Model-based teaching is a basic line of research and practice in science education. The necessary theoretical background is yielded by the philosophy of science. We refer to some basic elements of the model-based view, and to possibilities of using it in the teaching of science and for the understanding of the nature of science. We also give some examples of using the possibilities that are provided by the text-books and mainly by educational software for the understanding of the nature and the functions of the models. We consider that the understanding of the scientific method very much means to understand the nature and the functions of the models, and in this view the teaching with or/and about models concerns and contributes to all forms of educational approaches that are adopted.