Description
Today many school students are shielded from one of the most important concepts in modern science: 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 for scientists and educators, this book illustrates how evolution explains both the great diversity and the underlying similarity of the earth's organisms; it explores how scientists approach the question of evolution; and it describes 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, there are 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. Comprehensive and practical, Teaching About Evolution and the Nature of Science brings one of today's educational challenges into focus in a balanced and reasoned discussion. It can be read online at www.nap.edu/readingroom/books/evolution98. For more information and additional resources, visit www4.nas.edu/opus/evolve.nsf.
Reviews
"The first third [of this book] is one of the nicest summaries of evolution and its rationale that I have seen for a long time. It is attractive and readable. ... There are some good sections for people concerned with communicating about evolution to others, especially in schools and universities. ... The book is aimed at science educators who are uncertain about the place of evolution in the school curriculum and those who have to justify their practice of teaching evolution. ... For science educators, this book achieves its aim with distinction, earning a place in the library of a school science department and university faculties of education and science."
-- ISCAST Bulletin 31 (Institute for the Study of Christianity in an Age of Science and Technology), January 2001
