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    6. The Making of a Scientist - Class 10 - Footprints

    Updated: Jun 8


    Author: Robert W. Peterson 

    Genre: Biography / Non-fiction 

    Textbook: Footprints Without Feet – Lesson 6

    Mind Map (Click on the panel to expand)

    Listen to a quick Hindi audio summary below for better understanding.

    📝 Summary

    This biography traces the early life and scientific journey of Richard H. Ebright, who grew up to become a renowned scientist. From a young age, Ebright was curious, observant, and driven by a love for learning. His interest in science began with a hobby of collecting butterflies, which gradually turned into serious scientific research.


    His mother played a key role in nurturing his curiosity. She provided him with books, materials, and constant encouragement. Ebright participated in science fairs, learning from failure and continuously improving. One of his most notable contributions was discovering how cells read DNA, which was a significant breakthrough in genetics.


    The story emphasizes that Ebright's success wasn’t just because of intelligence. It was his curiosity, perseverance, discipline, and will to work hard that shaped his path from a small-town boy to a globally respected scientist.



    👤 Character Sketch: Richard H. Ebright

    • Inquisitive: Asked questions and explored answers

    • Determined: Worked hard even after initial failures

    • Disciplined: Balanced academics with science projects

    • Supportive Family: Encouraged by his mother

    • Team Player: Credited his co-workers and mentors

    • Scientifically Curious: Moved from hobby to high-level research


    📚 Themes

    Theme

    Explanation

    Curiosity leads to discovery

    Ebright’s questions drive his success

    Value of mentorship and support

    His mother guided him from early on

    Passion + Perseverance = Success

    Hobby evolved into meaningful research

    Scientific Thinking

    Encouraged observation, experimentation, and improvement

    Failure is a stepping stone

    Initial setbacks shaped his later achievements


    ✨ Literary Devices

    Device

    Example / Role

    Chronological Order

    Events presented in order from childhood to achievement

    Anecdotes

    Personal stories make the narrative engaging

    Simple Language

    Keeps the story relatable for students

    Quotations

    Adds authenticity to scientific discussions


    📖 Title Justification

    The title The Making of a Scientist is perfectly justified as the story highlights how Ebright’s journey unfolded step by step—from collecting butterflies to publishing scientific papers. It focuses on the qualities, values, and experiences that contributed to shaping him into a successful scientist.


    ✅ One-Mark Questions (Q&A Format – Complete Sentences)

    Q1. What was Richard Ebright’s childhood hobby?

     👉 Richard Ebright’s childhood hobby was collecting butterflies.


    Q2. Who played a key role in Ebright’s learning journey? 

    👉 His mother played a key role by encouraging him, giving him books, and guiding his learning.


    Q3. What book changed the direction of Ebright’s butterfly collection? 

    👉 The book The Travels of Monarch X introduced him to real scientific tracking and research.


    Q4. What important discovery did Ebright help make in his high school years?

     👉 He helped discover how cells read the genetic code in DNA using messenger RNA.


    Q5. Why did Ebright lose in the first science fair he participated in?

     👉 He lost because his project was just a simple display of slides, not a real experiment.


    ✅ Three-Mark Questions

    Q1. How did Ebright’s mother help him become a scientist? 

    👉 She bought him scientific books, microscopes, and encouraged him to learn and explore. She also guided him to participate in science fairs and introduced him to real experiments.


    Q2. What lesson did Ebright learn from losing his first science fair? 

    👉 He learned that science isn’t about pretty displays—it’s about doing real experiments that answer questions. This failure motivated him to do proper research in future fairs.


    Q3. How did Ebright contribute to the study of heredity? 

    👉 Ebright and his fellow researchers discovered how a cell uses messenger RNA to read the DNA code, which was a breakthrough in genetic science.


    🧠 Value-Based Question

    Q. What can students learn from Ebright’s life and scientific journey?

    👉 Students learn that success comes from curiosity, hard work, and the courage to fail and try again. Ebright’s story encourages young learners to be observant, question the world around them, and stay dedicated to their passions.

    END


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