Students will test their organism in the environment, identify relevant “traits”, collect and analyze data, and determine if their organism will survive based on the criteria. Students will conclude if having a larger list of favorable traits (more genetic variation) is better than having a smaller list of favorable traits (less genetic variation). Lesson 4: Explain Students will read the natural selection reading and apply their Engage and Explore activities to what they have just learned. Lesson 5: Explain Students create a claim and argument mini essay using the paragraph frames to explain how having a variety of traits in a population allows for natural selection and ultimate survival of the species. Lesson 6: Extend Students will complete a reading and discussion on artificial selection in our society today. Students will extend the activities they did and determine if the Explore activity was natural selection or artificial selection. Lesson 7: Evaluate Students will research one artificially selected organism and evaluate whether or not the organism has benefited the environment it lives in. Lesson 1: Engage Lesson 2: Explore Lesson 3: Explore Lesson 4: Explain Student Experience Students will investigate the fossil record to observe the similarities and differences of organisms in a particular geographical area. Students will design an organism that is best suited for its food source, test it, collect and analyze data, and explain what the best “traits” for survival are. Students will organism based on a list of traits given so that it is best suited for its food sources, test it, collect and analyze data, and explain why having a greater genetic variation is Students will read the natural selection reading and apply their Engage and Explore activities to what they have just learned.
important for a species survival. T4T Material N/A Food Sources: Building Materials: Food Sources: Building Materials: Natural Selection Reading Big Idea Students notice that organism’s physical appearances change over time. Some traits are more favorable than others. Organisms that are more adapted to their environments are more likely to survive. Greater genetic variety in a population allows for greater survival of the species. Natural Selection Connection to Culminating Task Students start to collect evidence to explain what natural selection is. Students collect evidence to explain favorable traits. Students collect evidence to explain natural selection. Students verify their ideas of natural selection and collect evidence to back up claims. CA Standards CA.7.5.c CA.7.5.b CA.7.5.e CA.7.5.b CA.7.5.e CA.7.5.a CA.7.5.b CA.7.5.e Next Generation Science Standards MS-LS-4-2 MS-LS-4-4 MS-LS-4-4 MS-LS-4-4 Time 1 Period 2 Periods 2 Periods 1 Period Lesson 5: Explain (Culminating Task) Lesson 6: Extend Lesson 7: Evaluate Student Experience Students create a claim and argument mini essay using the paragraph frames to explain how having a variety of traits in a population allows for natural selection and ultimate survival of the species. Students will complete a reading and discussion on artificial selection in our society Students will extend the activities they did and determine if the Explore activity was natural Students will research one artificially selected organism and evaluate whether or not the organism has benefited the environment it lives in.