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Taught a 7th grade lesson on evolution, specifically Darwin's evolutionary theory of natural selection and his finches. Students worked on an activity that utilized kitchen tongs and fruit to have them understand the differences among fiches beaks and the food that they were able to eat and not eat. I strive to incoporate hands-on activities or experiments to have students understand concepts. I would like to know another activity, experiment, or entirley new topic that I could have taught to better understand the concept of evolution without having to deal with controversial issues such as religious views.

Hi Tina,
We can't wait to see your collection of resources! Thanks ahead of time for assembling a collection that you will attach here. I think you summed it up nicely. It is not necessarily fortunate that the very word evolution can evoke such strong feelings. One day I was teaching about the difference between rotation and revolution. By the end of the day, I had been called into the principal's office to find out why I was teaching evolution. (The student had gone home and said he learned about evolution instead of revolution.)
Everything, living AND nonliving, evolves and changes over time! My physical appearance is a testament to that fact! If only Darwin had called his theory the Theory of Ape-ee-ness ...(not to be confused with happiness). Anything other than evolution! I jest, but the conversations that are sparked may lead some to deeper thoughts on how science and religion clash, co-mingle, and mesh all at the same time.
The NSTA has a position statement on the teaching of evolution.
Also, one can find several resources here to help with teaching this topic. Like anything else, it should be part of the curriculum mandated by the local school board and state if it going to be taught in the classroom. Many districts and states have mandates on this particular theory because of the historical and religious conceptions and misconceptions surrounding this topic.

Carolyn

[size=100]Tina writes: > I discovered that if I taught Natural Selection > without using the term "evolution" my students > did not actually put the two together… Is that good or bad? If we keep avoiding the dreaded e-word, won't students naturally conclude that the idea of evolution is somehow suspect? Carolyn writes: > Many districts and states have mandates on this particular theory…. Calling it a "theory" adds to the confusion. People think that the word "theory" implies doubt, and in science that's not necessarily the case. That evolution occurs is a fact. It's observed to occur -- both in the lab and in nature. I strongly suggest not calling it a theory. I've attached a paper I wrote providing suggested answers to questions that students (or parents or administrators) might ask about evolution. Feel free to contact me with any questions about this. Cheers, Matt[/size] [size=80]======================================== Dr. Matthew Bobrowsky University of Maryland Tel: 443-812-5466 E-mail: [email protected] and MSB Science, LLC Tel: 443-812-5466 [email protected] http://www.linkedin.com/in/mattbobrowsky ' target="_blank"> http://www.linkedin.com/in/mattbobrowsky " target="_blank"> http://www.linkedin.com/in/mattbobrowsky ' target="_blank"> http://www.linkedin.com/in/mattbobrowsky ========================================[/size]

Attachments

Teaching_Evolutionary_Processes_to_Skeptical_Students.pdf (0.16 Mb)

I thought that those reading this thread might be interested in this recent piece in the NYTimes http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/21/education/christian-college-faces-uproar-after-bolstering-its-view-on-evolution.html?hp&_r=0 "professors have to sign as part of their employment contracts, a 41-word section summing up the institution’s conservative views on creation and evolution, including the statement: “The origin of man was by fiat of God.” But in February, college officials decided that professors had to agree to an additional clarification declaring that Adam and Eve “are historical persons created by God in a special formative act, and not from previously existing life-forms.”