Clarion Module II
What is a Scientist?
Center for Gifted Education, The College of
William and Mary, 2009
Who Am I?
Defining
Scientists
(Frayer
vocabulary
model follows)
Center for Gifted Education, The College of
William and Mary, 2009
Vocabulary Building
Definition
Characteristics
(Last)
(What Scientists Do)
Examples
SCIENTISTS
Non-Examples
•Based on the Frayer Model
•Used in all Clarion units
•Crystallizes meaning through examples and non-examples
•Effective across domains
Center for Gifted Education, The College of
William and Mary, 2009
Examples
• Astronomers—study the
universe (planets, stars,
etc.)
• Biologists—study life
(plants and animals)
• Geologists—study the
earth’s layers of soil and
rocks.
• Physicists—study matter
and energy
Center for Gifted Education, The College of
William and Mary, 2009
Non- Examples
•
•
•
•
An entertainer
A poet
A banker
A store clerk
Center for Gifted Education, The College of
William and Mary, 2009
Scientists:
•
•
•
•
Make observations
Ask questions
Learn more
Design and conduct
experiments
• Create meaning
• Tell others what was
found
Center for Gifted Education, The College of
William and Mary, 2009
Moving the curious kid toward
becoming a scientist requires:
•Doing science, not simply observing demonstrations
•Working within groups as well as individually
•Understanding macro-concepts and metacognition
•Connections to real-world problems
•Teaching within disciplines (content)
•Connections to prior knowledge (and addressing
misconceptions)
•Inquiry and investigation
•Reflection and discussion
•Monitoring and feedback
•Time
-National Research Council of the National Academies (2005)
What is a Scientist? conclusions:
• Many people use science, but not everyone
acts as a scientist.
• It is important for children to discuss nonexamples of scientists in order to understand
what it means to be a scientist.
• Scientists make thorough observations, ask
testable questions, engage in research, often
design and conduct experiments including
rigorous data collection, create meaning from
what they find, and share with others.
• One may become a scientist through by
utilizing the Wheel of Scientific Investigation.
Center for Gifted Education College of William and Mary
Lower Primary
Wheel of
Scientific
Investigation
and Reasoning
Make
Observations
Tell Others
What Was
Found
Ask
Questions
SCIENTIFIC
SCIENTIFIC
INVESTIGATION
INVESTIGATIONAND
AND
REASONING
REASONING
Create
Meaning
Learn More
Design and
Conduct the
Experiment
Javits Project Clarion, Center for Gifted Education, College of William and Mary