III. LIFE SCIENCE SITES

 4. EVOLUTION

Elementary

Benchmark 1 "Explain how fossils provide evidence about the nature of ancient life."

Dinosaur Theme Page - Evolution (III.4.E.1)

This site allows you to join an online egg hunt and catch the excitement of fossil researchers as they "hatch" fossilized eggs to reveal the embryos inside.

Dinosaur Treks - Evolution (III.4.E.1&2) New

Outstanding - Students go into the Dinosaur Trek Museum and are swept back in time to learn about dinosaurs. As students search for dinosaurs they learn about special adaptation that dinosaurs had that helped them to survive. This game is good for students in 3rd grade and up.

Fossil Tour - Evolution (III.4.E.1&2)

This informative site walks the viewer through many topics that deal with fossils. There is a presentation on how dead organisms become a fossil by being covered with sediments. Also, there are questions with multiple choice answers to choose from, along with side information on a chosen picture.

Help Rex Solve the Mystery of the Broken Necklace - Evolution (III.4.E.1)

The student has the opportunity to examine a fossil/bone necklace and try to determine which animal (out of three) the bones came from. An explanation of what the animal is appears when the student selects that animal's bones. After answering their question correctly the student is allowed to view and learn about other species that look similar to their correct answer.

Learning from the Fossil Record -Evolution (III.4.E.1)

This site walks through fossils.  It includes a timeline, activities, background information, and pictures that can be used in the classroom.  Includes dig for students, students act as detectives, and solve guessing games. (Very useful with the Scientific Method) This site is a good teacher resource.

Species Countdown - Evolution (III.4.E.1&2) New

In this lesson students examine humanity's accelerating impact on the earth's species and the average "life span" of each species through geologic time. You can use the interactive Encarta computer program or Encarta Encyclopedias. Put the current millennium in perspective through development of a timeline that begins with the evolution of species in the Paleozoic Era and ends with the projected loss of 20 percent of all Earth's species by 2020 AD.This lesson provides students with both a sense of both geologic time (and humankind's tiny slice of it) and the enormous, accelerating impact of human activity on the planet.

The students will:

1. Place mass extinctions in the larger time frame of the evolution of Earth's species

2. View human evolution in the context of that time frame

3. Chart the enormous impact of human development on Earth's other species

The Big Dig! - Evolution (III.4.E.1&2) New

This children's site from the American Museum of Natural History contains information about the "study of ancient living things like dinosaurs." Information is presented through interactive interviews, stories, games, and activities.

Tree Rings as Records of the Past -Evolution (III.4.E.1)

This site is a lesson plan of how to use tree rings to teach about the past.  This is a different types of fossil to use when researching how we find out the trail to the past.

Benchmark 2 "Explain how physical and behavioral characteristics of animals help them to survive in their environments."

Creature World - Evolution (III.4.E.2) New

Students pick a continent and then a region. Once the region is choosen a list of animals will pop up. The student picks the animal that they are interested in, and a picture will pop up along with information about the charateristic this animal, has that helps them to survive.

Dinosaur Treks - Evolution (III.4.E.1&2) New

Outstanding - Students go into the Dinosaur Trek Museum and are swept back in time to learn about dinosaurs. As students search for dinosaurs they learn about special adaptation that dinosaurs had that helped them to survive. This game is good for students in 3rd grade and up.

Fossil Tour - Evolution (III.4.E.1&2)

This informative site walks the viewer through many topics that deal with fossils. There is a presentation on how dead organisms become a fossil by being covered with sediments. Also, there are questions with multiple choice answers to choose from, along with side information on a chosen picture.

Polar Pairs - Evolution (III.4.E.2)

A matching game which teaches students about the polar animal adaptations that allow it to live in its environment. When a student makes a match a description of the animal adaptation appears to the right of the screen. The student can also click on Artic Wildlife Portfolio to learn in depth about each animal from the Polar Pair game.  Requires a Java enabled browser.

Species Countdown - Evolution (III.4.E.1&2) New

In this lesson students examine humanity's accelerating impact on the earth's species and the average "life span" of each species through geologic time. You can use the interactive Encarta computer program or Encarta Encyclopedias. Put the current millennium in perspective through development of a timeline that begins with the evolution of species in the Paleozoic Era and ends with the projected loss of 20 percent of all Earth's species by 2020 AD.This lesson provides students with both a sense of both geologic time (and humankind's tiny slice of it) and the enormous, accelerating impact of human activity on the planet.

