Making Sense of Science and Religion: Strategies for the Classroom and Beyond - PB447X

Front Cover Contents Preface About the Authors and Contributors PART I - Broadening Perspectives on Science-Religion Interactions 1 - Science and Religion as Part of Our Professional Responsibilities 2 - The Need for History and Evolution as a Science-Religion Case Study 3 - The Arc of History Bends Toward Teaching Evolution 4 - Can You Teach That in a Science Class? The Legality of Addressing Religious Beliefs During Science Instruction in Public Schools 5 - What the Public Thinks: Understanding the Current Context for Teaching Scientific Topics With Religious Implications PART II - Practical Suggestions for All Teachers of Science 6 - Addressing Science-Religion Interactions by Teaching About Science in the Elementary Grades 7 - Science and Religion in Middle School and High School Classrooms 8 - Science and Religion in Higher Education 9 - Lessons About Science and Religion From Informal Science Educators PART III - Beyond the Classroom 10- Talking About Science and Religion Beyond the Classroom 11 - Promoting Dialogue on Science, Ethics, and Religion Through the American Association for the Advancement of Science 12 - The Future of Science and Religion in American Schools Index Back Cover It s inevitable: If your lessons deal with evolution, genetics, the origin of the universe, or climate change, some students are bound to question whether they can reconcile what you teach with what they believe about religion. Making Sense of Science and Religion is the book that will help you anticipate and respond to their questions and help students learn science while maintaining their religious beliefs. Understanding that science and religion can co-exist can also make students more willing to learn, regardless of messages to the contrary that they may hear outside of your classroom. This book is divided into three parts: (1) some historical and cultural background as well as a framework for addressing science-religion issues in a legal, constitutional manner; (2) guidance on teaching specific scientific concepts at every grade level; and (3) advice for engaging families, administrators, school boards, policy makers, and faith communities. The book s authors are all personally and professionally invested in the subject. They are a mix of K 12 teachers, college professors, and experts from organizations such as the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. As the preface notes, their hope is that you ll find the concise yet comprehensive nature of this book useful to your everyday work and to your greater understanding of science and religion. "It's inevitable: If your lessons deal with evolution, genetics, the origin of the universe, or climate change, some students are bound to question whether they can reconcile what you teach with what they believe about religion. "Making Sense of Science and Religion" is the book that will help you anticipate and respond to their questions-and help students learn science while maintaining their religious beliefs. Understanding that science and religion can co-exist can also make students more willing to learn, regardless of messages to the contrary that they may hear outside of your classroom. This book is divided into three parts: (1) a framework for addressing science-religion issues in a legal, constitutional manner; (2) guidance on teaching specific scientific concepts at every grade level; and (3) advice for engaging families, administrators, school boards, policy makers, and faith communities. The book's authors are all personally and professionally invested in the subject. They are a mix of K-12 teachers, college professors, and experts from organizations such as the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. As the preface notes, their hope is that you'll find "the concise yet comprehensive nature of this book useful to your everyday work and to your greater understanding of science and religion.""-- Provided by publisher. The authors of Making Sense of Science and Religion believe that addressing interactions between science and religion is part of all science educators' collective job— and that this is the book that will help you facilitate discussion when the topic of religion comes up. Designed for teachers at all grade levels, the book will help you anticipate and respond to students' questions— and help students reconcile their religious beliefs even as you delve into topics such as evolution, geochronology, genetics, the origin of the universe, and climate change. The book is divided into three parts: 1. Historical and cultural context, plus a framework for addressing science-religion issues in a legal, constitutional manner. 2. Guidance on teaching specific scientific concepts at every grade level: elementary, middle, and high school science, as well as college and informal science settings. 3. Advice for engaging families, administrators, school boards, legislators and policy makers, and faith communities. The book' s authors are all personally and professionally invested in the subject. Designed for teachers at all grade levels, this book will help teachers anticipate and respond to students' questions - and help students reconcile their religious beliefs even as you delve into topics such as evolution, geochronology, genetics, the origin of the universe, and climate change.