Darwin and Evolution for Kids: His Life and Ideas with 21 Activities (For Kids series) [Paperback]

Kristan Lawson (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 9 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up | Series: For Kids series

Darwin and Evolution for Kids traces the transformation of a privileged and somewhat scatterbrained youth into the great thinker who proposed the revolutionary theory of evolution. Through 21 hands-on activities, young scientists learn about Darwin’s life and work and assess current evidence of evolution. Activities include going on a botanical treasure hunt, keeping field notes as a backyard naturalist, and tying knots for ship sails like those on the HMS Beagle. Children also learn how fossils are created, trace genetic traits through their family trees, and discover if acquired traits are passed along to future generations. By encouraging children, parents, and teachers to define the differences between theories and beliefs, facts and opinions, Darwin and Evolution for Kids does not shy away from a theory that continues to spark heated public debate more than a century after it was first proposed.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-9-A thorough introduction to the life and work of this naturalist and thinker. The book begins with a description of Darwin's family life, privileged childhood, and education. His five-year voyage on the Beagle, during which he collected specimens to send back to England, is vividly described. The author places Darwin's ideas in context with those of other philosophical and scientific thinkers, tracing the work of both his predecessors and contemporaries. Lawson also explores how his subject's theories were accepted or rejected by others and discusses how the disagreement among scientists and creationists continues to the present time. The writing is consistently clear and lively. The text is supplemented by related activities, including how to develop a taxonomy, tying nautical knots, and making geological strata. Brown-and-white photographs and reproductions create a sense of the Victorian era. A list of resources for further research encourages students to delve deeper into the topic. This book covers the same material as J. Edward Evans's Charles Darwin (Lerner, 1993; o.p.), but is more comprehensive.-Ann Joslin, Erie County Public Library, PA
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Review

"An excellent resource." —Children's Literature

"Very readable and interesting biography."  —Science and Children

"Explores the theory of evolution in a straight-forward and scientific manner."  —Connect

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Chicago Review Press (October 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1556525028
• ISBN-13: 978-1556525025
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #380,614 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Smacks of Religious Bias, June 4, 2010

By 

Christina Pearl (Clackamas, OR) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Darwin and Evolution for Kids: His Life and Ideas with 21 Activities (For Kids series) (Paperback)

If you are looking for a book to give your child a foundation in evolution for future science study, there are better options available. I caution any fellow parents against this book.

We can be certain the author is not a scientist, for she fails to address a very important basis for all scientific theories. In our culture the word "theory" means "idea." However, in science, a theory is not an idea at all. In scientific research, for an hypothesis to reach designation as a theory, it must undergo rigorous, multi-step tests that prove many facts to be true. All "theories" in science have been tested to prove hundreds and even thousands of supportive facts. Gravitational Theory is not an "idea." Rather, we know it to be true. Evolution has thousands of supportive facts that no scientist has been able to disprove over the course of 150 years.

The book does not explain modern genetics' entire basis in Evolution. You cannot understand genetics without accepting Darwin's theory of evolution. There are no descriptions of inheritance, mutation, or the types of selection. Without these fundamentals, a book about evolution (even geared toward kids) is inadequate.

A better choice for your kids is probably here: by Daniel Loxton (Author, Illustrator)Evolution: How We and All Living Things Came to Be

Also, there are some amazing NOVA programs available:
NOVA - Origins
The following is actually a documentary on the Dover School Board controversy. It is very thorough in its explanation of how/why Intelligent Design is not science and how the idea of irreducible complexity fails in scientific testing. This is explained through the details of testimony from the 2005 Supreme Court hearings. Judgment Day - Intelligent Design on Trial

Darwin and Evolution for Kids may still be a great choice for you. This selection is appropriate for religious parents and homeschoolers who want their children to remain in the dark (or at least in the shadows) and see Darwin as "What a strange man!" and the man who "married his cousin." Much of the wording has no place in a book on science, and does not help children make a truly educated analysis. One of the other reviews is very helpful in pointing out the book's inaccuracies.

Whether you embrace Evolution or not, I wish your child only the BEST in his or her science education!

27 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Explore Darwin With Your Kids, September 6, 2005

By 

Joseph Morris "FWHomeSchooler" (Fort Worth, Tx USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Darwin and Evolution for Kids: His Life and Ideas with 21 Activities (For Kids series) (Paperback)

This book is a pleasure to read with our 8yr old son. We haven't completed it as of yet, but it's one of our favorites. The activies are fun for the whole family to take part in. We are a homeschooling family and wanted our son to learn about evolution, and this book does it.

24 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting and Understandable, December 29, 2005

By 

Avid Reader - See all my reviews

This review is from: Darwin and Evolution for Kids: His Life and Ideas with 21 Activities (For Kids series) (Paperback)

I found this book at the Darwin Exhibit at the American Natural History Museum in New York. It really tells three stories: the life of Charles Darwin, the state of science in his lifetime and all the scientists who were formulating supporting evidence, and the theory of evolution. It treats the subject of religion respectfully, but makes clear the difference between religious faith and science theory. I plan to give it to our elementary and middle school libraries. Every library should have one.