To be a scientist is a ready-to-use cross-curricular teaching resource. It uses the Ministry of Education’s 2019 Connected article Betty Batham: Biologist by Kate Hannah.
Betty Batham aboard Munida
Betty Batham was a marine biologist and director of the Portobello Marine Biological Laboratory. Initially, people and equipment made the journey to Portobello via rowboat or kayak, until Betty found a way to fund RV Munida.
Les Tubman (crew, technician), Bill Tubman (skipper), Stan Deans (crew, cook), and Betty Batham on the RV Munida. From photograph album compiled by Bill Tubman, c.1969-1972, University of Otago Department of Marine Science records, MS-3302/357/001, Hocken Collections, Uare Taoka o Hākena, University of Otago.
Curriculum information
‘Betty Batham: Biologist’ is a non-fiction comic biography suitable for students working at NZC level 3 and above. The article and accompanying activities support learning in multiple curriculum areas.
Literacy:
- Students read and interpret text and images.
- Students consider the abstract theme of changing roles for women.
Social sciences – social studies:
- Women’s roles have changed over time.
Science – Nature of Science:
- Scientists often work in collaboration.
- Scientists’ jobs extend beyond working in a lab.
Customising the resources
The worksheet To be a scientist – learning activities is available in a Word file here and also in the link at the bottom of the page.
Feel free to edit the Word document to meet the needs of your programme and your learners.
A reminder – the journal article is accompanied by teacher support material (TSM). It provides instructional strategies, highlights key science ideas and has activity ideas.
Related content
Science over time: Standing on the shoulders of giants curates stories of some of the great scientists featured on the Hub.
Working as a scientist provides a brief overview of some of the many scientists featured on the Hub. Use it to discover some of the reasons people choose a science-related career and some of the things you can do if you are curious to begin a career in science.
The New Zealand Marine Studies Centre still offers great learning opportunities for future scientists. Learn more about their work in these articles:
Useful links
The Connected journals can be ordered from the Down the Back of the Chair website. Access to these resources is restricted to Ministry-approved education providers. To find out if you are eligible for a login or if you have forgotten your login details, contact their customer services team on 0800 660 662 or email orders@thechair.education.govt.nz.
Acknowledgement
The Connected series is published annually by the Ministry of Education, New Zealand.
