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Lesson Plan
ARKive

Opposable Thumbs

For Teachers 6th - 8th
How do opposable thumbs help you complete certain tasks? An activity about evolutionary traits prompts learners to try writing their name, twist the lid off of a jar, and use tweezers to pick up a straw, first with their normal grip, and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Opposable Thumb

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners 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.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down: Grasping the Idea of Evolution

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students compare their performance of a series of tasks using their thumb and fingers to their performance of the same tasks without the use of their thumb. They discuss the role of fine and gross motor skills and speculate on the role...
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Activity
It's About Time

Adaptations

For Teachers 7th - 12th Standards
Congratulations! You exist, thanks to the wonders of biology and adaptations. The focus of the lesson explains many adaptations of plants and animals and how the environment has influenced the process. A hands-on activity demonstrates...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down: Grasping the Idea of Evolution

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students compare and their performance of a series of tasks using their thumb and fingers to their performance of the same tasks without the use of their thumb. The class discussion that follows the activity defines and discusses the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Opposable Thumb

For Teachers 8th - 10th
Students 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.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Adaptation of the Human Hand

For Students 9th - 12th
In this human hand worksheet, learners study the adaptations of the human hand. They perform experiments with their thumbs taped to their hands and compare the time it takes to complete certain tasks to the time it takes to complete them...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Primate Evolution

For Students 9th - 12th
In this primate evolution worksheet, learners use a diagram showing different primate adaptations to complete 3 short answer questions comparing human traits and primate traits.
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Worksheet
Worksheet Web

Analyzing the Text

For Students 6th - 8th Standards
Practice analyzing informational text with a reading passage that details the Great Depression. Scholars read about the impacts of World War I, the Roaring Twenties, and the Depression, then answer 10 true or false questions. 
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Lesson Plan
California Academy of Science

Color Vision Genetics Evolution Simulation

For Teachers 7th - 12th Standards
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...
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Fill-in-the-blank

Structures with Bill Nye

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Shared Resource Introduce structures (tension and compression) to your students with the much-loved Bill Nye videos. Watch this 20 minute video while filling out this cloze activity. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2iPj4Cjajk)(ESL)
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Lesson Plan
Omaha Zoo

I Like to Move It

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
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...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Protect the Primates

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Young scholars 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.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Primate Evolution

For Students 9th - 12th
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...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Primate Evolution

For Students 9th - 12th
For this evolution worksheet, students review 9 terms associated with the evolution of primates. Students place 6 terms into a crossword puzzle and 3 terms into fill in the blank statements.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Creating Simple and Compound Sentences

For Students 3rd - 5th
In this sentence worksheet, students label a set of sentences as either simple, compound or run-on, 10 total. Worksheet is part of the Glencoe Online site.
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Lesson Planet Article
Curated OER

Math Sequencing Activities

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Recognizing patterns and sequences in groups of numbers is an essential skill for all students to learn.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Levels of Classification

For Teachers 8th - 10th
Learners use diagrams to compare structural differences that taxonomists use to classify animals. In this classification lesson plan, students compare structures of different species from given diagrams. In one diagram they identify the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Primate Characteristics and Exaptation

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners compare the features of gorilla to humans. In this biology lesson, students simulate adaptation using materials found in the classroom. They explain what exaptation means.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Locating and Counting Pulses

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students participate in a combination of lecture and physical exercise in order to find their pulse (both resting and after activity) and record how their heart rate changes as their activity level changes.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Olympic Volleyball Skills Station Practice

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students review the volleyball pass, set, serve, and volleyball footwork. They pass the ball from 8-10 feet away from the wall and aim for the rings. They pass 5 balls to the wall and no matter if they make it into the hoops or not,...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Minding Your Body

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore the benefits of yoga and meditation by studying baseball players who incorporate them into their pre-season training. They investigate a variety of mind-body techniques and create a presentation for the class.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Skeletal System Crossword

For Students 3rd - 6th
In this skeletal system worksheet, students complete a crossword about the skeletal system. Students insert 14 words into the crossword. An answer key is provided.