories that can be used in the science classroom. The creation of this website represents a small effort to create a resource material for teachers relating stories to the science lessons.
Stories can catch students’ attention (a natural hook for students), give students a mental organizer, and help students change/switch gears. Moreover, storytelling is an effective way to teach lessons, a gentle and effective way to pass on concepts and values, which helps to build bridges between people and the natural world, and above all, it is fun for students and teachers.
The biographies of scientists can be used to encourage students and as a way to hook students’ attention, during introductions or transitions in lesson plans. They can further be used to normalize the concept of women and girls in science, and to break stereotypes and promote a healthy environment that supports and encourages every student irrespective of gender, community, or ethnicity, showing a realistic image of the science community.
Facts come from scientific study, and opinions come from peoples’ narratives. These two can be used together: facts can be used to inform stories and to shape an opinion which has a basis in logic. Content-based stories are the ones that are based on the science concepts, a narrative created using the facts and having logical bases to inform the affective domain.