Human Evolution

   Contents

 Task

In this activity, high school biology students will investigate the evolutionary changes in primates by simulating fossil investigations performed by scientists.

 GPS Addressed (click [+] to expand)

    Co-Requisite: Characteristics of Science

    Habits of Mind

    [-] SCSh1. Students will evaluate the importance of curiosity, honesty, openness, and skepticism in science.
      a. Exhibit the above traits in their own activities.
    [-] SCSh3. Students will identify and investigate problems scientifically.
      c. Collect, organize, and record appropriate data.
    e. Develop reasonable conclusions based on data collected.
    [-] SCSh4. Students will use tools and instruments for observing, measuring, and manipulating scientific equipment and materials.
      a. Develop and use systematic procedures for recording and organizing information.

    Nature of Science

    [-] SCSh7. Students will analyze how scientific knowledge is developed.
     

    c. From time to time, major shifts occur in the scientific view of how the world works.
    More often, however, the changes that take place in the body of scientific knowledge
    are small modifications of prior knowledge. Major shifts in scientific views typically
    occur after the observation of a new phenomenon or an insightful interpretation of
    existing data by an individual or research group.
    d. Hypotheses often cause scientists to develop new experiments that produce additional
    data.
    e. Testing, revising, and occasionally rejecting new and old theories never ends.

    Content

    [-] SB5. Students will evaluate the role of natural selection in the development of the theory of evolution.
     

    a. Trace the history of the theory.
    b. Explain the history of life in terms of biodiversity, ancestry, and the rates of evolution.
    c. Explain how fossil and biochemical evidence support the theory.
    d. Relate natural selection to changes in organisms.

     


 Video (duration: 13:40)

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Use these questions to guide your thinking about some of the important teacher ideas in the lesson featured in the video clip.

  1. Consider how Dr. Nichols uses GPS language to orient students to habits of mind.
  2. How do the types of questions asked support student thinking?
  3. How are the students engaged during the wrap up?
  4. How is evidence used in this lesson?

 Classroom Materials / Lesson Outlines