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Activity Guide
Some Tips for Using BreakThrough in the Classroom
- Before showing the programs to your class, watch them yourself and select highlights or sections that you think will be of particular interest to your students. You may decide not to use an entire program with your students; organize the viewing experience to emphasize just the portions that you think are most useful. Working within the constraints of a regular class period, you may want to select no more than 20 minutes of video to allow for pre-viewing and post-viewing activities and discussion.
- Set up your classroom or viewing area before the students arrive, making sure that the video monitor and chairs are positioned so that all students can see and hear.
- Prepare the students for what they are about to see. Before they watch the video, give them some background information about the series and about the scientists they are about to meet. You may want to ask some probing questions or conduct an activity that raises students' interest in finding out more about the individual scientist or about the scientist's work. For instance, you may want to have students keep a notebook or a chart to record information about each scientist as they watch. Or, you can challenge students to watch and listen for specific information with questions such as, "How did this person become interested in science generally and in the specific field? Who supported her or who gave her negative feedback in her pursuit of the science? What is the most exciting or interesting part of the job to this scientist? What interests you about the science in this program? How did the scientist prepare for his career? How long did he study in school?
- While the video is playing, feel free to stop the tape at key points to allow students to take notes, discuss bits of what they've seen, or to re-focus the class to watch an upcoming useful clip.
- After playing the entire video or the selected clip, follow through with the students on questions that you asked at the beginning, or expand the viewing experience by conducting an activity or discussion that allows students to apply what they learned and share their own views. For instance, you may want to challenge students to investigate the career of one of the scientists that they find interesting, and to find out some other jobs in the field. What classes would you need to take now or in high school to prepare yourself for a career in this field? What other types of experience, such as volunteer work or hobbies, could help you prepare for this field?
BreakThrough: The Changing Face of Science in America premiered on April 8, 1996 and continued on April 15 and April 22. Contact your local public television station for rebroadcast dates. You may videotape the programs and use them with your students any time within a year of the re-broadcast.
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