Understanding Evolution

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Understanding Evolution

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Classification and Evolution

Grade Level(s):

  • 9-12
  • 13-16

Source:

  • Gendron, Robert

Resource type:

  • Lab activity

Time: Two class periods.

Overview

Students construct an evolutionary tree of imaginary animals (Caminalcules) to illustrate how modern classification schemes attempt to reflect evolutionary history.

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  • [History of life: Grades 9-12] Present-day species evolved from earlier species; the relatedness of organisms is the result of common ancestry. (LS4.A)
  • [History of life: Grades 13-16] Present-day species evolved from earlier species; the relatedness of organisms is the result of common ancestry.
  • [History of life: Grades 9-12] Biological evolution accounts for diversity over long periods of time. (LS4.A, LS4.D)
  • [History of life: Grades 9-12] During the course of evolution, only a small percentage of species have survived until today.
  • [History of life: Grades 13-16] Biological evolution accounts for diversity over long periods of time.
  • [Evidence of evolution: Grades 9-12] An organism's features reflect its evolutionary history.
  • [Evidence of evolution: Grades 9-12] The fossil record documents the biodiversity of the past.
  • [Evidence of evolution: Grades 9-12] The fossil record contains organisms with transitional features.
  • [Evidence of evolution: Grades 9-12] The fossil record documents patterns of extinction and the appearance of new forms.
  • [Evidence of evolution: Grades 9-12] Anatomical similarities of living things reflect common ancestry. (LS4.A)
  • [Evidence of evolution: Grades 13-16] The patterns of life's diversity through time provide evidence of evolution.
  • [Evidence of evolution: Grades 13-16] An organism's features reflect its evolutionary history.
  • [Evidence of evolution: Grades 13-16] There are similarities and differences among fossils and living organisms.
  • [Mechanisms of evolution: Grades 9-12] Natural selection acts on the variation that exists in a population. (LS4.B, LS4.C)
  • [Mechanisms of evolution: Grades 13-16] Speciation is the splitting of one ancestral lineage into two or more descendant lineages.
  • [Studying evolution: Grades 9-12] Classification is based on evolutionary relationships.
  • [Studying evolution: Grades 9-12] Evolutionary trees (e.g., phylogenies or cladograms) are built from multiple lines of evidence.
  • [Studying evolution: Grades 13-16] Classification is based on evolutionary relationships.
  • [Studying evolution: Grades 13-16] Evolutionary trees (i.e., phylogenies or cladograms) are built from multiple lines of evidence.
  • Disciplinary Core Idea LS4.A: Evidence of Common Ancestry and Diversity
  • Disciplinary Core Idea LS4.B: Natural Selection
  • Disciplinary Core Idea LS4.C: Adaptation
  • Disciplinary Core Idea LS4.D: Biodiversity and Humans

13-16 teaching tips:
Use this resource to relate evolutionary concepts to the topic of classification (or get more suggestions for incorporating evolution throughout your biology syllabus).