Teaching Science in the History Classroom

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Teaching Science in the History Classroom

• Jan Oosthoek
• School of Historical Studies
• Newcastle University

k.j.w.oosthoek_at_ncl.ac.uk www.eh-resources.org
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Number of A-level students examined in Science
Source Osborne, 2003
3
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Concept test

• What is CO2?
• Correct 38
• Not correct 57
• N/A 5
• How long ago ended the last Ice Age?
• Correct 65
• Not correct 34
• N/A 1
• What is exponential growth?
• Correct 59
• Not correct 34
• N/A 7

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Most important scientific concepts

• Ecosystem
• Biological exchange
• Climate Change
• Greenhouse effect
• Evolution
• Gaia hypothesis
• Resource management
• Species history
• Malthusian population theory

• Exponential growth
• Deep time
• Radiocarbon decay (C14 dating method)

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Most difficult to teach

• Climate change
• Gaia hypothesis
• Ecosystem dynamics
• Evolution (US only)
• Radiocarbon decay (C14 method)
• Exponential growth

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Teaching Science in the History Classroom
k.j.w.oosthoek_at_ncl.ac.uk www.eh-resources.org