Download Show me the Evidence - Mrs Murphy 7th grade science

Show me the Evidence
 A Project based unit on the theory of
evolution and Natural Selection
 you will use the power of teamwork to learn
about Evolution.
Show Me the Evidence
reviewer data
Theme: Evolution
Grade level: Seventh
Age level: 12-14
Subject: Science
Essential Question: Is the theory of evolution still relevant today?
Massachusetts State standards: Middle School Life Science Strands
LS 7-Recognize that every organism requires a set of instructions that specifies its traits. These
instructions are stored in the organism’s chromosomes. Heredity is the passage of these instructions from
one generation to another.
LS 8-Recognize that hereditary information is contained in genes located in the chromosomes of each cell. A
human cell contains about 30,000 different genes on 23 different chromosomes.
LS-10 Give examples of ways in which genetic variation and environmental factors are causes of evolution
and the diversity of organisms.
LS-11 Recognize that evidence drawn from geology, fossils, and comparative anatomy provides the basis of
the theory of evolution.
LS-12 Relate the extinction of species to a mismatch of adaptation and the environment. LS 17, Identify ways
in which ecosystems have changed throughout geologic time in response to physical conditions,
interactions among organisms, and the actions of humans. Describe how changes may be catastrophes such
as volcanic eruptions or ice storms.
LS-18 Recognize that biological evolution accounts for the diversity of species developed through gradual
processes over many generations
Reviewer Data Continued
Goals :
By completing this PBU, students will achieve the
following goals:
1) Gain an understanding of who Charles Darwin was
2) Use the Internet to research the theory of natural
selection
3) Learn information about the evolution of our species
4) Explain the evidence which supports the theory that
species evolve over time
5) Formulate and support an opinion based on your roles
6) Work effectively with teammates to produce a cohesive
presentation.
Your team will become experts on the various aspects
of Evolution as you and your team members explore
the topics selected for this challenge.
Each person on your team will have their own role
and topic to research.
There is a task organizer and an evaluation rubric in
the evaluators handbook given to you by your teacher
to guide your work
You and your team will work together to create a
group presentation that presents your team's
findings to the Hall of Fame review panel.
Show me the Evidence
Task
Charles Darwin has been nominated
for the Science Hall of Fame. If selected he
would join the great scientists of all time
such as Newton, Galileo, Einstein and
Pasteur.
Some people believe that there is not
enough evidence to support his theory of
Evolution by Natural Selection. Others
feel it has nothing to do with us humans.
You and your team have the task of
defending Charles Darwin's idea about
evolution and explaining why it is important
enough to qualify him for entry.
Roles your team will assume:
The biographer will need to present 'Charles...the
man', telling Darwin's personal story.
The Scientist will explore his theory of Evolution
by natural selection.
The lawyer will need to gather the evidence which
supports Darwin's theory.
The Humanist will discover how evolution has
played a role in changes to the hominid family.
Based upon what you discover, you will have
to decide if there is enough evidence to defend
Darwin's place in the scientific community.
You should start with the pages that are
labeled 'Background Information'.
 These sites are important
because it will provide basic
information about the topic as a
whole.
 Everyone should explore these
sites before starting their Task.
KWL
To start, each member of the team should take the
online quiz 'How well do you understand
evolution, the link is here in the background
section to determine what knowledge you already
have on the subject. (You will take it again at the
end to see how much your score has improved.)
Don’t forget to fill in your KWL chart in your
reviewer handbook
How Well Do you understand the
theory of Evolution
Background
Information
Follow Darwin’s journey on the HMS Beagle. As you
explore , make note of the places and wonders Darwin
visited .
 Big Idea Exhibition
 Timeline
 1st Task
 Assume the role of Charles Darwin and write
a friendly letter home to his friend Thomas
Malthus telling him the wonders of the
journey. (Letter format is in your reviewers
handbook)
Review Panel

These roles were chosen because they each define an important topic
in our study of Evolution. Each of you has been assigned a particular
topic with links and instructions below.

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. One member from each Panel team will assume their assigned role
and explore one of the topics below.


2. Read through the web sites designated for your role. You can print
out pages and underline or highlight the parts that you feel are
important or cut and paste from the web pages into a word processor.
Keep all your notes in your evaluators handbook.


