Biological Literature << return to Curriculum
Biological Literature
I. Course description
This course is one in which environmental ethics and natural questions are discussed. It is rooted in articles from various sources, some biased, some objective, and the students lead discussions on their validity, their message, and what it means to them.
II. Instructor’s educational preparation and current employment
I’ve been a botanist for 5 years, and a science teacher for 5 years. I’ve also have had a thirst for reading over time. I use this to break up units in my classroom. I work at Fatima High School, and my email address is buckd@fatima.k12.mo.us
III. Rationale for inclusion in a program for gifted students
This is a topic that jumps around and into almost any field of study within science, and within culture as well. It is based on critical thinking skills and in metacognition. These are skills that all youth can benefit from, and the gifted kid often sinks their teeth into. The topics lead into many areas of interest, allowing the gifted kid to utilize their wonderful creativity.
IV. Major topics covered
* All of the above topics and more are based on critical thinking, article critique and metacognition, and shared and discussed as a group, with respect to each other’s ideas
V. Pre-requisite knowledge
The ability to read various levels of writing and basic science background.
VI. Learning objectives
VII. Primary source material
Essays written in ethical journals, books, collections of essays, popular magazines, newspapers, etc. If you would like a list of what I’ve used, please email me and I will attach a biography of the 27 articles we utilized for these 3 weeks, going from John Muir to Stephen Jay Gould.
VIII. Supplementary source material
Our minds!