Thematic approach to the teaching of natural science

Abstract

Scope and Method of Study: This report involved the organization of an advanced course in the natural sciences for a limited number of junior and senior high school students selected on the basis of general academic achievement, achievement in previous science and mathematics courses, and interest. Many of the basic theories relative to cosmogony and evolution were utilized throughout the course. Such topics as interstellar gravitation, star evolution and transmutation of elements, physical and historical geology, and chemical and biological evolution were assigned places of prominence in the study. Furthermore, certain topics from School Mathematics Study Group algebra, trigonometry, and geometry were used as background material for the study of the natural sciences.

Findings and Conclusions: A review of pertinent data revealed that certain traditional science courses--especially physics--are losing their places as separate high school courses.

An advanced unified course, taught thematically, will provide more meaningful experiences than the traditional science courses. Such a course as the one proposed in this report would require very careful and thorough preparation on the part of both teacher and student. After a year's experimentation with the thematic approach as presented in this report, an attempt will be made to suggest how it can be used in the teaching of the traditional high school science courses.