Details
| Type of Product: | NSTA Press Book (also see downloadable PDF version of this book) |
| Publication Date: | 1/1/2006 |
| Pages: | 204 |
| Stock Number: | PB196X |
| ISBN: | 978-0-87355-263-9 |
| Grade Level: | Informal Education, Middle School |
| Read Inside: |
Masters of all the activities are available here: Virus and the Whale activites |
Our reviewers—top-flight teachers and other outstanding science educators—have determined that this resource is among the best available supplements for science teaching.
[Read the full review] |
Description
With this lively book of activities as their guide, students can follow seven scientists into their labs and out to the field to discover how evolution works. Meanwhile, you’ll benefit from the practical help the book provides with the twin challenges of evolution: what to teach and how to teach it.
For students, Virus and the Whale brings to light some of today’s most exciting and up-to-date research through the stories of scientists who study evolution. Each featured research project highlights an important aspect of evolutionary biology, from the “arms race” between viruses and their human hosts to the long-term evolutionary changes that can turn a land mammal into a whale. The activities lead students to investigate evolution as they try out the kinds of creative thinking skills real scientists use to make new discoveries.
For teachers, three preliminary chapters explain how to use the scientists’ stories as a logical framework for teaching evolutionary concepts. These chapters provide accurate natural history background; offer additional information on the evolution of each of the seven organisms investigated in the book; and introduce common ways in which children and adults think and learn about evolution. Each activity lists learning outcomes tied to the National Science Education Standards and includes assessment questions and materials lists.
Virus and the Whale combines a dynamic narrative with easy-to-use activities, clear illustrations, and a welcome dose of humor.
Additional Info
| Intended User Role: | Curriculum Supervisor, Informal Educator, Middle-Level Educator, Teacher |
| Educational Issues: | Assessment of students, Classroom management, Curriculum, Educational research, Inquiry learning, Instructional materials, Learning theory, Teacher content knowledge, Teacher preparation, Teaching strategies |
Contents
Preface and Acknowledgements
Introduction
by Eugenie C. Scott
How to Use This Book
Chapter 1
Making Sense of Evolution
Chapter 2
Evolution in Seven Organisms
Chapter 3
Teaching and Learning About Evolution
Exploring Evolution Activities
Activity 1 – HIV: Evolving Menace
Explore HIV, the AIDS virus, and discover how HIV’s rapid evolution makes and effective vaccine so difficult to create.
Activity 2 - Diatoms: One-Celled Wonders
Investigate the birth of a new species—a one-celled diatom—and learn from the fossil record how this species evolved.
Activity 3 - Ants & Company: Tiny Farms
Visit the smallest farm in the world—a co-evolved association between farming ants, their fungus crop, crop pests, and bacteria.
Activity 4 - Hawaiian Flies: Song & Dance Success
Learn how over 800 kinds of flies have evolved from a single species of Drosophila that blew ashore on the remote islands of Hawaii.
Activity 5 - Galápagos Finches: Famous Beaks
Conduct fieldwork on Galápagos finches and learn what has caused scientists to rethink the speed of evolution.
Activity 6 - Humans & Chimps: All in the Family
Compare the DNA of human chimpanzees to learn how closely related we are.
Activity 7 - Whales: Walking Into the Past
Travel back in time to an ancient shore—the cradle of early whales—to examine fossil evidence of whales that walked.
Glossary
Resources
About the Authors
Index
Published Reviews
“…[T]he authors outline seven classroom activities based on current research in evolutionary theory and practice. … An excellent classroom-ready tool.”
Curriculum Connections, School Library Journal, Fall 2006
“Virus and the Whale is a new, exciting way of teaching evolution that matches up the National Science Education Standards with the instructional materials being used and provides the teacher with clear-cut learning outcomes and a series of assessment questions for seven activities…. This book is must reading for all science educators….”
Science Books & Films, July/August 2006
“…[T]he authors provide frameworks to virtually guide students into the labs of seven scientists and into the field to discover the mechanism for, and evidence of evolution. Each featured research project highlights an aspect of evolutionary biology, from the ‘arms race’ between viruses and humans, to how and why some land mammals evolved into whales.”
SciTech Book News, June 2006
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