Encourage development of self-knowledge and self-expression skills through making zines about women in science

Proposed scenario is an example of how STEAM approach fosters the development of 21st century skills. 

Author of the practice: Ekonomska škola “Braća Radić”, Croatia.

STEP BY STEP IMPLEMENTATION

INTRODUCTION (10 min)

Announce to students that they will have creative lessons, like a childhood game, about women in science by making zines.

Inquiry: Students will use modern technology, either mobiles or computers to look for data about women in music, film, literature and history  linked to science.

Start with a short introduction which includes an interesting video (a part from TV show Big Bang Theory) https://youtu.be/QDdrnacKumg (from 1:18) (suggestion: if possible find subtitles in your mother tongue or similar video).

Ask students to watch carefully and to try to guess the topic of the lesson. When they guess the topic, there is a short discussion about women who were prominent in both science and art, after which they  need to look for those women and then exchange the most known facts and names they have found. They shortly discuss if there were many examples and why.

MAIN PART (60)

After that students need to find more details about specific women, who are more known as actresses rather than scientists. 

Students are randomly divided into five groups and each group gets the name of a woman they need to explore (Lisa Kudrow, Eva Longoria, Mayim Bialik, Natalie Portmann, Hedy Lamarr).

The next step is to make zines and use the information they found.

MAKING ZINES 

While listening to songs about science by famous female singers, continue to guide them with your instructions about making zines. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpTzawl3OmI&t=35s (Kate and Anna McGarrigle: NaCl)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8Ji4uG4cac&t=85s (Ella Fitzgerald How High is the moon)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ADS-VUHSEM (Björk – Virus)

INSTRUCTIONS FOR MAKING ZINES

1. Fold your paper across the long side (known to some of you as “hot dog style”), then unfold. Then fold the short way across “hamburger style.” Fold that hot dog style. Unfold! Do you have 8 equal sections? 

2. OK. Fold along the crease to get back to hamburger style! Use your scissors to cut from the folded edge of the paper (A) to point B.

3. Unfold again! Your paper has a horizontal slit in it. Fold it lengthwise (hot dog style). Hold your folded sheet paper and push your hands together. Squeeze! The slit in your paper should bow outwards into a diamond shape! 

4. Crease the pages and you have a small booklet, a mini zine.

5. Get to work filling your 8 pages! Be sure to leave about 1/4 inch along the outer edge of the paper — it will get cut off when copying.

6. Unfold your zine. 

7. Make copies!

http://www.garvaldedinburgh.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Make-a-zine.pdf

CONCLUSION (20 MIN)

DEBATE ON CAREER CHOICES

Each group presents their “great woman” and shares the most important facts about her. The following and the last activity is debate on career choices. Teacher encourages the debate by making questions. 

Some of these women are good at at least two things: science and acting. 

Do you think achieving this double role is easy? 

If you had to choose, would you prefer the acting or the science role?

There is also this myth about women being better at multitasking. Do you think this is true, and if yes, why would that be?

Students in groups discuss the questions and develop debate.

SUGGESTION FOR OPTIONAL TASK -  EVALUATION 

1.Do you find the topic of the workshop interesting? Yes – Mostly yes – No

2. Evaluate the possibility of using zines in class: 

a. Useful (YES/NO)

b. Fun (YES/NO)

c. Only for the game (YES/NO)

d. Develops creativity (YES/NO)

e. Easier way of learning (YES/NO)

3. Did this workshop arouse your  interest in the topics of the STEM domain? Yes – Mostly yes – No

4. Do you think that you have improved your knowledge or skills with this workshop? Yes – Mostly yes – No

5.  To what extent are you familiar with the women you met over the course of the workshop? Fully familiar - Mostly familiar - Not familiar

6.Please rate the workshop from 1 to 5, with 1 being the lowest and 5 being the highest.