DIVERSE STEM ROLE MODELS

Affirming students identity in every classroom is essential in the pursuit of an equitable education for all. This becomes increasingly important in fields that have traditionally excluded women and people of color. The activity "draw a scientist" has shown the overwhelming bias that when students think of scientists they normally think of White men (Terada,2019). Despite a growing number of students beginning to draw women, it is essential for teachers to create a space where students feel welcome in the subject matter. In this context of a science classroom, one potential strategy to validate the various identities of our students is to show diverse STEM role models. This could be through community partnerships, or something as simple as hanging classroom posters of diverse scientists. Many options are available through Teachers Pay Teachers, Etsy, and etc. The following link includes 7 STEM role model posters available in 8 different languages available for free. STEM Role Models