State Standards:
Evolution and Biodiversity
Standard #10: Give examples of ways in which genetic variation and environmental factors are causes of evolution and the diversity of organisms

Major Learning Targets:
  • I can summarize who Charles Darwin is and how his observations were important to science
  • I can explain how environmental conditions drives Natural Selection
  • I can explain the theory of Natural Selection and make predictions of which adaptations would be most fit in a given circumstance
  • I can explain how natural selection leads to evolution when species are isolated or bottlenecks occur due to environmental events
  • I can illustrate how competition is an important factor in natural selection

Important Concepts:
  • Natural Selection which leads to evolution is driven by:
Overproduction
Competition
Selection
Environmental Change
  • Animals who by chance have the best adaptations for new conditions will survive changes and pass on their traits because they will live long enough to reproduce
  • Competition between organisms of the same species for resources as well as to escape predators drives natural selection along with competition from other species who also need the same resources, food, and have the same predators

Assessments and Projects in Addition to Weekly Test:
  • Who can survive a million years game and analysis of in game choices
  • Natural selection examples featuring overpopulation and several forms of competition group poster

Important Skills:
  • Working Cooperatively in a diverse group
  • Using space effectively in a visual presentation
  • Inferring what features will best suir an organism given its environment


Resources:
Prentice Hall Life Science
Chapter 6
Sec 1 Darwin’s Theory pg 172-179


Discovery Ed Galapogos clip
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