REFLECTION ON THE SABER-TOOTH CURRICULUM In the beginning, there was humanity; and people needed a way to survive in the world they lived. They traveled in all directions, constantly searching for food resources and places to inhabit. This is the story that was first presented in HRW Benjamin book, “The Saber-Tooth Curriculum”. It focuses on these issues in education in what education should really look like. This is a phenomenal book that will change the way you look at education. This book explains how and why we need curriculum. The article is all about a professor who studies the stone-age curriculum. The SaberTooth Curriculum recounts how a Paleolithic school curriculum became out dated when the Ice Age came. New-Fist-Hammer-Maker is the very first person that we learn about in the article, a member of the tribe was also known as "a thinker" who wanted things better for his tribe. So, he researched how his tribe could live a better life. He created the curriculum that he thought would better his tribe for the future. Then, New-Fist developed something that will meet the needs of the society and its culture. As a result, the children were taught fish-grabbing, horse-clubbing and tiger scaring. When the ice age came along these subjects were no longer needed. The village then had to find ways to survive because they could no longer catch fish with their bare hands, the stupid woolly horses evolved and moved away, and the tigers became ill due to the dampness. Although there were experts in this field, these people were no longer needed. The circumstances of the community changed and so did their needs. The village needed new thinkers so that the entire community could survive the new ice age. Fortunately, there were men of the old New-Fist breed who had the ability to do and had the daring to think. They started to invent new tools: fishing nets, antelope snares and digging bear pits. New skills such as net making, bear trapping, and antelope snaring became staples for success, and some (those considered radicals) suggested that the educational curriculum should be updated to match the new world and should be reform. Now, circumstances like the ice age in the article firmly changed the said curriculum for survival. The people back then, had to develop a new curriculum method that is fit for essential survival. Also, I learned that New fist incorporate understanding by design in teaching his tribe people. He emphasized hands on learning and a result, his tribe learns new skills. As a sum, the author tries to illustrate the progression of the curriculum and this book drew my attention to the history of curriculum design and its relationship to curriculum development today. Saber-tooth curriculum encouraged me to explore more deeply what constitutes fundamental student learning. I recognized the benefits of the Common Core Standards by observing it put into practice in the paleolithic education. More than anything, the book helped me remember the importance of teaching students to think rather than to tell them what to think. Therefore, as a future science teacher, I must help students become prepared for adulthood. REFERENCES: https://janebluestein.com/2016/the-saber-tooth-curriculum-revisited-a-brief-walk-in-time/ https://cse101.cse.msu.edu/visitors/saber.php https://edu.glogster.com/glog/the-saber-tooth-curriculum-chapter-2-jennifermayo/1vudqcf9s1a
