2 Guiding Question: How does survival shape the world? A Curriculum on the Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection by John Benjamin
Big Ideas Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday NextGen Science Standards
WEEK 1
What do clues from nature tell us about where we come from and our relationship to other living things?
What is a scientific theory? Just a guess?
-Video of deep sea life
-Introduction to unit
-Activity: Taking a stand
-Mini-Lecture on scientific theories
-Challenge: Puzzling over the Pieces
What exactly is the theory of evolution?
-Video: The Animated Life of A. R. Wallace
-Lecture: Darwins big ideas: Descent with Modification, Common Ancestry, and Natural Selection.
-Evolutionary Video Game Challenge - Peppered Moths: Natural Selection in Black & White (a.k.a. Hungry Birds) online case study and video game
How can you create a new life form using evolution? Super Microbe Challenge (Part 1)
-Video: Natural Selection Clearly Stated
-Mini-lecture and discussion on natural vs. artificial selection
-Super-Microbe Lab Challenge
-Introduction to materials, procedures and safety
-Experimental design planning
-Bacteria collection and culture preparation
Super-Microbe Challenge (Part 2)
-Video: Bacteria Mutation
-Continue Super- Microbe Challenge
-Challenge Board project selection and work time
What is the evidence for evolution? (Part 1)
Lecture: Introduce the major fields of evidence for evolution
Discussion: What makes a good presentation?
Teacher Example of a boring vs. an engaging presentation
- Evolutionary Clues Challenge
Students will understand that variation within a population leads to biodiversity through natural selection. In order to do this they must: Communicate scientific information that common ancestry and biological evolution are supported by multiple lines of empirical evidence HS-LS4-1.
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WEEK 2
How does survival change life over time?
The Steps of Natural Selection
What is the evidence for evolution? (Part 2)
-Final Prep Time -Student
-Evolutionary Clues Challenge Presentations and Student Puzzles How do mutations cause a population to evolve over time? -Video What is Evolution? Stated Clearly
-Mini-Lecture on the genetic basis of evolution
-Mutating Bird Challenge
Super-Microbe Challenge (Part 3)
-Video Mutations and Selection: The Bacteria Resist
-Begin carrying out experimental design in Super-Microbe Challenge
What does it mean to be a survivor?
-Mini-lecture adaptations, fitness, and sexual selection
Activity: Evolutionary Biology Thrown Down!
Competitive challenge to figure out the selective pressures in real-life examples of adaptation and survival
Challenge Board Day
Individual/group work on challenge board projects Construct an explanation based on evidence that the process of evolution primarily results from four factors: (1) the potential for a species to increase in number, (2) the heritable genetic variation of individuals in a species due to mutation and sexual reproduction, (3) competition for limited resources, and (4) the proliferation of those organisms that are better able to survive and reproduce in the environment. NGSS HS-LS4-2. Apply concepts of statistics and probability to support explanations that organisms with an advantageous heritable trait tend to increase in proportion to organisms lacking this trait. HS-LS4-3 WEEK 3
How do new species appear? Why do species go extinct? How does evolution affect us today? Field Trip to the Harvard Museum of Natural History
-Scavenger Hunt Challenge
-Collect info, ideas and photos for use in final lesson
How do new species appear? What causes them to go extinct?
-Review from field trip
-Mini-lecture: what is the definition of a species?
-Comparison of historical mass extinctions to the current human-caused Super-Microbe Challenge (Part 4)
Video Mutations in Bacteria
Continue selecting for resistance in your bacterial colony. How are you artificially selecting which bacteria will reproduce? How will you prove Is evolution occurring today? How does it affect us?
Additional examples of observable evolution with human significance: Use of antibiotics is selecting for resistance in diseases (relate to Super-Microbe Challenge). Use of pesticides is selecting Challenge Board Day
-Individual/group work on challenge board projects Construct an explanation based on evidence for how natural selection leads to adaptation of populations. HS-LS4-4 Evaluate the evidence supporting claims that changes in environmental conditions may result in: (1) increases in the number of individuals of some species, (2) the emergence of new species over time, and (3) the extinction of other species. HS-LS4-5 4
mass extinction
-Taking a stand: do you think humans have a responsibility to try and prevent the current mass extinction? evolution has occurred by next week?
for resistance in pests. Human genetic mutations/diseases.
-Taking a stand: do you think humans are still evolving?
WEEK 4
How can we teach younger students about evolution?
How do we known if evolution occurred in our bacterial colonies? Work Day/Lesson Preparation
Work Day/Lesson Preparation
Teaching Lesson
-Students teach their lessons to a middle school science class
-Personal journaling
-Class discussion
Super-Microbe Challenge (Part 5) Assess the final results of Super-Microbe Challenge. How can you determine whether or not evolution has taken place in your bacterial colony? Presentation of findings, class discussion
Does the theory of evolution by natural selection make sense and hold up?
-Assessment preparation: Celebrity game using key vocabulary terms
-Summative assessment: Short essays
-Taking a Stand revisited: Does the theory of evolution hold up? Why or why not?
