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Evolution Blended Unit

Description: 

In this unit on evolution, students will investigate and communicate information that common ancestry and biological evolution are supported by multiple lines of empirical evidence. Students will also explain that the process of evolution occurs from four factors: (1) the potential for species to increase in number, (2) the heritable genetic variation of individuals due to mutation and sexual reproduction, (3) competition for limited resources, and (4) the proliferation of organizations that are better able to survive and reproduce in their environment. Students will also apply concepts of probability and statistics to support explanations that organisms with advantageous traits will increase in number compared to organisms lacking these traits. Students will explain how natural selection leads to adaptation of populations. Finally, student will evaluate evidence supporting claims that changes in the environment may lead to: (1) increases in the population of some species, (2) the emergence of new species over time, and (3) the extinction of some species.

Learning Targets: 
Communicate scientific information that common ancestry and biological evolution are supported by multiple lines of empirical evidence.
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
Apply concepts of statistics and probability to support explanations that organisms with an advantageous heritable trait to increase in proportion to organisms lacking this trait.
Construct an explanation based on evidence for how natural selection leads to adaptation of populations.
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.
AttachmentSize
PDF icon Joshua Skodack - AAPS TBDL Blended Unit Planning Document #2.pdf166.35 KB
Author: 
skodackjosh
Content Area: 
Science
Biology
Language: 
English
Resource Type: 
Unit
Licensing: 
Creative Commons Licence
Grade: 
9-12
Tags: 
evolution
blended unit

Student prerequisite skills and knowledge

Students should know that parents pass down traits to their offspring through DNA. Species are a population of organisms that are able to produce viable offspring. 

What concepts or procedures are being explained or demonstrated in this lesson object?

LS4.A: Evidence of Common Ancestry and Diversity

LS4.B: Natural Selection

LS4.C: Adaptation

 

 

What was your experience, both successes and challenges, using this lesson object with your students?

Students have difficulty understanding that populations evolve not individual members of a species. Secondly, in the PhET Natural Selection lab, students have difficulty developing their own questions to investigate. Many students are not comfortable designing their own experiment. This activity requires a fair amount of scaffolding to get students comfortable asking testable questions.