Genealogy of an idea

A quick exploration of science books would reveal that there are many laws, definitions, and principles. The students might understand or learn it by rote. Many concepts in science are abstract in nature and one wonders how they originated. Tracing the history of how concepts developed and how they were formulated, reformulated, and over years how new paradigms evolved might make the abstract idea interesting. It also describes how scientists worked, their failures and multiple attempts thus humanizing science and giving a sense that is a hu(wo)man pursuit. It presents science as a hu(wo)man endeavour instead of idealizing it as something ‘out there’. (Indumathy, 2016)[i]

Suitable for small and large groups.

• Ability to use tree structures to represent the diversity of ideas;
• interlinking successive generations of diverse disciplines,
• improved research skills

Draw up a family tree interlinking successive generations of one of the following disciplines: advertising, magic, photography, poetry, taxidermy, engineering or design.

Use the internet and/or traditional library resources to develop a short presentation on the invention/idea you chose. You might also want to develop a model from various materials (sticks, paper rolls, other household materials, etc.) to demonstrate what the invention looked like and how it worked. If such materials are not available, create a diagram with paper and pencil or use a computer to create a graphic, animation, or PowerPoint presentation.