Making Sense of Evolution

CONTENTS OF CURRICULUM UNIT 16.06.03

  1. Unit Guide
  1. Introduction
  2. Background
  3. Rationale
  4. Objective
  5. Concepts
  6. Teaching Strategies
  7. Classroom Activities
  8. Bibliography
  9. Resources for Teachers
  10. Endnotes
  11. Appendix

Gotta Evolve ‘Em All! Evolutionary Ideas for 1st Graders

David Ostheimer

Published September 2016

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Rationale

Over the past 8 years of teaching 1st grade science, I have noticed an interesting trend. At the beginning of a unit, many things that can be explained by my students scientifically are usually explained by them theologically. Why does it rain? God makes it rain. After learning about the water cycle, students are much more likely to bring up evaporation, condensation, and precipitation rather than God’s will as the reason for a day’s indoor recess. When we talk about organisms, many students are likely to say that animals are the way they are because that is the way God made them. While being sensitive to the students’ varied religious beliefs, we will explore the scientific reasons that organisms are the way they are today and how these organisms have changed over time.

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