New
New
Year 4

How scientists communicate with the public (non-statutory)

I can describe different ways in which scientists communicate with the public using the media.

New
New
Year 4

How scientists communicate with the public (non-statutory)

I can describe different ways in which scientists communicate with the public using the media.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Scientists communicate via TV news programmes, newspapers and social media.
  2. Scientists use simple language, photos, tables, drawings and charts to help the public to understand their results.
  3. The results of scientists' tests can be used to help the public to lead healthier, safer lives.
  4. Scientists appeared on TV every day to help the public to understand how to keep safe during the COVID–19 pandemic.
  5. Science experts and communicators help the public to understand the world by writing books and presenting TV programmes.

Common misconception

Scientists do not communicate directly with the public.

Explanation of the different ways in which scientists can communicate with the public.

Keywords

  • Media - The media gives the public news and information. Different types of media include television, radio, newspapers, magazines and the internet.

  • Result - The result of a test or enquiry is what happened or what was found out.

  • Table - A table is a grid in which information can be recorded and stored.

  • Chart - A chart is a drawing that shows information.

  • Communicate - To communicate is to share or exchange information or ideas.

Invite a scientist in to discuss their work, what they enjoy about being a scientist and how they communicate with the public. If this is not possible, there are organisations that can arrange for pupils to interview scientists online.
Teacher tip

Equipment

paper, pencils/pens, examples of different science books for pupils to explore in Task B

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which of these images shows a chart?
Image 1
Correct answer: Image 2
Image 3
Q2.
What do we do when we communicate?
An image in a quiz
share money
share food
Correct answer: share ideas or information
Q3.
Which of these images shows a table?
Correct answer: Image 1
Image 2
Image 3
Q4.
What are the results of an investigation or enquiry?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: what we found out
which equipment we used
what we thought would happen
how we will do the investigation
Q5.
What do scientists write at the end of an investigation or enquiry?
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: a conclusion, an evaluation, conclusion, evaluation
Q6.
Why do scientists share the results of their work?
An image in a quiz
to show off what they have achieved
Correct answer: to help people to make informed choices
to become famous
to earn lots of money
Q3 image 3 smartman/shutterstock. Modified OAK, 2024.

6 Questions

Q1.
What is communication?
An image in a quiz
texts, images or objects created using information gathered by others
a grid in which information can be recorded and stored
Correct answer: sharing ideas or information
Q2.
How can scientists communicate with the public?
Correct answer: television programmes
a pop music concert
Correct answer: books
Correct answer: social media
Q3.
What can help the public to understand the results of scientists' investigations?
a story book
Correct answer: simple language
a radio comedy show
Correct answer: drawings
Q4.
How can scientists help people to lead healthier, safer lives?
Correct answer: They can make new treatments and cures for diseases.
They can research dinosaur fossils.
Correct answer: They can create early warning systems for natural disasters.
They can test the hardness of rocks.
Q5.
Why were scientists on television every day during the Covid-19 pandemic?
An image in a quiz
to help the public understand how to measure in different ways
Correct answer: to help the public understand how to stay safe
to help the public understand how to write conclusions to investigations
to help the public understand how to make predictions
Q6.
Why do scientists write books and present television programmes?
An image in a quiz
to earn a lot of money
to have something to do in their spare time
Correct answer: to help the public to understand the world around us
Q3 image 2 Fahng_S/Shutterstock Q4 image 1 PeopleImages.com - Yuri A/Shutterstock Q6 Stefano Guidi/Shutterstock