I’m a Scientist is an online, student-led STEM enrichment activity. It connects school students with scientists through energetic real-time text based chats. To find out more and register your pupils to take part in the Great Science Share Zone click on the button below.
The Great Science Share for Schools Campaign Manager, Steph Hepworth spoke to some teachers to find out more about how they have used I’m a Scientist get me out of here in their classroom.
Margaret Young, Year 6 Teacher, Science Lead
Kenmont Primary School, London
S: How did you get started with I’m a scientist?
M: I started in a computing lesson and the children were really positive and had so many good ideas and I thought ‘I must do this again'.’ The children were surprised to learn that scientists were just like them! So when COVID hit I decided to use it with some of the mixed year bubbles and I also suggested it to other teachers. The feedback I got from the year one and two teachers was amazing and the questions the children generated were really very good.
S: What sort of topics have you covered?
M: Psychology, microbes, engineering, there are so many zones to choose from and they’ve all been really amazing. I have tried to let the other teachers know what’s coming up and how it links to the curriculum.
“I have also seen an amazing impact on children with special educational needs who have really engaged with the chat and came up with really good questions, becoming much more engaged with their learning after seeing this real-life purpose for their learning.”
S: What is your role during the chats?
M: The teachers and teaching assistants act as facilitators really, making sure the children have prepared for the chat beforehand and then being there in the session to ensure everyone is participating and typing in questions for the children if they need support. There are moderators on line who have been great at keeping an eye on the chat and ensuring all of the questions are seen by the scientists. They even give out warnings to children if necessary, to keep the chat on track. Once the children have taken part it becomes easier because they know their question will be answered and also they become better at asking ‘good’ questions.
S: What have been the main benefits of taking part?
M: We have seen a development in the questions children are asking, the quality has improved and the children know what a good question is. I have also seen an amazing impact on children with special educational needs who have really engaged with the chat and came up with really good questions, becoming much more engaged with their learning after seeing this real-life purpose for their learning. That has been really exciting to see.
Michele Reilly & Moira MacLeod, Primary 7 Teachers
St Bridgets, Glasgow
S: So how long have you taken part in the I’m a scientist chat zones?
Moira: It has been 5 years.
S: Which year groups have taken part?
Michele: The youngest group was Primary 6 - our 9 - 10 year olds.
S: Can you tell me about arranging an I’m a scientist chat and your experience from start to finish?
“The children started asking about qualifications, which obviously is very important and they’re also asking questions that help them see that these scientists are just normal human beings!”
Michele: We usually spot an interest ‘zone’ from the email they send out. Once we choose a zone, we let the children know about it and use the lesson plans to get them prepared for the chat. We let them know what’s involved and they can then register themselves and set up profiles before reading the information about the scientists they will chat to.
S: What’s been the biggest benefit of taking part in the chats?
Michele: The questions improve, they start thinking it’s a game of sorts but then become more and more involved and the questions get more sophisticated and they begin to think more deeply about the best questions to ask. They start asking about qualifications, which obviously is very important for the children and they're also asking questions that help them see that these scientists are just normal human beings!
Moira: These kind of activities have enabled the children to reason better and think in a different way. It links really well to ‘My World of Work’, which is a focus in Scotland, and ‘Developing the Young Workforce’, which is all very important for the future to ensure young people go into these industries. So I think participating is helping to break down the stereotypes about what a scientist is and they realise they are real people who have interests in sports and are males, females, all different variety of people.
Jennine Nicholls, Class Teacher and Science Coordinator
Rampton Primary School, Nottingham
S: So how did you get started with I’m a Scientist?
J: We started with it as a lunchtime activity and the children literally wolfed their food down to get started, they were so excited! Then we took part with the after-school STEM club. We have done quite a few zones now.
S: Can you tell me more about the scientists your pupils have chatted with?
J: We have spoken to an Astrophysicist, Biologist and Marine Biologist. It has really taken away the image of scientists in white lab coats. We have had male and females, people of different ages and people who have been scientists for different lengths of time. So from a careers and aspirations point of view that has been so beneficial. The scientists really seem to enjoy the experience too, there’s a real buzz from all sides!
S: How has it worked through the school?
“They see the real-life connection between the learning in school and the real world, they see the value.”
J: We took part across four classes during Science Week so we could all join in on the chat. The Key Stage one and nursery classes were supported by the teacher who typed in their questions and they said the children were so amazed that a real person was actually there to answer their questions. This really motivated them to come up with great questions. The children know this is a part of STEM Club so they really want to sign up! And the children who have taken part are so excited to continue science into Key Stage 3.
S: What has been the most valuable part of the experience for your school?
J: The children have the opportunity to use the vocabulary they have learned in a real-context and as the conversation continues they develop and improve their questions. They see the real-life connection between the learning in school and the real world, they see the value. That’s the beauty of it and the children start to view themselves as scientists and think about where they can go with science.
Does this sound like an amazing opportunity for your pupils?
We think it would be an amazing activity to build up to you Great Science Share event on June 14th 2022. If you want to get involved in the Great Science Share Zone then click on the button below.
Have you registered for you class or school to take part in this year’s Great Science Share yet?
If you haven’t then click on the link below to join the celebration of young scientists.