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Curriculum Introduction and Overview
The fundamental learning goals of this unit are for students to clearly understand and construct an argument for the theory of evolution based on multiple fields of evidence, as well the process by which natural selection changes the genetics of populations and drives evolutionary change. The unit begins unit with an attempt to address and gather student beliefs and misconceptions, as well as introducing the scientific definition of a theory. Then you provide a general overview of the basic ideas, and allow the students to begin investigating examples of natural selection with an online case study and with the lab challenge of trying to selectively breed bacteria to exhibit resistance to antibiotics. (I acknowledge that this is a challenging task and the results are not guaranteed to be successful, but I believe it has value in its emphasis on hands-on inquiry, experimental design, and the attempt to directly observe evolution in a field where has major current relevance to society.) We examine the different fields of evidence for evolution, and then move into more detailed investigations of how mutation and natural selection cause populations to change over time. A field trip to the Harvard Natural History Museum will give students an opportunity to further investigate evidence for evolution, and examine the causes for speciation and extinction. For the final project, the students design and teach a lesson on an important topic of evolution/natural selection to a middle school science class, which I hope will be a valuable means for them to demonstrate their learning as well as to work in democratic 6 principles of offering something valuable to members of the greater community. Challenge board projects and final written summative questions will provide additional means to assess student learning.
Challenge Board You must earn at least 20 points
1. Create a song or skit that effectively communicates the four steps of natural selection, and perform it in class.
(5 points) 2. Write a 2+page review and critique of a science news article that involves evolution.
(10 points) 3. Interview an adult that uses the theory of evolution in their profession.
(15 points) 4. Design a video game based on the theory of evolution that accurately incorporates all four steps of natural selection. (15 points) 5. Choose any organism and write a 4+page research paper (or a 2+ paper and a visual poster) on what is known about its evolutionary history. (15 points) 6. Write a science fiction story that describes how an organism (including humans) might evolve in the future. (5 points) 7. Watch the Bill Nye vs. Ken Hamm debate on evolution and creationism, and write a 3+page paper critiquing both arguments and describing how they relate to and/or influence your personal opinion. (10 points) 8. Create a visual art piece (drawing, painting, collage, comic) that communicates an important concept (or concepts) involved in evolution by natural selection (5 points) 9. Design your own project related to evolution and natural selection
Points depend on difficulty of project
7 Challenge Board project details Please meet with me if you need any clarification, guidance, or assistance with your projects
1. Create a song or skit that effectively communicates the four steps of natural selection, and perform it in class. Use your creative talents to explain natural selection in an original skit or a song to be performed in class. You can do this alone or in a group of 2 or 3. Your performance should be well- rehearsed, and should clearly communicate 1) the four factors of natural selection (variation, heritability, struggle for survival, and survival/reproduction of the best-adapted), and 2) how this can result in evolutionary changes in a population over time.
2. Write a 2+page review and critique of a science news article that involves evolution. Find a science news article that includes ideas related to evolution or natural selection. (Please use a reputable news source*) Read the article carefully, doing additional research if necessary to understand the key ideas. Your typewritten paper (2 or more pages) should include: 1) a summary of the most important ideas, 2) an explanation of how it relates to any of the concepts we have been discussing in class, and 3) your personal critique of the article: does the author communicate about the subject clearly? Does the article demonstrate an accurate understanding of evolution/natural selection? What would you do to improve the article? *Good news sources: Local or national newspapers New York Times BBC National Geographic
3. Interview an adult that uses the theory of evolution in their profession. People in many professions need to have an understanding of evolution in order to do their jobs. Conduct an in-depth interview with an adult about how they use an understanding of evolution in their work. This person could be a scientist, doctor, naturalist, farmer, or another profession. Write up at least 15 questions ahead of time, and check with me before your interview. Your interview can be in person, or over skype, the phone, or e-mail. Your final interview should be submitted as a typewritten paper that includes an introduction to your subject as well as their answers to your questions.
4. Design a video game based on the theory of evolution that accurately incorporates all four steps of natural selection. How could the evolutionary principles weve been discussing in class be incorporated into a video game? Design your own video game that you think would be both fun to play and accurately involve the four factors of natural selection. You have two options: 1) Design your own original game from scratch 2) Play the existing computer game Spore, and critique what is and isnt accurate about its portrayal of natural selection. Then make suggestions about how it could be improved. Your final report should be at least 4 pages of written description, and can also include drawings, diagrams, and any digital components you wish to include. It should clearly demonstrate your understanding of the four factors of natural selection
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5. Choose any organism and write a 4+ research paper (or a 2+ paper and a visual poster) on what is known about its evolutionary history. Write a scientific research paper on the evolutionary history of an animal of your choice, including humans. Describe in detail the best current scientific understanding of the past stages this creature passed through. Be sure to address the following questions: What environmental pressures were involved in the evolution of this animals unique adaptions? What allowed it to survive to present day? What evidence do we have that tells this story? What is known for sure, what is speculated by scientists, and what is still a mystery? The paper should be 4+ pages, or 2+ pages with a well-crafted and informative visual poster with images, diagrams, and written captions.
