Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
Task Rotation
Evolution Unit
Theories of the Origin of Species
Two 50 min class periods
7th Grade
Life Science
4. The student uses a variety of multi-media and innovative technology to create illustrations, models, charts, tables, and
graphs as tools for communication
14. The student identifies and illustrates basic principles and the foundational concepts that are central to understanding
the essence of a field of study.
15. The student recognizes that the responsibility to examine and challenge existing ideas and theories is an ongoing
process.
ENDURING UNDERSTANDING(s):
Scientists analyze and recognize how organisms, places, things, and ideas change over time
ESSENTIAL QUESTION(s)
How and why are scientific theories fluid and constantly changing?
ACTIVATING STRATEGY
Ask the student, “What does it take to make a theory?” Allow the students to discuss and lead the conversation to
fundamental parts of a theory. Ask the students what the difference is between a theory and a law. Tie the conversation
over to the theory of evolution and explain that we will be exploring how the theory of evolution has developed and
changed over time.
Assessment Strategies
Students will be assessed informally through class discussion both before and after the video. Students will also be more
formally assessed through their task rotation assignments.
Differentiation
The task rotation assignment itself is differentiated, aligning with the four different learning styles. Students get to
choose which assignment they would like to do according to their own preferences.
Materials/Links/Text References/Resources
- PowerPoint
- Notes sheet
- Video
- Task rotation sheet
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOiUZ3ycZwU
Handouts
“The Making of a Theory”
Introductory Notes:
- Aristotle (450 BC):
_________________________________________________________________________________________
- Medieval Europe (~1300s):
_________________________________________________________________________________________
- Francesco Redi (~1668):
_________________________________________________________________________________________
- James Hutton (~1775):
_________________________________________________________________________________________
- Thomas Malthus (~1798):
_________________________________________________________________________________________
- Jean Baptiste Lamarck (~1809):
_________________________________________________________________________________________
- Charles Lyell (~1830):
_________________________________________________________________________________________
- Charles Darwin:
_________________________________________________________________________________________
- Alfred Russel Wallace :
_________________________________________________________________________________________
- Louis Pasteur (~1864):
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Video Questions:
_________________________________________________________________________________________
2. What other British naturalist had set sail on a voyage 20 years before Wallace’s shipwreck? ______________
3. Darwin set sail around the world on a ship called the _______________________.
5. The fossils Darwin found were _____________________ compared to living species and he pondered the
relationships between the extinct and the living. He also wondered why fossils of extinct animals turn up
8. The Spaniards could tell which island a tortoise came from by the shape of the ______________________.
9. Darwin focused on the subtle differences in the _____________________ and noticed that each type lived
on a different island.
10. Darwin reflected on what he had been seeing and was amazed that such similar but different animals lived
on different islands. His thoughts led him to an idea that was radical at the time: __________________
______________ ________________.
11. Darwin returned to England around 1837....His studies led him to the conclusion that species change into
_________________ species.
12. By 1853, Darwin had become a famous naturalist and met ________________ while he was working at the
museum.
13. Wallace’s new voyage takes him to the Malay Archipelago where he studies the wings of various
______________________ that live on the islands. This study also suggested that species change.
14. Wallace formulates a new law of nature: Species arise near _________________ species.
16. The Wallace line splits the Malay Archipaelego. On one side near Asia, there are animals that are like
_____________________. On the other side of the line near Australia, the animals are like
17. The English economist Thomas ________________ had previously (in 1798) said that human populations are
18. Massive ________________ plus _________________ allows species to change. Variation that gives these
individuals a slight advantage will over time allow them reproduce and eventually outnumber those without
the advantage.
Create a timeline including at least 5 scientists and Francesco Redi was a scientists in the late 1600’s
their influence on our scientific knowledge of who attempted to prove to other that spontaneous
evolution. Make sure the timeline is neat, colorful, generation was impossible. Despite his efforts, his
and includes pictures. findings were not accepted by his community. Draw
a picture representing how you believe this
conversation went down OR write a one-page
transcript of their discussion as you imagine it.
Lamarck believed that “organisms evolve through Darwin traveled all over the world and saw some
the use/disuse of their body parts.” Pretend that you incredible things. Draw a picture representing how
are going to approach Lamarck and show him why you believe they felt arriving at a new place and
he was right or wrong through either a one-page observing all the new organisms OR write a one page
response or by drawing a cartoon (must have at least letter as if you were Darwin to a good friend
three frames) explaining some of the interesting things you are
seeing and how you feel about your discoveries.