Avoid Misconceptions When Teaching About Plants
This article is very informative, illustrating the ways that teachers generally, though accidentally, mislead students by giving false information. It can be intimidating to teach a subject that is relatively unfamiliar, but sites like this can ensure we are up-to-date on our basic scientific knowledge, which will provide an adequate base for furthering our students' knowledge as well. While some of the information will be way ahead of elementary curriculum, there is still much to be gleaned from this article. Though it is a very "wordy" article, the information is important and valuable. In addition to being a rich resource in itself, this article also offers many links to other sources, which can answer a number of related questions.
Each of the curriculum standards are addressed descriptively. Using five categories of misconceptions (oversimplifications, overgeneralizations, obsolete concepts/terms, misidentification, and flawed research), the article explains that botany is taught based on little to no prior knowledge of plant life, including the basics of functions components of plants and extending to the idea of interdepency with animals and other life forms.
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