6. Write a science fiction story that describes how an organism (including humans) might evolve in the future. Evolution is still working on living things today! Earths environments are changing quickly with the influence of humanity (urbanization, climate change, invasive species, etc.) and organisms are still being influenced by natural selection. Who will survive into the future, and why? Write a piece of creative science fiction that speculates how an organism (perhaps human beings) will adapt to the changing conditions of the future through natural selection. How might it look and behave differently in a few thousand or million years? What will the environment be like? Be creative, but be sure to accurately incorporate the principles of natural selection in your story.
7. Watch the Bill Nye vs. Ken Hamm debate on evolution and creationism, and write a 3+page paper critiquing both arguments and describing how they relate to and/or influence your personal opinion. Evolution is still a very controversial topic in our society today, and its important to understand whats being debated and why. Watch this entire 3-hour debate, and take notes on the major arguments of both Bill Nye, representing the scientific view of evolution, and Ken Hamm, representing one particular perspective of Christian creationism. Write a paper on the debate that answers the following questions: What were the main arguments of both sides? What were each sides strengths and weaknesses? Did Bill Nye accurately portray the theory of evolution by natural selection? Did Ken Hamm display an understanding of the science behind the theory? Does he fairly represent the views of all religious groups (or even all Christian groups)? Do you think this debate was a helpful contribution to the dialogue on evolution? Why or why not? How did this debate relate to and/or influence your personal opinions? The debate can be watched online here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6kgvhG3AkI
8. Create a visual art piece that communicates an important concept (or concepts) involved in evolution by natural selection Employ your artistic talents to creatively express an important idea or ideas we have been learning about in this unit (such as common decent, descent with modification, natural selection, artificial selection, etc.) Your piece can be in any medium you choose (drawing, painting, comic, collage, etc.)
9. Design your own project related to evolution and natural selection Bring a written project proposal to me so we can discuss what you wish to accomplish, how it meets the learning goals of this unit, and how I might be able to assist you. 9
Narrative Introduction
Imagine you are a scientist in Germany in 1861, excavating fossils from rock deposits that were once a swamp 150 million years ago, a time when dinosaurs roamed the earth. As you begin to clear away the clay and dust from a fossil skeleton you just found, to begin to notice details that leave you speechless. You have discovered a creature unlike anything that has been discovered before.
This animal had a very dinosaur-like skeleton: solid bones, a long bony tail, sharp teeth, and claws on its hands and feet. But there is something else in the fossil, remarkable and unmistakable: elegant impressions of feathers cover the body. The long, bird-like feathers on the animals arms and tail reveal a creature that seems to have been capable of true flight. This creature, which will be named Archaeopteryx, appears to be a transitional form between dinosaurs and birds.
This discovery will change the way we look at birds forever. You have found evidence that these familiar animals we see every day have changed dramatically over millions of years, and that their ancestors were in fact small, carnivorous dinosaurs related to the infamous T-Rex and Velociraptor. You have begun to piece together a lineage of survivors that have changed over time, adapting to new environmental pressures and developing ingenious solutions to the challenges of life. You have added a small but amazing puzzle piece to the grand story of how all life is related, diverging from a common ancestor into the dazzling diversity of species on Earth. In science, we call this story the theory of evolution by natural selection, and we will be investigating it in depth over the next four weeks.
We will be looking at the scientific evidence for evolution, the mechanisms by which living things change, and examples of how evolution continues to affect us in important ways today. As we move through this unit, we will try to answer the question: How does survival shape the world?
10 Unit-based Assessment Rubric
Students will receive a copy of this rubric at the beginning of the unit, and will assess their own performance based on these criteria. The teacher will also complete this rubric for each student. At multiple points during the unit, students will check in with the teacher on their progress, giving them ongoing constructive feedback and opportunities for self-assessment.
Goals Grade Percentage Exemplary Performance Comments Conceptual Understanding of Material 40% Student displays a thorough and sophisticated understanding of the subject material, as evidenced through their work on written assignments, presentations, class activities and discussions. Student displays critical thinking, makes fruitful connections between ideas, and effectively applies their understanding to new concepts.
Final Project 20% Student teaches an engaging and informative lesson that meets all criteria, incorporates examples from previous lessons and activities, and demonstrates a clear understanding of the major content goals.
Challenge Board 20% Student earns the required amount of points, submits projects on time and demonstrates work of high quality
Participation 20% Student demonstrates active engagement in all class work, making meaningful contributions to class discussions and activities, as well as in small group work. Student stays on task, asks questions, and offers thoughtful responses to questions by others.
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Criterion-based Summative Assessment: Short Written Essays
1. Write a short essay response to our Guiding Question: How does survival shape the world? Use all of the following terms in your response: theory of evolution, natural selection, mutation, variation, heritable, population, adaptation, fitness, genotype, phenotype.
2. What is a scientific theory?
3. What are the major fields of evidence for common ancestry and evolution? (Describe at least 4, using specific examples for each)
4. Use a case study from class or your own research to clearly explain the four steps of natural selection.
5. Is evolution random or directed? Explain your response.
6. Describe one other concept from our unit you learned about that you have not mentioned yet.