National Council of Teachers of English
Writing Acrostic Poems with Thematically Related Texts in the Content Areas
Scholars scour thematically aligned texts to gather a bank of words they can use in an original acrostic poem.
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Word Adaptation
Seventh graders differentiate evolution and adaptation. In this biology lesson plan, 7th graders make new words from a given word by adding or changing a letter. They set up a T-chart and enumerate how adaptation is like or unlike...
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Primate Characteristics and Exaptation
Pupils compare the features of gorilla to humans. In this biology instructional activity, students simulate adaptation using materials found in the classroom. They explain what exaptation means.
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The Evolution of Canis pedatus
High schoolers examine the given characteristics of a previously unknown dog-like creature, Canis pedatus, to decide if the creatures would survive when relocated to a new environment. They work in small groups to decide whether or not...
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The Evolution of Canis pedatus
Students, in groups, examine the given characteristics of a previously unknown dog-like creature, Canis pedatus. They discuss whether or not this species would show adaptations and survive if it were relocated to a new environment.
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Luisa's Steller Evolution Lab
Students examine stars and constellations in the night sky. They complete a KWL chart and calculate the mass of stars. They also discuss how a star is formed.
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What Killed the Dinosaurs?
Students demonstrate how scientists use evidence to formulate hypotheses. They write an essay describing the Cretaceous and Paleocene time periods from the point of view of someone living in that time. In addition, they formulate...
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Blocks And Screws (or "screwy Contrivances")
Learners, given a block of wood and a screw or nail, are asked to put that screw or nail into a block. They examine how many contrivances and other imperfections found in living things are best explained by the process of evolution.
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Build a Bug
Students design an ideally adapted macroinvertebrate to live in a water habitat. They illustrate their animal, name it and specify the adaptations it has that enable it to survive.
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A Tree Full of Ancestors
Students study human evolution and the scientific process. They complete the Origins of Humankind Web activity to become familiar with the hominid species as well as the associated evidence found, in the form of fossils and artifacts.
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Evolution
Young scholars investigate the concept of evolution and its implications upon the origin and development of life. They conduct research using a variety of resources while focusing upon cross-over and mutations. The information is used to...
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Natural Selection and the Peppered Moth
Students study natural selection and its process in the peppered moth. In this evolution lesson, students read about the concept of natural selection as suggested by Charles Darwin. Students then complete a natural selection simulation...
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Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram
Students examine the relationship between temperature and brightness. For this astronomy lesson students will correlate the evolution of stars to the HR diagram plotted.
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13 Ways to Tell Time Backwards
Students explore different ways geological time can be measured: comparing the time dimensions for each method, the mechanisms of each method, and the materials used.
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The Right Tool for the Job: Fishing Tools and Technology
Students use modern technology to research the history, design, and function of a specific tool or piece of fishing technology. They create a timeline and story about the evolution of the tool.
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Why Do We Need Vitamin C in Our Diet?
Learners compare/contrast the DNA sequence data of the rat GULO gene to the inactive human GULO gene. They translate and align the sequences, and propose a scenario to explain the occurrence of an inactive DNA sequence to that of an...
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Evolution
Students illustrate the results of natural selection by identifying the specific adaptation of an organism that allows the species to survive in that environment. They illustrate the results of natural selection by recognizing examples...
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Creative Ways To Teach Evolutionary Concepts
Young scholars explore evolutionary concepts in cartoons and lab activities. They describe and explain evolutionary concepts featured in a cartoon and participate in laboratory activities.
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Exploring the Uses of Beaks
Learners explore the uses of bird beaks in the wild by participating in experiment stations. In this bird adaptation lesson, students work in groups and complete experiment stations that represent different types of bird beaks. Learners...
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Inspired Science
Learners explore the history of inventions and their difference from discoveries. They create timelines of inventions, demonstrating their connections to each other.
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The Opposable Thumb
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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Physics at the Zoo
Students visit a local zoo and answer physics questions that are a part of zoo life. For this zoo physics lesson students answer questions that have to do with the physics of animal size, their center of gravity and how animals travel.
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Adapting to the World
Middle schoolers consider dog breeds that are helpful to humans and their hereditary link to wolves. In this biology lesson, student research a dog breed for traits that make it useful to humans. Students write a report of how these...
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Judges in the Classroom
Students define the legal meaning of juvenile and identify various ways to treat young offenders. They identify the current philosophy of the Utah juvenile justice system using a true/false worksheet and discussion format.