Black STEM History Can Change the Way a Child Sees Science

Ask students to draw a scientist.

What do they draw?

The answer can reveal something about whom children have learned to associate with scientific discovery.

That is one reason Black STEM history matters.

Introduce students to Black scientists, physicians, mathematicians, engineers, agricultural researchers, astronauts, and inventors. But don't stop with biographies.

Teach the science behind the achievement.

If students learn about a medical pioneer, investigate the relevant biology. If they study an inventor, examine the scientific principles behind the invention. If they learn about an agricultural scientist, conduct a related experiment.

Then students aren't merely memorizing another famous name.

They are doing science.

This is especially powerful for Black children who may rarely encounter scientists who look like them in traditional materials. But it benefits every child. All students need a more accurate picture of who participates in discovery.

Take-away: Representation becomes even more meaningful when students move from "A Black scientist did this" to "I understand the science this person was doing."

That idea inspired The Capable Scholar's Black STEM Lab, which combines Black history with experiments, scientific thinking, and the contributions of Black innovators.