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Article: Teaching the stories of scientists and their discoveries: including the history and nature of science adds understanding to science classes.(science education)
- Article from:
- The Science Teacher
- Article date:
- November 1, 2004
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2004 National Science Teachers Association. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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For many science students and teachers, the history of science brings to mind musty portraits of long-ago chemists, physicists, and biologists, birth and death dates, and some brief mention of specific contributions. Frequently lost amid teaching pressures are the lessons that may be found in the history of science. These stories not only teach students about how science functions, but also can add texture, richness, and understanding to science classes.
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It takes very little extra time and effort to correlate required science concepts with history. For example, teachers can provide the historical background for Mendeleev's ...