SPEAKING OF SPACEThe following activity is important for a variety of reasons. This activity can be very helpful for you to understand all of the many little pieces that fit together in the world of science. Just like any major problem or issue that a person finds challenging, science can seem scary. However, it is nothing to be afraid of. The thing to do whenever you are faced with something challenging is to break it down into very small pieces, find a piece that you are comfortable with, and slowly add the pieces back together. All of a sudden, the fear is gone and you understand it in your own way. Let's do that with different aspects of this chapter.For this activity, you are to return to the different parts of the chapter (including the Earth Physiology section, the Student Investigations, and the section that describes Dr. Holton's experiment) and just skim them. While skimming each part, keep an eye out for things that would fit into two different lists that you will be producing. First, list all of the different science discipline areas that are involved in the examination and study of various aspects of bone. Give as many examples as possible of when and how these different science areas are used. The entire class will discuss and combine all of the different lists. Then each student will be asked to comment on his or her favorite science area as it applies to bone research. Second, list all the different kinds of people that must have been "involved" with carrying out Dr. Holton's investigation including technicians, drivers, animal handlers, and so on, who were responsible for even the smallest part of her experiment. List as many people as you can and include a short comment on what they do. The entire class will discuss and combine all of the different lists of people and jobs. Then each student will be asked to select which job they would most like to do, besides being an astronaut, and explain why. Remember this for the future: all you need to do is to break complicated things down into very small and manageable pieces and then they no longer look so complicated.
Have fun and we'll see you in the next and final chapter!
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