Stephen Edelglass

The most effective way for children to learn about science is through hands-on experience, not through memorising theory. That principle is at the heart of Waldorf science teaching, and is the basis for this invaluable book.The authors explore the nature of 'phenomenological' -- experiential -- science' and how it can help middle-school students engage with physics, and stimulate observation and wonder.The book has step-by-step experiments that demonstrate how to approach science in this lively, real-life way. It is an essential book for any teacher who wants to bring this kind of fulfilling interaction into their classroom.

In its search for causal explanations, modern science has increasingly come to focus on particles, genes, and other hypothetical elements that lie beyond direct human experience. This reductionist approach has led to powerful new technologies, but it has failed to give us an understanding of nature as we can actually experience it in its richness and depth A Goethean, phenomenological approach to physics reconnects human experience with scientific inquiry.

This is a classic work on the relationship between science and human qualities, made available again for today's readers.The authors ask questions still relevant today, such as what role can science play in describing everyday human experiences, such as greeting a friend with a smile? They trace the roots of materialism and consider human beings' physical participation in the world.