Evolution Video Series for Adolescent Age Group

[BlackSwan]

A recent incident involving my younger sister (age 13) bothered me quite a bit. Somehow, during a dinner conversation, the fact that human beings are primates was brought up. More specifically, I said it. My sister became enraged and insisted that human beings were not primates. I was taken aback at such blatant biological ignorance, and questioned her further. She's a pretty smart kid, so I was very shocked to discover that not only did she not know this information, she also refused to believe it was true. My parents hindered the conversation, demanding that we stop discussing it when my sister become emotional over it. However, I did manage to discover that she didn't believe that humans were of the Order Primates because she "didn't come from a monkey," but she "came from God."

I was wondering if anyone knows if a resource exists for her age group that is effectively the counterpart of Kent Hovind's video series, refuting myths about evolution and promoting scientific understanding about the subject while refuting anti-evolution arguments without an anti-religious undertone. I don't wish to de-convert her, but I do wish to help her overcome her misconceptions. If no such material exists, would anyone be interested in creating such a series for YouTube? I think it would be a great project.

 

[IBSpify]

you could check potholer54's Schools version of the Made Easy series, it basically debunks most of the common creationist myths by presenting the science behind them without actually calling creationists on their BS

part 8 in particular deals with human evolution

 

[PJDesseyn]

I suggest "Cheese and the Theory of Evolution". It's a book translated from Dutch, written by Bas Haring. He explains it pretty well and simple. So if you ever come across it, I suggest you take a look at it.

 

[Otokogoroshi]

We should try making our own video series to help out in this area. Potholer is GREAT but the video series seems more tooled towards high schoolers. Maybe we should make one geared towards middle school.


Not to suggest we take creationist tactics and try to scare them just lay out the facts and back it up with research.

 

[Squawk]

Bit late I appreciate, but I'm gonna weigh in with a bit of advice.

First up, ask her what she thinks a primate actually is. She will probably start giving examples of primates rather than actually saying what one is. Then ask her why do we call all those different species primates. Eventually explain that the term primate is simply a way of characterising animals by comparing them to each other (comparative anatomy).

Regress this a step and talk about mammals. She probably won't have trouble accepting that humans are mammals, so use the same tactic and explain that various species are classified as mammals because they share a set of characteristics that define them as mammals.

Back to primates, and you can explain that the definition given to primates also coveres humans. It is simply a description of traits that are shared by a set of species. In this way you introduce her, hopefully gently, to biological classification. Worst comes to the worst ask her what it is about humans that makes them not fit the definition of primate. Forget about origins, just stick to a basic definition.