Teaching About Evolution and the Nature of Science

by U.S. National Academy of Sciences

Today many school students are shielded from one of the most important concepts in modern evolution. In engaging and conversational style, Teaching About Evolution and the Nature of Science provides a well-structured framework for understanding and teaching evolution. Written for teachers, parents, and community officials as well as scientists and educators, this book describes how evolution reveals both the great diversity and similarity among the Earth's organisms; it explores how scientists approach the question of evolution; and it illustrates the nature of science as a way of knowing about the natural world. In addition, the book provides answers to frequently asked questions to help readers understand many of the issues and misconceptions about evolution. The book includes sample activities for teaching about evolution and the nature of science. For example, the book includes activities that investigate fossil footprints and population growth that teachers of science can use to introduce principles of evolution. Background information, materials, and step-by-step presentations are provided for each activity. In addition, this Teaching About Evolution and the Nature of Science builds on the 1996 National Science Education Standards released by the National Research Council?and offers detailed guidance on how to evaluate and choose instructional materials that support the standards. Comprehensive and practical, this book brings one of today's educational challenges into focus in a balanced and reasoned discussion. It will be of special interest to teachers of science, school administrators, and interested members of the community.

Genres: Evolution, Science, Teaching, Nonfiction

152 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

Reviews

[João · Rating 3 out of 5]

Provides a pedagogic guide for teaching evolution across multiple grades/age-groups, including examples of activities. However it suffers from being too much US-centered (e.g. how to deal with creationists is a major topic), heavy usage of direct quotations from other instructional materials, and also, it is overly simplistic at times.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok, I read almost the whole thing - I couldn't make it through the appendix. The NSTA statement on teaching evolution was ok; I think the NABT statement is just too similar for me to read right now.

This book is a pretty good book; it includes information about evolution and teaching activities. I'm just a little tired of evolution. We spent quite a bit of class time discussing readings on this topic. Although I'm slightly more interested in biology than I was a month and a half ago, my interest is still minimal. I think this book was too specific to be very relevant for me.

[Ren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Used for several activities on the nature of science and evolution - the dots lab was particularly good. Others were a bit more advanced than middle school, but the initial writing was also a useful text to excerpt and share as classroom readings.