This paper discusses the historical background of the creationist movement, presents Federal Judge Overton's analysis of why and how the Creationists got the equal time evolution/creation teaching law passed in Arkansas, and examines how scientists and educators are reacting to the controversy. Creationists were set back when Overton declared…

This is one of several study guides on contemporary problems produced by the American Association for the Advancement of Science with support of the National Science Foundation. This guide focuses on the origin of man. Part I, The Biochemical Evidence for Human Evolution, contains four sections: (1) Introduction; (2) Macromolecular Data; (3)…

Man's phylogenetic development has resulted in a potential for environmental interaction in a symbolic and conceptual manner. There are ontogenetic requirements to develop such potential. The process by which man learns is sequential and involves perceptual-motor-cognitive abilities. There is an optimum respectivity period at each developmental…

This collection contains 42 objectives with six related evaluation items for each objective. An effort was made to present these objectives at a level and in an organization easily adaptable to the elementary curriculum. The major goals of the collection are: 1) to present elementary students with a different way of looking at man and his…

Based on the premise that perception is a continual series of simple hypotheses about the external world which are built up and selected by sensory experiences, this book explores in detail some of the major findings in perception and speculates about interconnections between sensory experiences, brain function, perception, and language and…

Brief analyses of three recent examples of biological determinism: sex roles, overpopulation, and sociobiology, are presented in this article. Also a brief discussion of biological determinism and education is presented. (MR)

Illustrates qualitative and metaphoric applications of entropy in the areas of cosmology, the birth and death of the universe and time; life and evolution; literature and art; and social science. (RT)

Argues that life cycles and the concept of the four-dimensional organism should be the most important idea in teaching high school biology in the United Kingdom. Presents a set of concepts and terms with a view to improving the perceived confusion in present teaching situations. (TW)

Discusses the continuing controversy over evolution and creationism and the role that the courts have played. Examines the effects that result from this controversy, such as the overly cautious selection of textbooks by adoption committees and publishers' reluctance to include "questionable" materials in new books. (GEA)

The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction defused a potentially explosive situation involving the teaching of biological origins by involving members of the educational community in statewide committees that produced two documents focusing on the distinction between science and religion and providing technical assistance. (DCS)

Presents a letter responding to an article on the theological basis for a Judeo-Christian position on creationism. Also presents the author's response to the letter, examining such issues as the general lack of understanding by creationists of the nature of both science and modern biblical criticism. (JN)

This report by the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights assembles information about religious discrimination in the nation's public schools. The commission concentrated its review on: (1) assessing school districts' compliance with the Equal Access Act, and the Supreme Court decisions governing equal access to school facilities by religious groups; (2)…

This document features a lesson plan in which genetic traits are identified and classified using a genetic wheel by playing several different games that introduce genetic diversity and highlight why it is important within populations. Samples of instruction and assessment are included. (KHR)

This study compared the ways boys and girls in a museum-based school perceive the merits, relative value and epistemological meaning of a range of investigative activities. After completing a unit on evolution, 89 seventh grade and 16 eighth grade students were asked to rank order the activities according to preference and complete a Likert scale…

Animals change to better adapt to their environment. Over long periods of time, nature helps the animals adapt by changing their body shape and color as well as adjusting their methods of getting and eating food, defending themselves, and caring for their young. In this videotape, students learn what changes different animals go through in order…