| When you teach eager homeschool biology | | | | and non-obvious. In addition to discussing the role |
| students (or students in a traditional classroom) | | | | of viruses in human diseases, the book also |
| about the diversity of life, someone is inevitably | | | | addresses the interactions of viruses with all five |
| going to ask, "What is a virus?" Or, someone | | | | of the kingdoms of life, and explains why viruses |
| might ask, "Are viruses alive?" Any thorough | | | | are not included in the Tree of Life. Viruses have |
| discussion of life processes must address the | | | | their own place on the chart of biology, and both |
| topic of viruses, but many introductory biology | | | | facts we know and mysteries we have not yet |
| curricula either do not get around to viruses, or | | | | solved are raised in an interesting manner sure to |
| do a poor and confusing job of dealing with them. | | | | stimulate further inquiryon the part of many |
| The new teacher's guide to the tree of life by | | | | students. |
| Priscilla Spears, PhD, Kingdoms of Life Connected | | | | How many of your students would find it |
| not only answers these basic questions about | | | | interesting to learn that viruses do not grow, and |
| viruses, but also addresses viral reproduction, | | | | that the infecting virion disappears when a cell |
| diversity, and classification. As with other | | | | begins manufacturing the components of new |
| microorganisms, much of our knowledge of | | | | virions? How many students would find it |
| viruses concerns their relationship to human | | | | fascinating to learn that viruses are common in |
| disease, but there is far more to it than that. And, | | | | water, soil and floating through the air? What |
| in the hands of a good teacher, the information | | | | about the fact that there are no known fossils of |
| can be fascinating. | | | | viruses? All these interesting facts and many |
| Kingdoms of Life Connected presents a viral | | | | more are revealed and explained in the fascinating |
| model that can help students form a mental | | | | new textbook of biology, Kingdoms of Life |
| picture of a virus, and overcome a common | | | | Connected. |
| difficulty with visualization of something so small | | | | |