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The Place of Science in Catholic Homeschooling

The Place of Science in Catholic Homeschooling. Science as a Life-Long Discipline. Scientists & Catholicism. Well-known Catholic Scientists: Robert Grosseteste (1175-1253) – Optics, Astronomy Albertus Magnus (1206-1280 ) – Natural Philosophy

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The Place of Science in Catholic Homeschooling

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  1. The Place of Science in Catholic Homeschooling Science as a Life-Long Discipline

  2. Scientists & Catholicism • Well-known Catholic Scientists: • Robert Grosseteste (1175-1253) – Optics, Astronomy • Albertus Magnus (1206-1280) – Natural Philosophy • Roger Bacon (1214-1294) – Scientific Method, Optics • Nicole Oresme (1323-1382) – Optics (refraction) • Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1543) – Astronomy • Galileo Galilei (1564-1642) – Astronomy • Antoine Lavoisier (1743-1794) – Chemistry • Gregor Mendel (1822-1884) – Biology, Genetics • Louis Pasteur (1822-1895) – Chemistry, Microbiology • Alexander Fleming (1881-1955) – Biologist, Penicillin • Erwin Schrodinger (1887-1961) – Physicist, Quantum Mechanics • George Lemaitre (1894-1966) – Physicist, Big Bang Theory

  3. Science & Catholicism: Historical • Where did science come from? • Why did science arise in the West?

  4. Faith & Reason • “…it is impossible for the truth of faith to be contrary to principles known by natural reason.” (Summa contra gentiles, I,7) • “…there is a profound and indissoluble unity between the knowledge of reason and the knowledge of faith.” (Fides et Ratio, 16) • “There is […] no reason for competition of any kind between reason and faith: each contains the other, and each has its own scope for action.” (Fides et Ratio, 17)

  5. Evolution/Cosmology • What does the Church teach in regards to Evolution and Cosmology? • Indeed, the theory of natural evolution, understood in a sense that does not exclude divine causality, is not in principle opposed to the truth about the creation of the visible world, as presented in the Book of Genesis. (JPII, Gen Aud 1/29/86) • It can therefore be said that, from the viewpoint of the doctrine of the faith, there are no difficulties in explaining the origin of man in regard to the body, by means of the theory of evolution. […]However, the doctrine of faith invariably affirms that man's spiritual soul is created directly by God. (JPII, Gen Aud 4/16/86) • De Fide requirements: • Divine Causality & creation ex nihilo • Existence & special creation of each individual human soul

  6. Why the conflict? • Or: When Science becomes “Scientism” • Science has its own “scope of action.” (Fides et Ratio) • Science, properly speaking, derives from “Natural Philosophy” • Natural – what is observable, measurable, quantifiable • Natural science does not have the tools to make judgments about ethics or metaphysics

  7. Science as Classical • 7 “Liberal Arts” • Trivium • Grammar, Logic, Rhetoric • Development of language skills, communication • Quadrivium • Arithmetic, Geometry, Music, Astronomy • Development of the analytic mind • Preparation for the study of philosophy (“Queen of the Sciences”) • Natural Philosophy Natural Science

  8. Science as Ignatian • Curapersonalis • “Jesuit education is a call to human excellence, to the fullest possible development of all human qualities. It is a call to critical thinking and disciplined studies, a call to develop the whole person, head and heart, intellect and feelings.” • Science as education of the whole person • Know the facts • Know the process • Be prepared: Science for Apologetics • Pro-life • Bio-ethics • Evolution • Faith & Reason

  9. Why teach science? • Practical Issues • Students should be capable of reading and understanding basic scientific documents • Capable of separating scientific fact and fiction and be able to calm fears of unknown • College Admission • Examples • Higgs-boson particle • Spring tornado outbreak & recent flooding with possible relation to climate change

  10. How to Teach Science? • Science is probably the most daunting subject to teach as a homeschooling parent • How do students experience lab? • How do you teach a subject that you struggled through in high school yourself? • How do you teach the bioethical and moral issues?

  11. Options for Teaching Science • A solid high school textbook with good index • Enroll in a home school with course plan & exam support, and access to science experts • Community College course • Virtual/Online classes • Parent trade-off or use DAD • Co-op • Tutor!!!!!!!!

  12. Church Teaching • Incredibly important for students to understand the place of the Church in science • Bring in Church teaching as is needed • Look to encyclicals and the Catechism • Be careful of some of the Protestant authors as they can tend to put science at odds with Christianity, when it doesn’t need to be

  13. What to Teach? • What to look for in a college preparatory science curriculum • “College prep” is a term loosely used • Touch on topics that they will see again in college, but not go into depth on all • Ensures students that go on to the sciences will be prepared, but also allows breadth of topics for students that won’t see science again • Be prepared for SAT II subject tests.

  14. Biology Topics • Cells & Cell Structure • Photosynthesis & Cellular Respiration • Intro to Genetics • Intro to Scientific Classification • Human Anatomy • Theory of Evolution • Optional: Ecology • Honors/AP – More on physiology (processes), biochem, detailed classification of organisms

  15. Chemistry Topics • Atoms and Atomic Structure • The Periodic Table • Bonding • Chemical Names, Formulas • Chemical Equations • Stoichiometry • States of Matter & Gas Behavior • Solutions • Acids, Bases, & Salts • Honors/AP – Electro Chem, Organic Chem, Nuclear Chem

  16. Physics Topics • Mechanics & Dynamics • Intro to Fluid Dynamics • Gravity & Orbits • Wave motion • Intro to Electricity • Intro to Magnetism • Optics • Optional: Thermodynamics • Honors/AP: Rotational Dynamics, Fluid dynamics, Electric Current and Magnetic Fields, Electromagnetic induction, Electric Flux and Gauss’ Law, Capacitors, Interference, Diffraction

  17. Teaching Lab • Ideally uses REAL “ingredients” in a REAL lab. • Community college lab course • Second to this, is REAL “ingredients” in a group/class setting. • Co-op • Real “ingredients” in your kitchen! • Home Science Tools excellent resource • Virtual Lab is nothing to be ashamed of…

  18. Preparing for High School • Biology these days concentrates a bit more on the biochem concepts • A solid physical science course in 8th or 9th grade can really be beneficial • Scientific measurement • Chemistry • Physics • Co-requisite of Algebra 1

  19. College Entrance Requirements • Schools vary from 1-3 years. • Almost all require Biology • Most require Chemistry • Almost all want to see you take the best curriculum available to you • Any “college prep” course should prepare students adequately for the SAT II subject tests • AP exams can be taken w/o being enrolled in a specific “AP course”.

  20. Q & A

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