The students will:

1. Place mass extinctions in the larger time frame of the evolution of Earth's species

2. View human evolution in the context of that time frame

3. Chart the enormous impact of human development on Earth's other species

Switcheroo Zoo - Evolution (III.4.E.2)

Students visit a virtual zoo, take a tour, and read the signs that describe the animal's adaptations. The student can also switch the animal's head, body, or tail and see what the animal would look like with different parts. The resulting picture is realistic and quite interesting.

The Big Dig! - Evolution (III.4.E.1&2) New

This children's site from the American Museum of Natural History contains information about the "study of ancient living things like dinosaurs." Information is presented through interactive interviews, stories, games, and activities.

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Middle School

Benchmark 1 "Describe how scientific theory traces possible evolutionary relationships among present and past life forms."

Brain Pop (Natural Selection) - Evolution (III.4.MS.1)

There is a movie on Natural Selection and a quiz that follows. There are cartoons and experiments. This is a fun site - very good.

Human Evolution - Evolution (III.4.MS.1) New

This interactive site allows students to trace the evolution of humans by looking at pictures and descriptions of the most primitive hominid (Ardipithecus ramidus) all the way up to modern homo sapiens.  There are informational links related to Lucy, Taung Child, and fossilized footprints.

The Tree of Life - Evolution (III.4.MS.1) New

An example of the tree of life cladogram is presented with a link giving instructions on how to read it. Each group on the cladogram is a link providing information about that group.  This is an easy to read site for students.

Walking With Prehistoric Beasts - Evolution (III.4.MS.1) New

Outstanding - A Discovery Channel site featuring a prehistoric zoo with great pictures and explanations of mammals that ruled the planet after dinosaurs.  Students can build a "beast" from fossil bones (three difficulty levels), hide a "beast" using color schemes, patterns, and habitats, and manipulate an interactive map to chart continent movement, vegetation, mammal habitat, and ocean currents from 65 million years ago to present day.

Benchmark 2 "Explain how new traits might arise and become established in a population and how species become extinct."

 

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High School

Benchmark 1 "Describe what biologists consider to be evidence for human evolutionary relationships to selected animal groups."

 

Anthropology 1101 Human Origins website - Evolution (III.4.HS.1)

This is a University of Minnesota website for the course Anthropology 1101: Human Origins.  This site is a comprehensive, award winning site complete with lectures, pictures, hypertext, timelines, labs, etc. A solid resource for studying all major aspects of evolution.  Major topics include:  genetics, anatomy, primate behavioral analogies, fossil evidence and controversies, basic archeological techniques, and the development of human economic, social, and symbolic behaviors.  Allows users to access "Archaeology on the Net" Web Ring. Lab 3 (Third week of the course) specifically deals with human evolutionary relationships to selected animal groups.

Lesson Plans Library - Evolution (III.4.HS.1&2)

This program details lesson plans designed to explain Darwin's theory of natural selection, profiles the man who gave an "explanation for why we exist", and examines the philosophical implications of Darwinism to modern life.

ENSI (Evolution and the Nature of Science Institute) WEB - Evolution (III.4.HS.1&2)

This is a collection of classroom lessons to help high school biology teachers more effectively teach basic concepts in the area of evolution and the nature of science. They were developed and tested during nine years of summer institutes by biology teachers for across the nation.

Evolution: Its Effect Throughout Geological Time and the Controversy - Evolution (III.4.HS.1&2)

In this series of Internet activities, students can review the basics of Charles Darwin's Theory of Evolution. They study the Scopes "Monkey Trial" of 1925 in order to learn about the early controversy caused by the theory. They use the World Wide Web to explore the various stages of evolution, over geologic time, or organisms such as invertebrates, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. Students create a flow chart illustrating how life evolved from the simplest organisms to those that exist today, showing each geologic period, the organisms that appeared in it, and how each organism fits into the evolutionary story.

