To be a scientist

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

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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.

Rights: 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.