Questions for ‘Linking science to dance, culture and more expands who can take part’ 

To accompany ‘Linking science to dance, culture and more expands who can take part’

SCIENCE

Before Reading:

1. Envision a person doing science. In a few sentences, describe what first comes to mind. For example, you might describe the person, some of the actions they are doing or where the activity is taking place.
2. Do you consider yourself very interested, moderately interested or uninterested in science? (Feel free to be honest.) Next, give an example of one of your hobbies. Imagine a person telling you that there is absolutely no science involved in this hobby whatsoever. Try to prove this person wrong. Come up with one connection between this hobby and science. (It’s OK if this connection seems a bit of a stretch.)

During Reading:

1. What is the goal of the STEM From Dance program?
2. What difference did Kayla DesPortes note between the people who use computers and the people she saw working in computer engineering?
3. What is DanceBits? Explain what DesPortes means when she says it allows dancers to “improvise.”
4. How does swell paper work? Why would Amy Bower find this paper especially useful?
5. What is the name of the project started by Bower and her team? What is the goal of this project?
6. Describe what a visitor might experience in the type of ocean map exhibit Jessica Roberts hopes to design.
7. How did Lydia Jennings celebrate earning her Ph.D.? How did she connect this experience to her culture?
8. What is the Indigenous name for the Chickaloon Native Village in Alaska?
9. According to Jennings, what is a major difference between how mainstream science and many Indigenous cultures build knowledge?
10. Give an example of one thing Jennings discussed with teens at her 2025 summer workshops.

After Reading:

1. Visit the website of the Indigenous Foods Knowledges Network and pick one of the food stories described on the page. Based on your reading, why is this area of focus important for the writer’s community? Briefly explain.
2. The word “innovative” describes something that uses new methods or ideas to accomplish something. Consider the three examples described in this story. To what extent would you describe these as innovative? Briefly explain your answer, including at least one specific point from this story.
3. The three examples described in this story highlight very different activities and people, but they also share some similarities. Write down two characteristics shared by all three examples. These similarities can be specific or broad in nature. Finally, come up with a one-sentence “take-home” message for this story. Use the similarities you identified to guide your answer. Choose one of the examples from this story and explain how it supports the take-home message you came up with.