California Academy of Science
Color Vision Genetics Evolution Simulation
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...
Serendip
How Eyes Evolved – Analyzing the Evidence
Octopodes existed for hundreds of thousands of years before humans, yet our eyes share many similarities. Scholars analyze the evidence to determine if the evolution of eyes best fits a homology or analogy model. They discuss the issue...
Curated OER
How Evolution Works
High schoolers work in groups to investigate and present genetic variation, adaptation, and sexual selection as it relates to evolution. In this evolution instructional activity, students watch a video discuss how the human eye could...
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Mendelian Laws Apply to Human Beings
Why are so many inherited diseases more prevalent in populations of specified races? Scholars learn about pedigrees and genetics using a reading, an animation, primary sourced letters, a short video, a biography, a guided practice...
Curated OER
Why Do People Fall in Love?
Students discuss human behavior, sexual selection and the underlying genetic and evolutionary reasons for mate selection. The, in groups, they rate the attractiveness of certain individuals and measure facial features for symmetry.
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Explore Your Inner Animals
Human bodies prove evolution thanks to our genes, bones, and more. Learning about specific body parts and how they evolved from other species helps individuals better understand the transition species that helped us become who we are today.
Curated OER
Primate Evolution
In this primate evolution activity, students will review the structures and functions that are characteristic of primates. Students will identify the differences between Old World monkeys, New World monkeys, and prosimians. This activity...
CK-12 Foundation
CK-12 Earth Science Concepts for Middle School
Explore a variety of science concepts in an interactive textbook created for middle school scholars. A lengthy table of contents takes readers to pages comprised of a subject overview, outline, and summary. Follow links further to find...
Curated OER
The Opposable Thumb
Students participate in an activity which helps them realize the importance of the opposable thumb through trying to live without it. The goal of this activity is for students to understand the physical importance of the opposable thumb.
Curated OER
"An Eye For An Eye, A Tooth For A Tooth"
Sixth graders debate their reactions to two different historical documents about managing a society. In this U.S. history lesson, 6th graders read two articles on codes and laws from different time periods and debate their...
TED-Ed
A Brief History of Religion in Art
Did you know that some languages have no word for art? The English language does and the narrator of this short video discusses the aesthetic dimension of religious art as it "visually communicates meaning beyond language."
Curated OER
The Opposable Thumb
Learners explore the physical importance of the opposable thumb among primates. They discover which of their simplest daily activities are possible only because of their opposable thumbs.
Curated OER
Introduction to Biology
Students participate in a variety of activities to introduce them to biology. In this biology lesson plan, students use microscopes, discover bacteria, view human anatomy, and more.
Curated OER
A Whole Lotta Shakin'
Students read first hand accounts of earthquake survivors in order to begin the describe the different types of earthquake waves and the order in which they arrive. They engage in using earthquake waves as a means to indirectly study the...
Curated OER
Basic Genetics
Ninth graders discover where their physical appearance and personality traits come from. In this genetics lesson plan, 9th graders learn about cells, chromosomes, DNA and genes. Students discover where genes come from as well as dominant...
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: The Evolution of the Human Eye
The human eye is an amazing mechanism, able to detect anywhere from a few photons to a few quadrillion, or switch focus from the screen in front of you to the distant horizon in a third of a second. How did these complex structures...
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Life's Grand Design
Are nature's complex forms evidence of "intelligent design"? In this Evolution essay, biologist Kenneth Miller explains how the processes of evolution account for complex structures such as the human eye.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Life Science: Human Vision
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Sight, or vision, is the ability to see light. It depends on the eyes detecting light and forming images. It also depends on the brain making sense of the images, so...
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: A Plant's Eye View
What if human consciousness isn't the end-all be-all of Darwinism? What if we are all just pawns in corn's clever strategy game to rule the Earth? Author Michael Pollan asks us to see the world from a plant's-eye view. [17:29]
Other
International Guide Dog Federation: History of Guide Dogs
This page from the International Guide Dog Federation explores the evolution of dogs as human companions, as well as the history of dogs as service animals. This resource also includes a timeline describing how dogs came to be used as...