Saturday, March 5, 2011

The Fossil Record- Evolution Part 2


How Evolution Works – Evolution Part 2
Ms. Carter

Evidence for Evolution

Video: Becoming a Fossil
Read the Background Essay
  1. DESCRIBE how fossil are formed and give examples
Watch the video
  1. What happened to Lucy? What’s her story?

Video: Laetoli Footprints
Read the Background Essay
  1. Explain how the Laetoli Footprints were formed and preserved
Watch the video
  1. Why are the Laetoli Footprint so important for evolutionary biologists and how old are they?

Video: Evolving Ideas – How do we know Evolution happens?
Read the Background Essay
  1. Write an essay explaining the fossil evidence that supports that evolutionary idea that “whales have descended from land mammals.”
Watch the video:
  1. How do fossils support evolution?

  1. Explain how evolution works.
  2. New species arise through natural selection. LIST and EXPLAIN the four processes of natural selection.
  3. How are “competition” and “natural selection” related?


Thursday, March 3, 2011

Evolution - Part 1


EVOLUTION WEBQUEST – Part 1
Ms. Carter



VIDEO: Who Was Charles Darwin?
  1. Who was Charles Darwin?
  2. What was the name of the ship and why did Darwin take the voyage?
  3. What did Darwin bring with him to England?
  4. What were Darwin’s IDEAS?
  5. Explain the controversy between Darwin’s ideas and the Bible
  6. Name his famous book.
VIDEO: Darwin: Reluctant Rebel
  1. Read the Background  Essay and summarize the information, keep in mind the following:
    1. Describe the world in which Darwin lived
    2. Why was he so concern about disclosing his ideas to the public?
    3. What political, socio-economic changes were taking place around his time?
INTERACTIVE: Darwin’s Diary
Click on “Beagle” go to “Summer 1833, watch the video and write down a paragraph or two discussing these questions:
  1. Why do you think Darwin’s fossils were important to establish his ideas on evolution?
  2. Why do fossils tell us about organisms of the past?
  3. How can we use  fossils to study present day organisms?
VIDEO: Farmers of the Amazon
READ: Darwin argued that organisms must adapt in order to survive their changing environment. Those organisms who adapt can reproduce and pass on their good genes to their offspring. Organisms who can’t adapt, die out and eventually become extinct. Darwin called his idea “NATURAL SELECTION.”
First, read the “Background Essay,” Then watch the video and answer these questions:
  1. Describe at length the connection that exist between the leafcutter ants, the fungi, the mold, and the antibiotic.
  2. How are these ants related to the idea of Natural Selection?
  3. What type of SYMBIOTIC relationship is demonstrated here? Explain it
  4. How does symbiosis affect evolution?