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Making 3D phylogenetic trees with mobiles

Grade Level(s):

  • 9-12

Source:

  • Carolina

Resource type:

  • Classroom activity

Time: 30 minutes

Overview

Students create three-dimensional trees in the form of mobiles so that the branching nodes pivot. Students can manipulate the mobile to see the relationships more clearly and combat common misconceptions about trees.

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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)
  • [Studying evolution: Grades 9-12] Evolutionary trees (i.e. phylogenies or cladograms) portray hypotheses about evolutionary relationships.
  • Disciplinary Core Idea LS4.A: Evidence of Common Ancestry and Diversity

This is a simple introductions to cladistics, but should be followed up with more in-depth activities on tree thinking.