From Mechanism to Organism

An illuminating and helpful resource for Steiner-Waldorf teachers of human biology in the Upper school, filled with useful ways to make the topic meaningful for teenagers. In From Mechanism to Organism, experienced Steiner-Waldorf teacher Michael Holdrege helps teachers spark their students' interest in the amazing wisdom of the human body. He describes the ways he has approached many of the topics in the Steiner-Waldorf high school biology curriculum from Class 9 to Class 12 (14-18 years), offering practical and helpful examples for teachers to apply in the classroom. Starting with the interest teenagers have with their own body's changes and growth, Holdrege helps teachers lead students to a deeper understanding of the processes that make up and sustain the human organism. Topics covered include the human skeleton, the immune system, the digestive system, and the muscular system. Lavishly illustrated, this book is a valuable, clear and illuminating resource for teachers in the Upper school. These methods will be helpful to both teachers new to the curriculum and those looking for inspiration on how to teach the topics afresh. Parents may also find that this book will help them understand how science can be taught in a way that fits and nurtures young minds.