Lesson overview
Scientists often share their results at conferences. They do this in a number of ways, one of which is by presenting a poster. At conferences, researchers will stand next to their posters displaying their research and answer questions relating to their work. In this lesson, students will turn the classroom into a mini-conference venue and display their research into ocean acidification.
Learning outcomes
- Understand how field research teams communicate results
- Be able to explain the main issue and science of ocean acidification
- Discuss research topics with peers
Lesson steps
- Why am I making another poster? (10 mins)
Explain that research teams often use posters to provide an overview of their research at conferences. Highlight the different types of information that are used in the poster using the research poster example. - Create posters (30 mins)
For this activity, students need poster making materials such as sugar paper, scissors, glue, coloured markers, as well as printouts of the graphs and work from previous lessons.
In groups of 4-5, pupils create a poster that should include:
- an overview of the issue of ocean acidification
- the chemical process that causes ocean acidification
- the evidence that the oceans are acidifying
- the impact on marine life
- the research that is being carried out in the Arctic
- possible ideas for future research - Classroom conference (20 mins)
To simulate an actual scientific poster presentation, one pair of pupils stays with their poster to explain it to others, while the other pairs tour the posters asking questions.