"Integrating Culture and Understanding of Science through Traditional F" by Patrice Wright and Gerry D. Haukoos

Home > Iowa Academy of Science > Journals & Newsletters > Iowa Science Teachers Journal > Volume 27 > Number 3 (1990)

Article Title

Integrating Culture and Understanding of Science through Traditional Fairy Tale Format

Authors

Patrice Wright, North Elementary School
Gerry D. Haukoos, Illinois State University

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Success in science results from a variety of experiences and characteristics. Some come from within the individual while others are in the environment. ~ For Native American Indians, achievement in science based upon traditional Western education and national testing traditions does not reflect American Indian knowledge of science or natural events around them. Over the centuries, American Indian cultures have exhibited a closeness with nature, even to the point of considering their relationship spiritual. Cajete (1986) reported that expressions of the science thought process are abundant in historical and traditional American Indian cultures. He indicated those processes have ranged from simple practical technologies developed to survive in a given environment to highly complex and elaborate technologies developed by many of the "high" civilizations of the world. Unfortunately, traditional school testing has been unable to elicit this knowledge or those qualities. Possibly, the way science is presented in text and lesson has something to do with it. Only recently have children examining any science textbook been able to see brown and black faces in print. Beyond the cosmetics of publishing a socially sensitive textbook, however, science is still presented to teachers and children in a manner that conveys the impression that its roots are in the European culture.

Publication Date

Winter 1990-91

Journal Title

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

Volume

Issue

First Page

Last Page

Copyright

Language

File Format

application/pdf

Recommended Citation

Wright, Patrice and Haukoos, Gerry D. (1990) "Integrating Culture and Understanding of Science through Traditional Fairy Tale Format," Iowa Science Teachers Journal: Vol. 27: No. 3, Article 3.
Available at: https://scholarworks.uni.edu/istj/vol27/iss3/3