Integrating Racial Justice Into Your High-School Biology Classroom: Using Evolution to Understand Diversity

In this guide, educators and authors David Upegui and David E. Fastovsky offer a pedagogical prescription for integrating the study of racial justice with evolutionary biology in high-school biology curricula. The book provides lesson plans and classroom exercises that introduce the timely dimension of anti-racism into the curriculum without significantly increasing teaching loads. It is ideal for secondary biology teachers and students, particularly in grades 10-12, and is aligned with three different standards.

Format: Hardback
Length: 196 pages
Publication date: 12 September 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

In this comprehensive guide, educators and authors David Upegui and David E. Fastovsky present a pedagogical framework for seamlessly integrating the study of racial justice with evolutionary biology within the existing high-school biology curriculum. Crafted as a practical manual for teaching, the book's chapters revolve around imparting concepts of equity through evolutionary biology modules, serving as a fundamental foundation for cultivating students' scientific comprehension of biotic diversity. Accompanied by contextual chapters that provide teachers with the necessary background knowledge to understand the historical interplay between science and racism, such as natural selection, social justice, and American slavery and colonization, the book offers a well-rounded approach to education.

Ready-to-use lesson plans are strategically positioned within a historical and theoretical context of science as it relates to racial oppression, showcasing how rigorous science education can empower students and lead to their liberation, despite the historical challenges associated with certain applications of science. These lesson plans and classroom exercises are designed to seamlessly integrate the timely dimension of anti-racism into the existing biology curricula without significantly increasing teaching burdens. The contextual material provided ensures that the lessons can be effectively implemented across diverse classrooms, regardless of prior familiarity with diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) principles.

Ideal for secondary biology teachers and their students, particularly in grades 10-12, this book serves as a valuable resource for educators seeking to harness the power of rigorous science to combat marginalization. The lessons and activities have undergone extensive classroom testing and are aligned with three prominent standards: Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), Common Core State Standards (CCSS), and National Science Education Standards (NSES). By incorporating these standards, the book ensures that students acquire a comprehensive understanding of evolutionary biology while also developing critical thinking skills and a deeper appreciation for social justice issues.

In conclusion, this guide offers a groundbreaking approach to education, combining the study of racial justice with evolutionary biology to foster a more inclusive and equitable learning environment. By providing teachers with the tools and resources they need to integrate these important topics effectively, the book empowers students to become agents of change and contribute to a more just and compassionate world.

Weight: 544g
Dimension: 254 x 178 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032523842