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Unit Overview Unit Overview: The students will examine the evolution of living organisms through inherited characteristics and natural selection. They will investigate the survival of organisms and their successive generations as related to their inherited characteristics and adaptations. They will utilize the fossil record found in sedimentary rock as an important tool in providing evidence of evolution. Refer to GPS Framework for acceptable tasks. General Concept Overview – change over time ie finches and peppered moths, natural selection, fossil record
Georgia Performance Standards Focus Content Standard Elements S7L5a. Explain how physical characteristics of organism have changed over successive generations. SL75b. Describe ways in which species on earth have evolved due to natural selection. SL75c. Explain how the fossil record found in sedimentary rock provides evidence for the long history of changing life forms. • S7L5. Students will examine the evolution of living organism through inherited characteristics that promote the survival of organisms and survival of successive generations of their offspring.
Georgia Performance Standards Essential Questions Characteristics of Science S7CS1. Students will explore of the importance of curiosity, honesty, openness, and skepticism in science and will exhibit these traits in their own efforts to understand how the world works. S7CS2. Students will use standard safety practices for all classroom laboratory and field investigations. S7CS3. Students will have the computation and estimation skills necessary for analyzing data and following scientific explanations. S7CS4. Students will use tools and instruments for observing, measuring, and manipulating equipment and materials in scientific activities. S7CS6. Students will communicate scientific ideas and activities clearly. S7CS7. Students will question scientific claims and arguments effectively. S7CS8. Students will investigate the characteristics of scientific knowledge and how that knowledge is achieved. S7CS10. Students will enhance reading in all curriculum areas • Essential questions: • How do physical characteristics of organisms demonstrate/support the theory of evolution? • How does natural selection affect the evolution of species on earth? • How does the fossil record provide evidence of evolution? • How does natural selection and survival of the fittest affect biodiversity? • Why might life forms change over time?
Georgia Performance Standards Complementary Standards Elements S7L3a. Explain the role of genes and chromosomes in the process of inheriting a specific trait. S7L4c. Recognize that changes in environmental conditions can affect the survival of both individuals and entire species. • S7L3. Students will recognize how biological traits are passed onto successive generations. • S7L4. Students will examine the dependence of organism on one another and their environments.
Enduring Understandings • Physical characteristics of organisms may adapt over time in response to environmental changes. • Changes in species occur due to natural selection, reproduction and environmental conditions. • Fossils provide evidence of change. • Earth and its living organisms have a history of change and this is called the theory of evolution. • Organisms that were best adapted to deal with change throughout time have survived, while other organisms have become extinct.
Tuesday, January 3 • Media Center: Science Fair Project • SFP Logbook: problem, hypothesis, and research due Mon. 1/9
Wednesday, January 4Happy Birthday Carter! Photosynthesis occurs in the chloroplasts of plants, some protists, and some bacteria. • New Seats! • Quotations • PowerPoint: Darwin’s Theory • Video: Changes over Time • HW: read 6-1, answer p 179 #1-3 • SFP Logbook: problem, hypothesis, and research due Mon. 1/9 • Daily Fact Quiz on Friday
Thursday, January 5 Plants store energy in the food they produce through photosynthesis. • P 179 on your desk • Activity: Nature at Work – p 180-181 #ALL (skip Design an Experiment) • SFP Logbook: problem, hypothesis, and research due Mon. 1/9 • Daily Fact Quiz on Friday (+15 bonus points for NOT using your planner)
Friday, January 6Happy Birthday Sierra During photosynthesis, sunlight energy is converted into chemical energy stored in sugars and oxygen is released. • Daily Fact Quiz: October – December 2011 Finish “Nature at Work” Video: “What Darwin Never Knew” • SFP Logbook: problem, hypothesis, and research due Mon. 1/9
Monday, January 9During photosynthesis, the plant takes water in through its roots and carbon dioxide in its stomata. • SFP Logbook Check • Discuss next SFP Logbook due date • Peppered Moths activity • Read article and answer questions: Galapagos Finches – Famous Beaks • SFP Logbook: Materials, Methods, Variables, and Blank Data Table due Tuesday – 1/17
Tuesday, January 10Happy Birthday Mrs. Tokarska The following equation summarizes photosynthesis:carbon dioxide + water glucose and oxygen • Famous Beaks: • Discuss article • Islands and Finches • Battle of the Beaks • SFP Logbook: Materials, Methods, Variables, and Blank Data Table due Tuesday – 1/17
Wednesday, January 11Happy Birthday Gigi!! • Finish Battle of the Beaks • PBS – Short Video • SFP Logbook: Materials, Methods, Variables, and Blank Data Table due Tuesday – 1/17
Thursday, January 12Happy Birthday Jay!!! • PowerPoint – Evidence of Evolution • Begin Reading: “Whales: Walking into the Past” • SFP Logbook: Materials, Methods, Variables, and Blank Data Table due Tuesday – 1/17 • HW – Read 6-2, answer p 187 #1-3
Friday, January 13Happy Birthday Robert, Julia, Lauren, and Dr. King!!!! • Read and discuss “Whales: Walking into the Past” • SFP Logbook: Materials, Methods, Variables, and Blank Data Table due Tuesday – 1/17
Tuesday, January 17 • SFP Logbook Check • Discuss SFP • Read Article: Chimps and Humans – All in the Family • SFP Logbook: Results II – perform your experiment and collect your data – due Mon. 1/30
Wednesday, January 18 • Chimps vs. Humans • Mutations up Close • It’s Molecular Time • Essay • SFP Logbook: Results II – perform your experiment and collect your data – due Mon. 1/30 • Essay: Are chimps more alike or more different?
Thursday, January 19 • Powerpoint: The Fossil Record • SFP Logbook: Results II – perform your experiment and collect your data – due Mon. 1/30
Friday, January 20Happy Birthday Stephen Long!! • SFP Logbook: Results II – perform your experiment and collect your data – due Mon. 1/30
Monday, January 23 • SFP Logbook: Results II – perform your experiment and collect your data – due Mon. 1/30
Tuesday, January 24 • SFP Logbook: Results II – perform your experiment and collect your data – due Mon. 1/30
Wednesday, January 25 • SFP Logbook: Results II – perform your experiment and collect your data – due Mon. 1/30
Thursday, January 26 • SFP Logbook: Results II – perform your experiment and collect your data – due Mon. 1/30
Friday, January 27 Career FairHappy Birthday Jillian!!! • Activity: Examining the Fossil Record • SFP Logbook: Results II – perform your experiment and collect your data – due Mon. 1/30