Understanding Evolution

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Understanding Evolution

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History of evolutionary thought

Grade Level(s):

  • 9-12
  • General

Source:

  • UC Museum of Paleontology

Resource type:

  • Article

Time: Varies

Overview

In this section, you will see how study in four disciplinary areas — Earth's history, life's history, mechanisms of evolution, and development and genetics — has contributed to our current understanding of evolution.

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  • [Nature of science: Grades 9-12] Science focuses on natural phenomena and processes.
  • [Nature of science: Grades 9-12] Scientific knowledge is open to question and revision as we come up with new ideas and discover new evidence. (P4, P6, NOS3)
  • [Nature of science: Grades 9-12] A hallmark of science is exposing ideas to testing. (P3, P4, P6, P7)
  • [Nature of science: Grades 9-12] Scientists can test ideas about events and processes long past, very distant, and not directly observable.
  • [Nature of science: Grades 9-12] The real process of science is complex, iterative, and can take many different paths.
  • [Nature of science: Grades 9-12] Accepted scientific theories are not tenuous; they must survive rigorous testing and be supported by multiple lines of evidence to be accepted. (NOS2, NOS4)
  • [Nature of science: Grades 9-12] Science is a human endeavor. (NOS7)
  • [Studying evolution: Grades 9-12] Our understanding of life through time is based upon multiple lines of evidence.
  • NOS Matrix understanding category 2. Scientific knowledge is based on empirical evidence.
  • NOS Matrix understanding category 3. Scientific knowledge is open to revision in light of new evidence.
  • NOS Matrix understanding category 4. Scientific models, laws, mechanisms, and theories explain natural phenomena.
  • NOS Matrix understanding category 7. Science is a human endeavor.
  • Science and Engineering Practice 3. Planning and carrying out investigations
  • Science and Engineering Practice 4. Analyzing and interpreting data
  • Science and Engineering Practice 6. Constructing explanations and designing solutions
  • Science and Engineering Practice 7. Engaging in argument from evidence

This series of essays would make a good resource for student research projects on the history of evolutionary thought. Though clear, the writing level is somewhat advanced.