Evolution: Teachers & Sudents - Evolution (III.4.HS.1&2) New

Outstanding - This excellent site by PBS provides teachers and students with many tools to learn about evolution.  The site has videos for both teachers and students, lesson plans, online activities, online teacher training courses, and even a downloadable teacher's guide.  All resources come with teacher oriented descriptions and instructions.  This very polished and professional site will appeal to teachers and students both.

Introduction to Evolutionary Biology -Evolution (III.4.HS.1&2)

Provides general information about evolution of the earth and the biological evolutionary changes. No activities at this site, but great information.

Fossil Hominids - Evolution (III.4.HS.1)

These web pages are intended to provide evidence for human evolution.  Several hyperlinks allow students to gather information on various anthropological developments involving the evolution of the genus hominid.

The Talk.Origins Archive - Evolution (III.4.HS.1&2)

Talk orgins is a Usenet newsgroup devoted to the discussion and debate of biological and physical orgins. Most discussions in the newsgroup center on the creation/evolution controversy, but other topics of discussion include the orgin of life, geology, biology, catastrophism, cosmology and theology.

 

Benchmark 2 "Explain how a new species or variety may originate through the evolutionary process of natural selection."

 

Boning Up on Fossil Features - Evolution (III.4.HS.2)

Through an investigation of various dinosaurs, both as a class and individually, students can explore the relationship between physical features and survival. Students will, among other things: describe and give examples of how features of an animal's body relate to that animal's survival; read and discuss an article discussing an ongoing controversy regarding dinosaurs; understand the features that "define" what is classified as a dinosaur; interpret, form illustrations of dinosaurs, how dinosaurs may have lived; and investigate a specific dinosaur. Please note that this site may not be accessable using the URL posted above directly. Instead, use The Gateway to Educational Materials website (http://www.thegateway.org/ )and search by title.

Brain Pop Natural Selection - Evolution (III.4.HS.2)

This site contains a movie about natural selection, quizzes for the kids to take, experiment ideas, and a place to ask questions.

Lesson Plans Library - Evolution (III.4.HS.1&2)

This program details lesson plans designed to explain Darwin's theory of natural selection, profiles the man who gave an "explanation for why we exist", and examines the philosophical implications of Darwinism to modern life.

ENSI (Evolution and the Nature of Science Institute) WEB - Evolution (III.4.HS.1&2)

This is a collection of classroom lessons to help high school biology teachers more effectively teach basic concepts in the area of evolution and the nature of science. They were developed and tested during nine years of summer institutes by biology teachers for across the nation.

Evolution: Its Effect Throughout Geological Time and the Controversy - Evolution (III.4.HS.1&2)

In this series of Internet activities, students can review the basics of Charles Darwin's Theory of Evolution. They study the Scopes "Monkey Trial" of 1925 in order to learn about the early controversy caused by the theory. They use the World Wide Web to explore the various stages of evolution, over geologic time, or organisms such as invertebrates, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. Students create a flow chart illustrating how life evolved from the simplest organisms to those that exist today, showing each geologic period, the organisms that appeared in it, and how each organism fits into the evolutionary story.

Evolution: Teachers & Sudents - Evolution (III.4.HS.1&2) New

Outstanding - This excellent site by PBS provides teachers and students with many tools to learn about evolution.  The site has videos for both teachers and students, lesson plans, online activities, online teacher training courses, and even a downloadable teacher's guide.  All resources come with teacher oriented descriptions and instructions.  This very polished and professional site will appeal to teachers and students both.

Introduction to Evolutionary Biology -Evolution (III.4.HS.1&2)

Provides general information about evolution of the earth and the biological evolutionary changes. No activities at this site, but great information.

The Talk.Origins Archive - Evolution (III.4.HS.1&2)

Talk orgins is a Usenet newsgroup devoted to the discussion and debate of biological and physical orgins. Most discussions in the newsgroup center on the creation/evolution controversy, but other topics of discussion include the orgin of life, geology, biology, catastrophism, cosmology and theology.

Voyage of the Beagle: Introduction - Evolution (III.4.HS.2)

This site takes the learner on a hyperlinked tour of the Voyage of the Beagle. Would be a good introduction to a unit on a unit on outcome 10-2. Students are asked open-ended questions which they save in an electronic notebook.  Students also explore a hyper linked map and timeline of the voyage. Excellent cross-curricular site involving Science, History, Composition, and Geography.

This site requires a subscription to use.