Curated OER
Prehistory: Our Ancestors Emerge
In this prehsitory worksheet, students read a 3-page article about antropological finds and then respond to 2 short answer questions based on the article.
Curated OER
Apes To Man
Students study primates and their evolution history. In this role play instructional activity students view a video on evolution then demonstrate how primates walked and other observations they noticed in the film.
Curated OER
What is Cultural Evolution?
Students 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 exploring...
Curated OER
Cracking the Genetic Code
Learners explain what the knowledge of DNA can tell us about ourselves and other organisms and species. They also explore the systematic study of the human genome.
Curated OER
The First Humans: Prehistory-3500 B.C. "Lucy"
Students explore prehistoric times by completing web activities in class. In this human ancestry lesson, students identify the archaeological discovery of the "Lucy" skeleton and what it meant for science. Students investigate the Leakey...
Curated OER
Chromosome Fusion
Students see how patterns can reveal events of the past, thereby merging elements of both experimental and historical science.
Other
Cartage: Discovery of Early Hominids
This comprehensive essay provides a brief history of the Australopithecines an in depth discussion of the discovery of the early fossils, and a look at the ancestors of the Australopithecines.
Archaeological Institute of America
Early Homo Erectus Tools in China
An article which describes a fossil site in eastern China where evidence has been found that Home erectus may have been active in eastern China some 400,000 years earlier than scientists believed. The authors also summarize the debate...
Wikimedia
Wikipedia: Sahelanthropus
An encyclopedia article on the oldest known hominid discusses the features of the fossils that were found, the region in which they were found, and what this means for human evolution.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: The Transforming Leap, From Four Legs to Two
John Noble Wilford, a "New York Times" science writer, outlines various hypotheses on the origin of bipedalism.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Riddle of the Bones
At the online companion Web site of "Evolution," the seven-episode series on PBS, piece together clues to how one of our early ancestors looked as you examine images from four significant fossil finds of Australopithecus afarensis.
Other
Institute of Human Origins: Becoming Human
Multimedia-rich guide for anyone making their way through a study of human origin. Find information and analysis about the fossil record, comparative anatomy, theories, and the cultural adaptations of humans and their ancestors. With an...
Indiana University
Ensi: Comparison of Human: Chimpanzee Chromosomes Lesson
This is a great lesson plan that combines Karoytypes and evolution. Students will recognize that the chromosomes of chimpanzees and humans are remarkably similar, then correlate that to their evolutionary relationship.
Other
Fossil Record
This effective site traces the history of modern man from his early ancestors (Australopithecus Afarensis) to Homo Sapiens sapiens.
PBS
Pbs News Hour Extra: Scientists Discover Oldest Human Ancestor
Scientists have recently published their research into fossil bones from Ethiopia that they say came from an ancestor common to both humans and chimpanzees. They have named the ancestor Ardipithecus ramidus. In the articles and video,...
BBC
Bbc: The Discovery of Fire
A brief but nice article which summarizes some of the theories concerning the discovery and use of fire by early humans.
Other
Personal Site: The Discovery of Fire
A firth grade lesson designed to introduce students to the discovery of fire and how early man might have discovered how they could use "fire".
Blackdog Media
Classic Reader: Before Adam by Jack London
Read the full text of "Before Adam" by Jack London which tells the story about a man who dreams he lives the life of an early hominid.
American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Association for the Advancement of Science: The Oldest Known Campfires?
A short article reporting on the discovery at an archaeological dig of an apparent human-controlled fire from 790,000 years ago. This early human would have been hominids.
Wikimedia
Wikipedia: Australopithecus Anamensis
Wikipedia's entry on Australopithecus anamensis. It discusses its scientific classification, age and its posture.
Other
Cartage.org: Australopithecus Afarensis
This essay provides a picture along with brief physical description of one of modern man's earliest ancestors.
Curated OER
Unesco: Tanzania: Ngorongoro Conservation Area
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area spans vast expanses of highland plains, savanna, savanna woodlands and forests. Established in 1959 as a multiple land use area, with wildlife coexisting with semi-nomadic Maasai pastoralists practicing...
University of Oxford (UK)
Pitt Rivers Museum: Methods of Making Fire
An informative article summarizing the history of fire, how humans have used it and the various methods humans have used to start a fire.