Lesson Plans and Worksheets
- Home /
- Teacher Resources /
- Science /
- Biology /
- Evolution
Browse by Subject
Featured Testimonial
I am an enrichment teacher that works with 21 teachers. Using Lesson Planet, I am able to find amazing lesson plans at a moments notice that help to enrich their multiple grade levels. I continue to be astonished by the wealth of lessons and reproducibles.
- Kimberly K.
- Bourbonnais, IL
- 09-08-10
Evolution Teacher Resources
Find teacher approved Evolution educational resource ideas and activities
Title
Resource Type
Views
Grade
Rating
Lisa Peters presents macroevolution as a large-scale family tree in her book Our Family Tree: An Evolution Story. She suggests the process from single-celled organisms to modern-day humans, and learners explore new vocabulary through the text. Review the following terms before reading: continents, generation, oxygen, shrank, and upright. Kids raise hands when they hear these, paying close attention to context clues. They make connections to familiar concepts using given comprehension questions (one for each word) and synthesize the information using the linked graphic organizers. Find the author's read on YouTube for something different!
Being able to test a hypothesis is a scientific must. AP Biology pupils can see the process of hypothesis testing through evidence for evolution as seen in natural selection. Slides contain solid information and excerpts from academic journals. However, the second-to -ast slide comically shows images of President Bush next to images of chimps making similar facial expressions. Editing the presentation may be required.
Evolution is a controversial topic. Here is a series of lessons which attempt to present a positive and non-controversial view of the theory of biological evolution. Through journal activity, writing, lecture, and other activities, seventh graders are exposed to Darwin's theory of evolution. As the culminating activity, learners are required to examine other theories of biological evolution. This 24-page plan has everything you need to successfully implement the lesson plan and its activities.
Walk your junior biologists through the evidence that supports evolution. The fossil record, anatomical record, and molecular record are explained and supported by colorful graphs and pictures. Extensive notes are provided for some of the slides.
Students are introduced to how the process of evolution works. As a class, they review the characteristics of natural selection and how those with advantageous traits reproduce and survive. To test this theory of natural selection, they test who can put nails into a block of wood without any modern day machinery. To end the instructional activity, they compare their results to see who was the fittest.
Students discuss controversies about evolution they are familiar with as well as the basic principles behind the theory of evolution. The notion of intelligent design is introduced and discussed before they begin research about the history of the response to the theory of evolution. An essay is written based on their research and intelligent design.
The extent to which "Fittest" can describe social success versus reproductive success is explored. Evolution may not always lead to a more desirable trait, just the one which best suits the current environment. The idea of intelligent design can be reconciled with evolution by acknowledging system design as a whole and the brilliance of adaptation. This video clearly avoids negating one argument for the sake of the other and highlights ways to incorporate both at a critical level of thinking.
Students recognize that achievements of human beings throughout human history can be considered part of the ongoing story of human evolution. They research settings such as the biosphere and Mars and write imaginative short stories using those settings.
Learners will love a weeks worth of bone study. They use bones and characteristics of bones to explore the evolution of hominoids. Bones are compared, categorized, and considered. A great way to bring physical anthropology and material data analysis into the classroom.
Looking at evolution in detail, this thorough instructional activity has complex questions requiring details and explanations of natural selection and diversity. Various examples of biological characteristics are available, and students choose the relevant theories they support from the multiple choice options. The second half of the instructional activity gives examples of fossils, prompting learners to relate the evidence to theories regarding common ancestors, acquired characteristic, and evolutionary relationships.