SCIENTISTS IN THE CLASSROOM: CHILDREN INTERACT WITH DOLLS AND DISCUSS ABOUT DOING SCIENCE IN THE 3RD GRADE

ABSTRACT:

This study investigates children’s participation in activities that address directly the issue of scientists’ images, and that involve play with “scientists’ dolls”. It aims to describe and to understand processes of building relations between children, science and the scientist. The participants were 3^rd graders from two different classes. Informed by Ethnography of Education and based on field notes and video records derived from participant observation, we developed initially macroscopic analysis, identifying significative events from each class to develop a microscopic analysis based on transcripts. In the two classes participants’ interactions with the dolls provided opportunities to engage in social practices of school Science. However, each class’ history, and characteristics of the doll had consequences for how the interactions and knowledge was constructed.

Keywords:
Scientist; Play; Elementary school