Warm-Up Start a new table of

contents/section for 4th Quarter – Life Science: Ecology & EOG Review

Write your homework, have it stamped

Title page 1 “The Big Question”Date Session#

Activity Page#

4/8 1 “The Big Question” 1-2

Evolution 3Natural Selection 4

WARM-UP

Step 1: Write the following statement at the top of page 1:

Everything Evolves.

Step 2: Come up with as many questions as possible about this statement as a class. Write down everybody’s questions on page 1!

IMPROVING THE QUESTIONS

You might have these two kinds of questions in your list:

• Closed-ended questions – they can be answered with “yes” or “no” or with one word.

• Open-ended questions – they require an explanation and cannot be answered with yes” or “no” or with one word.

• Identify each question with an “O” or a “C”

www.rightquestion.org

Evolution Connection Page (pg 2)

Select ONE of the questions as a priority question and write it on the top of page 2.

You will investigate this question over the next week and a half. You can add notes/reflections from lessons, pictures from online, research info, other questions that are prompted from your connection question…

Evolution (pg 3)Evolution – The process of change

over timeevolution can be biological or geological

How would they be related?

Geological EvolutionGeological evolution is driven by

The Theory of Plate Tectonics and the idea that Earth itself has evolved

Remember… Geologic Time Scale Tectonic Plate Movement Continental Drift & Pangaea Law of Superposition Fossils

Biological Evolution

Biological evolution is driven by the changes in Earth…living things evolve in response to changes in their environment. This process is known as Natural Selection or “Survival of the Fittest.”

There are 4 principles of Natural Selection: Overproduction Variation Adaptation Selection

Natural Selection 4 – SquarePage B23

OverproductionVariationDefinition: Definition:

Example: Example:

AdaptationSelectionDefinition: Definition:

Example: Example:

Example of Evolution

So how do animals and plants adapt to their environment over time?

Elephant Adaptation Video- shows how evolution of the Earth affects the evolution of a species

http://player.discoveryeducation.com/index.cfm?guidAssetId=0B5B292A-983E-4327-A27D-B647383BF293&blnFromSearch=1&productcode=US

Gallery WalkObjective:- Analyze each picture to find examples of

the 4 principles of Natural Selection.Activity:- Each photo is numbered, so…in your

notebook number 1-10. Next to each number write as many examples of the 4 principles of Natural Selection as you can justify!

Example of Gallery Walk

Sea Turtle Land Turtle

VS.

HomeworkFind ONE

original example of

Natural Selection that

we did not talk about in

class!

EXAMPLE:The warrior ant of

Africa can learn to imitate the chemical signal from other ant colonies so they can invade and take over undetected! This is an example of adaptation.

Lesson Closure Look back at your “Big

Question” – summarize any information you learned today that helps you answer your questions…write until the bell rings!

Warm-Up Update your Table of Contents Get your homework out to be

checked Write your new homework – have it

stamped

Date Session#

Activity Page#

4/10 2 Evidence of Evolution Foldable 5

Evidence of Evolution Worksheet 6

WARM-UP/REVIEW:Does Everything Evolve?

How Do We Know? Evidence of Evolution…(start a

list on page 5)

What were the 4 Principles of Natural Selection again? Would you be selected to survive? Let’s find out!

Evidence of EvolutionWhen Charles Darwin, “The Father of

Evolution,” first proposed the idea that ALL species descend from a common ancestor he needed evidence to support his claim. The major pieces of evidence can be broken into…

1. Fossils2. Embryology3. Comparative Anatomy4. Molecular Biology

HUH? What does all that mean?

Evidence of Evolution: Fossils

Fossils – show change in a single species over time or similarities between species

Evolution of the Modern Horse

Evidence of Evolution: Embryology

Embryology – shows similar developmental stages amongst different species

Evidence of Evolution: Comparative Anatomy

Homologous Structures – same anatomical structure but different function that arise from different organisms sharing a common ancestor

Evidence of Evolution: Comparative Anatomy

Analogous Structures – different anatomical structure but similar function that arise from common environmental demands

Evidence of Evolution: Comparative Anatomy

Vestigial Structures – Anatomical remnants that were important in an organism’s ancestors, but are no longer used in the same way

Evidence of Evolution: Molecular Biology

Molecular Biology - the genetic structure of an organism

The key to understanding how traits are passed from one generation to the next is DNA analysis

Scientists can tell how closely related organisms are by studying their DNA

There does not have that much of a difference in a gene sequence to be a different organism!

Warm-Up Update your Table of Contents Get your homework out to be

checked Write your new homework – have it

stamped

Date Session#

Activity Page#

4/12 3 Survival of the Fittest Scenarios & Natural Selection Nemo Style

7

Are Humans Speeding Up Evolution?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzlUZrt0Ums

Warm-Up/Review:Evidence of Evolution

What do you notice about the evolution of a species…in other words, what changes?

Changes occur in the body or structure of an organism…this is referred to as an organisms phenotype.

PHENOTYPE – body structures and characteristics

Which Brings Us Back To…Natural Selection

Or “Survival of the Fittest”

What does “Survival of the Fittest” really mean?

In the next few scenarios,describethe phenotype that would most likely be “selected” to survive…

Survival of the Fittest

Scenario 1: Drought- There has been a drought and all of the

grass has dries up anddies first, but the leaves on bushes and trees are slower to die…who survives the longest?

A. Animals with short legs but long necksB. Animals with long legs, but short necksC. Animals with both long legs and long

necksD. Animals with both short legs and short

necks

Survival of the Fittest

Scenario 2: Predator is Approaching

- A predator is approaching the herd, but is not hunting yet…who will know sooner and therefore have a better chance to escape?

Survival of the Fittest

Scenario 3: Predator Fight- A predator has arrived. It is too

late to run away or hide, the animals must fight off the predator…who has the best chance at fighting?

Survival of the Fittest

Scenario 4: Blizzard- The weather becomes very cold.

There is a blizzard and the land is covered in snow…who survives?

Survival of the Fittest

Scenario 5: Volcanic Eruption- There has been a volcanic

eruption. Lava flows down the mountain onto the plains and kills anything in its path…who will make it?

Survival of the FittestClassroom Challenge Mini – Lab

1. There are 4 utensils that need to be tested to ensure your survival, and which habitat you are most suitable for.

2. Each person will receive a utensil, you will rotate the utensils for each round.

3. You will have 30 seconds to test each utensil and then 10 seconds to record your results.

4. Your cup is your “stomach” and your stomach must remain upright on the table the entire time.

HomeworkCreate a cartoon

that illustrates the idea of “Survival of the Fittest”

Natural Selection: Nemo Style

Keep in mind: The 4 Principles

of Natural Selection

The idea of “Survival of the Fittest”

Basic scientific information