Section outline

  • Lesson Description

    Collapse all Expand all

    Learn about some ways regular people have contributed to science as STEM Citizens! 

    Lesson Objectives:

    Students should be able to

    • Define the term "STEM Citizen"
    • List some ways a person can become a STEM Citizen
    • Identify their beliefs about who can contribute to STEM
    • Recall STEM Citizens from history and their contributions

    This enrichment lesson is geared towards grades 5-8.

  • Engage! STEM Perceptions

    • Engage

      STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.

      These topics make up the STEM field. People who work as scientists, computer programmers, engineers, mathematicians, and more are all part of the STEM field, but is STEM just for those who work in the field?

      What do you think?

      Take the personality quiz to see what your perceptions about who can do STEM!

  • Explore! STEM Citizen Biographies

    • Software Setup

      Many people throughout history have made contributions to STEM. Contributions that are still important today!


      START>>


      Let's learn about four historical STEM Citizens who made lasting contributions to STEM:

      Book 1: The Life and Discoveries of Benjamin Banneker
      Benjamin Banneker was a self-taught writer, astronomer, mathematician, surveyor, and abolitionist.

      Book 2: The Life and Discoveries of Sir William Herschel
      William Herschel was a musician turned astronomer who changed the face of modern astronomy.

      Book 3: The Life and Discoveries of Mary Anning
      Mary Anning was a pioneer in the field of paleontology.

      Book 4: The Life and Discoveries of Thomas J. Bopp
      Thomas Bopp was an average person who worked as a manager during the day, but whose passion for astronomy led him to make a huge discovery!


  • Explain! What is a STEM Citizen?

    • Hardware Setup

      STEM Citizens are members of the general public who contribute to STEM fields, often by pursuing STEM as a hobby and by working on collaborative projects with STEM professionals.

      Another term you may have heard before is Citizen Scientist.

      STEM Citizens typically have no formal training or degrees in their field of interest, and are often self-taught. So how do they contribute? Let's take a look!


      START>>

  • Extend! You can be a STEM Citizen

    • Circuit Triggers Internet Action

      By now, you should have explored STEM Citizens from history and learned a bit more about STEM Citizens in general, but did you know that there are many opportunities for students like you to help with Citizen Science?


      START>>


      Explore opportunities to participate in citizen science in this activity.

      Opportunities are grouped into several categories:

      Research Projects

      Learning Opportunities

      Playing Games for Science

      This information is also available as PDF downloads:

      STEM Citizen Research Projects

      STEM Citizen Learning Opportunities

      STEM Citizen Playing Games for Science



  • Evaluate! Ending STEM Perceptions

    • Combining Inputs and Outputs

      Now that you've explored how everyday citizens can contribute to STEM, let's see if your perceptions about who does STEM changed.