The new publication from NSTA, Evolution in Perspective, is a must-read for all science teachers. This is not a traditional volume focusing on why science teachers should teach evolution, nor is it another treatment of evolution versus creationism or a collection of activities. It is instead an elegant collection of journal articles that bring together the concepts of the nature of science and the theory of evolution.
This book is based on the simple but powerful idea that teachers and students must understand the nature of science to understand evolution. The book is divided into three sections: "The Scientific Perspective," which presents the latest evidence for evolution; “Thought Patterns in Science and Creationism," which distinguishes the approaches in a logical and dispassionate way; and "The Science Teacher’s Perspective," which presents instructional activities. These lessons are best suited for high school, but the classroom experiences that combine inquiry and evolution could certainly be adapted to lower-level life science classes.
Evolution in Perspective argues that teachers and students must understand what science is and how inquiry works in order to achieve a greater understanding of concepts and topics. It provides a current look at this critical area of science, including the latest information on taxonomy based on evolutionary research. The book is compelling reading for science teachers, because we must ensure that our students understand science as a way of explaining the natural world.