As the great and hilarious Tim Minchin once said, "Science is simply the word we use to describe a method of organizing our curiosity." Science is more than just a guess; it is based on questions, observations, and evidence. High...

High schoolers watch a video and discuss the research on the intelligence of apes. In this primate lesson, students view a NOVA video about ape intelligence. They work in groups to take notes on the observations and conclusions of...

Students study primates and their evolution history.  In this role play lesson students view a video on evolution then demonstrate how primates walked and other observations they noticed in the film. 

Twelfth graders collaborate and analyze information about our hominid lineage. They discuss evidence researched by anthropologists. Students use spreadsheet data to compare means of locomotion, diet and brain size.

Middle schoolers simulate online the formation of Ape Cave, in order to better explain its construction. They observe, illustrate and discuss geological features of this lava tube.

Students prepare for a field trip to Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument and exploration of Ape Cave (see also Ape Cave Exploration). In the absence of a field trip, students become acquainted with lava tubes in general.

Students explore the world of apes. In this reading skills lesson, students complete a jigsaw reading activity (the reading material is not included) regarding orangutans.

Get a little batty with life science! This fun simulation game replicates how bats use echolocation to hunt moths in their native Hawaiian habitat. After creating blind folds and discussing some basic principles of echolocation, learners...

Students prepare experiment plans for a peer review session to test the intelligence level of gorillas. They view and discuss a Discovery Channel video on the wild behaviors of gorillas then create three experiments that could test the...

What do lemurs do best? They move! Lemurs like to jump, run, hop, and climb and it's your class's job to document seven fun lemur behaviors. The class starts by discussing why lemurs are considered primates, and then they isolate seven...

A change in a parameter can end in overpopulation. The resources gives pupils the opportunity to control the parameters of rabbits and wolves in a natural setting. Using the set parameters, the simulation runs and displays the population...

Students make posters about saving the primates. In this primates lesson plan, students discuss primates and environmental changes and make posters with pictures about saving primates.

When it comes to the origin of the human species students are full of misconceptions. Clear up the hominid confusion with this evolutionary activity focused on assisting students in understanding prehistoric man and his family tree....

Students identify key anatomical similarities and differences between great apes and humans. They infer likely anatomical features in ancient human ancestors and list principal anatomical changes in primates necessary for adaptation to...

Students evaluate the degree of chromosome similarity and difference between humans and apes. Students infer about the relationship between a human and ape based on similarities found.

Students explore the different types of vertebrates found in their area. In this environmental science lesson, students perform a case study on the Common Raven. They analyze data collected from research and create charts and graphs.

Students study Neanderthals. In this Prehistoric life lesson, students investigate two main theories regarding the relationship between Neanderthals and modern man. Students will conduct research through several provided web sites and...

High schoolers describe, measure and compare cranial casts from contemporary apes (chimpanzees and gorillas, typically), modern humans and fossil "hominids" (erect and bipedal forms evolutionarily separated from apes).

Students explore non-verbal communication. In this animal communication lesson, students study body language and other forms of non-verbal communication. Students write a summary of their findings to discuss with the class. This lesson...

Learners view a Power Point and complete activities related to genetic evidence of human evolution. In this molecular evolution lesson, students view and discuss a provide presentation. They search for the "tell-tale telomere" and...

Young scholars comprehend what is meant by Cultural Evolution and that it primarily applies at Human Evolution, but that there are examples in higher mammals such as a killer whales, dolphins and great apes of particular groups by...

Students study Charles Darwin's evolutionary theory and how he applied it to orchids.  In this evolution lesson students repeat Darwin's orchid pollination experiment.

Young scholars actively engage in the careful analysis of chromosome banding patterns and identify examples of inversion in homologous chromosomes.

At one point, all mammals carried only two color receptors, but now most humans carry three. An informative presentation and hands-on activity demonstrate how this evolved through genetics. By participating in the activity, pupils...