3. Remember to include the URL of the page you take information from
so you can return to it and use it as a citation.

4. Focus what you've learned to address each of the topic questions.

5. Remember to fill in your 2-column notes as you read and be sure to
gather enough details to answer each question in your “Big Ideas”.
The Biographer
 As you explore each of the links below fill in details to
the following Big ideas in your Reviewer’s handbook.
 When you are done you and your team should write a 2
paragraph Bio for the induction ceremony booklet.
 Early Life
 Darwin’s life
 Darwin’s Idea
 Big Ideas:
 Who was Charles Darwin?
 Where was he from?
 What was his family like?
 What did he do?
 Where did he go and why?
The Scientist
 As you explore each of the links below fill in details to





the following Big ideas in your Reviewer’s handbook.
When you are done you and your team will:
1st > write a summary on the Theory of Natural
Selection based on your 2-column notes
2nd > select a species and create a recipe for
Natural selection which details the ingredients and
steps required to achieve a separate species.
Darwin’s Theory
Natural Selection
On the Origin of Species
Big ideas:
 1. What is the theory of Natural selection?
 2. How does Natural selection work?
 3. What is the difference between variation and adaptation?
 4. What were the differences between species on the Galapagos islands and
what did those differences suggest to Darwin?
The Lawyer
As you explore each of the links below fill in details to the
following Big ideas in your Reviewer’s handbook.
 When you are done you and your team will prepare 4 legal
briefs which will allow you to enter each exhibit into
evidence.
 Briefs should:
 Define the type of evidence.
 Provide an example of the evidence.
 Illustrate the evidence’s connection to the Theory of
Natural Selection

 Evidence for evolution
 Geologic Time
 How we know
 Fossil Record
 Tetrapod Fossil





Big ideas:
1. Explain how the fossil record can provide evidence for evolution.
2. How do homologous structures connect species?
3. How can DNA provide evidence for evolution?
4. What evidence do vestigial structure provide?
The Humanist
As you explore each of the links below fill in details to the
following Big ideas in your Reviewer’s handbook.
 When you are done you and your team will construct a
comparison chart on the 5 hominid species we are studying.
(Lucy, Homo Habilis, Homo Erectus, Neanderthals, and Homo
Sapiens)
 Your chart should detail: Physical features, Geologic
time, Habitat location, Evidence of existence and Known
behaviors.


Evolution of the Hominid Family
Lucy
Human Evolution

Big ideas:

1. What is the earliest species of hominid?
2. How did these species change over time?
2. Describe the physical similarities and differences between Homo
Habilis and Homo Erectus.





KWL again
 You have all learned about Darwin and his theory of
Natural selection. Go back and re-take the online quiz
on evolution in the background link and see how much
your score has improved.
 Don’t forget to fill in your KWL chart in your
reviewer handbook
 How Well Do you understand the theory of Evolution
More Help, More Links, More
Labs
evidence
 http://whyfiles.org/095evolution/

human evolution
 http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aso/tryit/evolution/
 http://anthropology.si.edu/humanorigins/ha/primate.html
 http://www.australian.museum/human_evolution/
 evolution
 http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/article/0_
0_0/evo_14
 Labs
 Natural Selection lab
 Survival of the fittest lab
Pair, Share & Debate
 Now group members come back to the larger team
with their information. You must now complete
the final task as a group. Each of you will bring a
certain viewpoint to the answer: some of you will
agree and others disagree.
 Use information, pictures, movies, facts, opinions,
etc. from the web sites you explored to convince
the panel of your viewpoint.
Presentation
 Your Reviewers team should design a presentation of
your discoveries which answers the question: Should
Darwin be admitted to the Science Hall of Fame? Why?
 Presentations can be done using PowerPoint,
Inspiration, or as a cited research paper and poster. (
Regardless of the format your team selects you must
prepare to present the finding to the class)
Conclusion
 When we study complex topics, there is usually a
lot more to a topic than we learn after a quick
exploration. Now you all know a lot more. Nice
work. You should be proud of yourselves! What
other parts of Evolution could still be explored?
Remember, learning never stops.