Although many girls today challenge the stereotype [1] that they can’t excel at math and science, these same girls may not see themselves pursuing careers in the STEM fields—science, technology, engineering and math. In this lesson, students read about new research that explores obstacles to women pursuing STEM careers and discuss how to remove the barriers. Students will also compare and contrast their own perceptions of STEM careers to those of girls of different races and ethnic groups. This is the second lesson in the series Female Identity and Gender Expectations.
Essential Questions
Objectives
Activities will help students:
Central Text
Excerpts from Generation STEM: What Girls Say about Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math [2]
Learning Activities/Procedures
Part 1: Word Work
Using Prefixes and Suffixes to Expand Vocabulary
Prefixes are words or syllables added to the beginning of words to make another word. Look at the three vocabulary words below: insufficiency, unconsciously and underrepresented.
1. Circle the prefix in each word.
2. What’s left, once you’ve removed the prefix? Do you know what that word means? If so, write a definition of it. If not, look up a definition and write it down.
3. Now, read each sentence. Based on the definition you just learned, and the context of the whole sentence, what do you think the prefix means?
4. Look up the prefix to check your answer.
5. Add two more words that use the prefix.
insufficiency
Outdated stereotypes and feelings of insufficiency can hold girls back.
unconsciously
The subtleties of society and culture reflect the stereotype that girls are not good at or suited for math and science and unconsciously discourage girls.
underrepresented
However, despite these advances, women continue to be underrepresented in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math, collectively referred to as “STEM.”
Suffixes are added to the ends of words and word roots to form related words.
Look at the two vocabulary words below: examination and internalizing.
1. Circle the suffix in each word.
2. What’s left, once you’ve removed the suffix? Do you know what that word means? If so, write a definition of it. If not, look up a definition and write it down.
3. Now, read each sentence. Based on the definition you just learned, and the meaning of the whole sentence, what do you think the suffix means?
4. Look up the suffix to check your answer.
5. Write two more words that use the suffix.
examination
The aim of this report is to explore how girls can better become engaged in STEM through examination of what girls themselves say are their interests and perceptions about these important fields.
internalizing
It is possible that girls are internalizing this stereotype and talking themselves out of achieving in math and science when, in reality, they are doing just as well or better than boys.
Part 2: Close and Critical Reading
1. Pre-reading: How is this organized?
Before you start reading, look over the entire text to get a sense of what’s in it and how it’s organized.
2. Reading
Pre-reading helped you get a sense of what is in the text. Now, it’s time to read it. Read the content under each heading and make sure you understand it fully before you move on and read the content under the next heading. Try one or more of these strategies to help you understand and remember what you’re reading:
3. After Reading
After you read a text, it’s helpful to go back over it to solidify your understanding. Whichever reading method you used in step 2, look at your underlines, notes and/or lists. Ask yourself:
Then write down any of your own thoughts about what you have read. You might write, for example, “I’m not sure I’m convinced by the evidence,” or “I’ve thought about a STEM career myself, but I never thought about why I’m not that interested.”
Part 3: Community Inquiry
Now that you have a grasp of the content of the text, in this part of the lesson you’re going to discuss it—including your responses to it—with other students. Divide into groups of four. Sit in a circle with your group.
Follow this procedure for these four questions:
If time permits, have each group report to the class on its answers to one of the questions, so that all four questions are addressed.
Part 4: Writing to the Source
Pull together what you have learned in this lesson by writing a response to one of the following prompts:
Extension Activities
This reading includes a lot of data, or information, that has been gathered from research. Sometimes it’s easier to grasp the data if it’s presented in a different form. Choose one or more sets of data from the reading and present it differently. You might, for example, make a chart or a graph to display the information visually. When you’re done, share your work with other students. Talk about which format was easier to read and understand.
Additional Resources
Generation STEM: What Girls Say About Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math [4]
Government should foster more interest in STEM [5]
Reading
1. Read closely to determine what the text says explicitly and to make logical inferences from it; cite specific textual evidence when writing or speaking to support conclusions drawn from the text.
2. Determine central ideas or themes of a text and analyze their development; summarize the key supporting details and ideas.
4. Interpret words and phrases as they are used in a text, including determining technical, connotative, and figurative meanings, and analyze how specific word choices shape meaning or tone.
5. Analyze the structure of texts, including how specific sentences, paragraphs, and larger portions of the text (e.g., a section, chapter, scene, or stanza) relate to each other and the whole.
7. Integrate and evaluate content presented in diverse formats and media, including visually and quantitatively, as well as in words.*
10. Read and comprehend complex literary and informational texts independently and proficiently.
Writing
1. Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts, using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence.
4. Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
9. Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.
Speaking and Listening
1. Prepare for and participate effectively in a range of conversations and collaborations with diverse partners, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.
2. Integrate and evaluate information presented in diverse media and formats, including visually, quantitatively, and orally.
Language
4. Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases by using context clues, analyzing meaningful word parts, and consulting general and specialized reference materials, as appropriate.
6. Acquire and use accurately a range of general academic and domain-specific words and phrases sufficient for reading, writing, speaking, and listening at the college and career readiness level; demonstrate independence in gathering vocabulary knowledge when considering a word or phrase important to comprehension or expression.
Links:
[1] http://www.tolerance.org/activity/female-identity-and-gender-expectations
[2] http://www.tolerance.org/sites/default/files/general/Female Identity _L2.pdf
[3] http://www.dialogueonlearning.tc3.edu/classroomapplications/Strategies/orderedsharing-grp.htm
[4] http://www.girlscouts.org/research/pdf/generation_stem_full_report.pdf
[5] http://www.dailycampus.com/commentary/editorial-government-should-foster-more-interest-in-stem-careers-1.2766158?compArticle=yes
[6] http://www.huffingtonpost.com/wendy-pollack/stem_b_1397968.html
[7] http://www.corestandards.org/assets/CCSSI_ELA Standards.pdf