Resources for Parents

MnCSE is developing a statewide network of science professionals who will consult with parents, community members and school boards on science education in their communities. Meanwhile, these online resources may be helpful:

Science Education Saturday - Teaching Evolution in the Classroom was held on November 11. Photos and a recap are on our Science Education Saturday page.On our Educators page, we've posted a list of evolution resources recommended by participants at Science Education Saturday.

How should evolution be taught?
You can see the Minnesota Science Standards on the MN Department of Education web site.  Scroll down the page - you'll see instructions to open a Word document containing the standards, which include the following: "The student will understand how biological evolution provides a scientific explanation for the fossil record of ancient life forms, as well as for the striking similarities observed among the diverse species of living organisms."

Statement from the Minnesota Science Teachers Association

Statement from the National Science Teachers Association

Statement from the National Association of Biology Teachers

Statements from educators collected by the National Center for Science Education

Statement from the President of the National Academy of Sciences

Statement from the American Association for the Advancement of Science

Basic Concepts of Evolution
Understanding Evolution, from the University of California at Berkeley

The Tree of Life Web Project (ToL) is a collaborative effort of biologists from around the world. On more than 4000 World Wide Web pages, the project provides information about the diversity of organisms on Earth, their evolutionary history (phlogeny), and characteristics."

Faith and Science
The Clergy Letter Project: As of June 2006, 382 Minnesota clergy members signed the Clergy Letter Project, affirming that they "believe that the timeless truths of the Bible and the discoveries of modern science may comfortably coexist. We believe that the theory of evolution is a foundational scientific truth..."

"In the Beginning, Water"  The Rev. Timothy Hart-Anderson of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis gave an eloquent and moving sermon in January 2006, explaining that scientific perspective does not work against faith. He weaves the theme of water from the Book of Genesis, baptism and the origin of life.

Science & Spirit magazine online - search their site for articles about evolution

"The proper reverence due those who have gone before" is a beautifully written essay by P.Z. Myers, who wonders here if the Bible is really enough to explain all of human history.

The MnCSE Faith & Science page has several articles by Minnesota scientists and clergy, and a link to the Clergy Project with over 10,000 signatures supporting the teaching of evolution.

Legal Issues
 Evolution Education and the Law, from the National Center for Science Education

Evolution, Creationism and the Courts 20 Questions is an article published in Science Education Review (2003) by MnCSE Director Randy Moore and Karen Miksch.

Resources on the MnCSE web site
Editorials has several articles about teaching evolution. You may find Minnesota Science Standards of particular interest.

Minnesota Museums
The Bell Museum of Natural History at the University of Minnesota Minneapolis campus

The Science Museum of Minnesota in St. Paul

"When Crocodiles Ruled" details from the Science Museum of Minnesota's dig in western North Dakota