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Modeling Evolutionary Relationships with Trees

Grade Level(s):

  • 6-8
  • 9-12

Source:

  • Shape of Life

Resource type:

  • Classroom activity

Time: 100-120 minutes

Overview

In this lesson, students will examine a beautiful tree of life poster by artist Ray Troll and use it as a launchpad to explore evolutionary, or phylogenetic trees. Students will take a pre-assessment to address misconceptions about phylogenetic trees before completing a modeling activity to give them a better understanding of how trees are used to model evolutionary relationships.

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  • [Evidence of evolution: Grades 6-8] An organism's features reflect its evolutionary history.
  • [Evidence of evolution: Grades 6-8] All life forms share fundamental similarities. (LS4.A)
  • [Evidence of evolution: Grades 6-8] Anatomical similarities of living things reflect common ancestry. (LS4.A)
  • [Evidence of evolution: Grades 9-12] An organism's features reflect its evolutionary history.
  • [Evidence of evolution: Grades 9-12] Similarities among existing organisms provide evidence for evolution. (LS4.A)
  • [Evidence of evolution: Grades 9-12] Anatomical similarities of living things reflect common ancestry. (LS4.A)
  • [Mechanisms of evolution: Grades 9-12] Evolution does not consist of progress in any particular direction.
  • [Studying evolution: Grades 6-8] Scientists use anatomical features to infer the relatedness of taxa. (LS4.A)
  • [Studying evolution: Grades 6-8] Scientists use multiple lines of evidence to study life over time.
  • [Studying evolution: Grades 6-8] Evolutionary relationships may be represented by branching trees (i.e. phylogenies or cladograms).
  • [Studying evolution: Grades 9-12] Our understanding of life through time is based upon multiple lines of evidence.
  • [Studying evolution: Grades 9-12] Scientists use anatomical evidence to infer the relatedness of taxa. (LS4.A)
  • [Studying evolution: Grades 9-12] Evolutionary trees (i.e. phylogenies or cladograms) portray hypotheses about evolutionary relationships.
  • [Studying evolution: Grades 9-12] Evolutionary trees (e.g., phylogenies or cladograms) are built from multiple lines of evidence.
  • Disciplinary Core Idea LS4.A: Evidence of Common Ancestry and Diversity
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