Data TalesEARTH 2014 - Monterey, CA

Lindsay Knippenberg and Alia Thompson

● You can text or respond via computer for your responses

● Uses a free web program called Poll Everywhere

A Quick Poll...

Is there a best way to communicate scientific data? In this lesson students will participate in a variety of activities to use storytelling to communicate complex data sets. The lesson starts with opinion polling, a group storytelling activity and ends with the students creating their own stories to describe a scientific data set and reviewing their peers’ stories. Students will learn to think critically about scientific data and then communicate their understanding to a broad audience by telling the story of their data.

Data Tales Overview

Engage = Grab kids attention with a poll

○ Poll Everywhere of 5 opinion questions and class discussion

○ Free and accessible to most devices

Lesson Format: 5 E

Explore = Students listen to a podcast or read a science story and identify the elements of a story using an associated worksheet

○ Viral Invasion Podcast○ Sample Questions:What is the motivation

behind the story? Give examples of how the author is clear and vivid

○ Extension Activity

Lesson Format: 5E

Explain = Discussion of 2 articles describing the same data in 2 different formats

○ small group or entire class discussion○ pdf’s of both articles - “Killer Cats”○ sample prompts given

Lesson Format: 5E

Elaborate = Students create their own stories using scientific data

○ 3 options of data set○ Students choose a communication

method (video, infographic, choose your own adventure, narrative)

○ Storyboard rollercoaster

Lesson Format: 5E

Data sets

Data setsTitle Date

Type of organism Longitude Latitude Quantity

Cannonball Jelly on Wrightsville7/29/2014 Jellyfish -77.79 34.22 1

Velella 7/29/2014 Jellyfish -121.79 36.8 100+

Fried Egg Jelly 7/27/2014 Jellyfish -120.85 35.37 1

Lions mane Jellyfish 7/26/2014 Jellyfish -2.42 56.76 6 to 10

Jelly swarms pwllheli 7/25/2014 Jellyfish -4.39 52.89 6 to 10

Barrell jellyfish swarm 7/24/2014 Jellyfish -4.54 51.69 100+

Mangrove Box Jellyfish 7/23/2014 Box Jelly -80.07 26.37 100+

Fried Egg jelly at Tlall River mouth to Hecate Straight

7/20/2014 Box Jelly -131.94 53.61 1

Dead Lion's Mane jelly at Tlall River mouth to Hecate Straight.

7/20/2014 Box Jelly -131.94 53.61 1

Pei jellyfish 7/19/2014 Jellyfish -64.09 46.77 1

Lionhead jellyfish 7/19/2014 Jellyfish -4.64 55.46 1

Cannonball Jelly! 7/17/2014 Jellyfish -78.2 33.91 2 to 5

bloom of moon jellies at prince Rupert ferry terminal

7/17/2014 Jellyfish -130.35 54.3 11 to 99

Lions mane jellyfish 7/16/2014 Jellyfish -1.58 55.42 1

Cordova, Alaska 7/15/2014 Jellyfish -145.76 60.55 1

● Infographic = http://piktochart.com/ ● Short Video = http://animoto.com/ ● Choose-your-own-adventure story =

https://writer.inklestudios.com/ ● Narratives = http://voicethread.com/

Sample Tech Tools

Roller Coaster Storyboard

Evaluate = peer and teacher review of stories using rubric, discussion prompts

Lesson Format: 5E

Criteria 4 3 2 1

SCIENTIFIC CONCEPT

A clear science story. Story idea based on a real scientific principle, data and/or invention that inspires all aspects of the story.

Idea mostly based on a scientific principle, data and/or invention which may inspire plot, setting, conflict, or resolution.

Little evidence of scientific, data and/or invention used for inspiration and/or science has little to do with the plot, setting, conflict, and resolution.

Genre of the story is unclear and/or story written in different genre (fantasy, historical fiction, etc.). No inspiration from science.

ORGANIZATION

Events are integral to the topic/ data and placed in a logical order. The way events are presented effectively keeps the interest of the audience.

The story has a clear beginning, middle, and end. Events are mostly related to the topic/ data.

Too many events, not always related to topic/ data or plot line, are not placed in logical order. Needs to be re-organized.

The story is unorganized and confusing. May be missing transitions, beginning, middle, and/or end.

SETTING

The story is well developed and all components are key to the plot and conflict. The setting fits the chosen data and scientific topic.

The story is mostly developed and most components are key to the plot and conflict. The setting mostly fits the chosen data and scientific topic.

The setting is developed but is not integral to the chosen data and scientific topic.

The story setting is neither developed nor integral to the data and scientific topic.

“Telling Science Stories,” http://www.cmu.edu/student-org/pcr/past/2012-2013/tss1.html“Science needs a make-over,” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUX16wqbiME“Science and Storytelling: The use of stories in science education,” http://blogs.plos.org/scied/2013/06/24/science-and-storytelling-the-use-of-stories-in-science-education/

“Seven elements of good storytelling,” https://www.msu.edu/course/tc/842/SevenElements%20Story.htm

Useful Resources