1. Science FOR All...Science BY All: Sharing a Legacy of Cultural Competence
It is vital that students understand not only the hows and whys of science, but also the
whos. Children have a strong image of a white male with glasses and messy hair as the
standard scientist, but it is our job to alter that image and show them that scientists look
just like them. In fact, there are scientists of every race, ethnicity, gender, and
socioeconomic background. Teachers need to provide this diverse curriculum that exposes
students to women, people of color, and people with disabilities in history, science,
mathematics, and so on. Presently, America needs more scientists and engineers, and
students must realize that they do not have to be a stereotypical scientist.
“The first function of education is
to provide identity…Identity is the
consciousness of our true nature…
education has the responsibility to
transmit the legacy of
competence…The reason that the
Study of Origins is so important is
because it shows the continuity of
the development of knowledge
and how every people have given
an invaluable piece to the
complex puzzle that is modern
life. This study also continues to
inspire each new generation to
carry on the tradition that their
“tribes” have begun.” (Na’im
Akbar in Know Thy Self)
There will come a day when multiculturalism and science are not discussed independently,
but are instead found in the same conversation. However, until that day comes, we as
teachers need to be sure that in our own classrooms science instruction stresses real-life
applications and acknowledges individual differences so that our students understand that
every person is a scientist, no matter their ethnicity, gender, religion, or sexual
orientation. We cannot afford to wait until the Standards of Learning tell us this is
important; we must start today in every classroom. (Adapted from
http://mrc.spps.org/multicultural_science_education)
Tarra Ellis, Ph. D.

2. Research-Based Practice:
Transcending Cultural Borders: Implications for Science Teaching
http://www.ouhk.edu.hk/~rcwww/misc/jegede.htm
Crafting Multicultural Science Education with Preservice Teachers Through Service-
Learning http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00220270050167189#preview
Defining „Science‟ In a Multicultural World: Implications for Science Education
http://www.wmich.edu/slcsp/SLCSP148/slcsp148.pdf
Less Talk, More Action for Multicultural Science
http://www.eric.ed.gov/PDFS/ED442637.pdf
Science Motivation in the Multicultural Classroom
http://science.nsta.org/enewsletter/2004-02/tst0303_64.pdf
Defining “Science” in a Multicultural World: Implications for Science Education
http://www.wmich.edu/slcsp/SLCSP148/slcsp148.pdf
Multicultural Science Education: Myths, Legends, and Moon Phases
http://education.jhu.edu/newhorizons/strategies/topics/multicultural-
education/multicultural-science-education/index.html
Research on Multiculturalism Applied to Students' Learning School Science: Some
Theoretical Issues http://www.ouhk.edu.hk/cridal/misc/krugly.htm
Effective Science Instruction for English Learners
http://docushare.ycs.k12.pa.us/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-
7526/Effective+Science+Instruction+for+English+Learners.pdf
African Science in School Curriculum http://www.africa.upenn.edu/K-
12/African_Science.html
Tarra Ellis, Ph. D.

3. Amazing African Americans
Black Scientists and Inventors http://www.infoplease.com/spot/bhmscientists1.html
Black Innovators Then and Now http://www.littleafrica.com/miracleshappen/
The Faces of Science: African Americans in the Sciences
https://webfiles.uci.edu/mcbrown/display/faces.html
Great African Americans in the Sciences
http://articles.usa-people-search.com/content-great-african-americans-in-the-
sciences.aspx
Spotlight: African American Scientists http://www.scienceupdate.com/spotlights/african-
american-scientists/
Legendary Latinos
SACNAS Biography Project http://bio.sacnas.org/biography/
Latinos in Math & Science: Resources for kids, young adults and teachers
http://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/SciRefGuides/latinos.html
Famous Hispanic Inventors
http://inventors.about.com/od/hispanicinventors/Famous_Hispanic_Inventors.htm
Meet Famous Latinos http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/hispanic/molinatscript.htm
Mentoring and Creating More Latino Scientists http://nbclatino.tumblr.com/luiscolon
Tarra Ellis, Ph. D.

4. Talented Teens:
6 Teenage Inventors That Changed the World http://www.cracked.com/article_19601_6-
teenage-inventors-that-changed-world.html
TSI: Teen Science Investigations http://headsup.scholastic.com/articles/tsi-teen-
science-investigations/
White House Science Fair 2012: Obama Honors Amazing Teen Innovators
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/08/white-house-science-fair_n_1263521.html
Angela Zhang: Teen Scientists Take Home $100K Prize
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/05/california-teen-wins-100k_n_1129649.html
Award-Winning Teen-age Science in Action
http://www.ted.com/talks/award_winning_teen_age_science_in_action.html
Award-Winning Teen Scientists Exemplify Meaningful Learning
http://educatorstudio.com/articles/award-winning-teen-scientists-exemplify-meaningful-
learning
Teen Scientists Help Park Research
http://www.dailyinterlake.com/news/local_montana/article_d12b825c-9eb2-11e0-ba8b-
001cc4c002e0.html
Hillcrest High School‟s Teen Scientists http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snghLDycDUY
Teen Nuclear Scientist Fights Terror http://www.cnn.com/2011/09/01/living/teen-
nuclear-scientist/index.html
Calling All Teen Inventors http://www.fazeteen.com/issue11/inventors.html
Tarra Ellis, Ph. D.

5. Globalization in Middle School Science
Middle School Lesson Plans: Economics and Globalization
http://www.globalenvision.org/forteachers/17/1233
Globalization: Middle School Students and the World
http://www.chatham.edu/pti/curriculum/units/2007/Geever.pdf
Where We Stand: Globalization
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/wherewestand/reports/globalization/segment-one-from-full-
episode/7/
Globalization and Science Education in a Community-Based After-School Program
http://www.springerlink.com/content/748387701745612t/
Helpful Websites:
African American-Latino Scientist Webquest
http://www.mekambo.com/earthscience/scientist_project/african-amscientist.php
Association for Multicultural Science Education
http://www.amsek16.org/www.amsek16.org/Welcome.html
Multicultural Science Education Project http://www.upei.ca/~xliu/multi-culture/home.htm
Native Americans in Science
http://library.thinkquest.org/TQ0312140/ThinkQuest/Alisha/Native%20Americans%20in
%20Science.htm
Tarra Ellis, Ph. D.