2-16-2012 Life Science: Evolution and Diversity

Continuing my way through the standards, offering links, lessons, and ideas to help teach the 

Core Curriculum Content Standards

Science Grades 6-8

5.3 Life Science: All students will understand that life science principles are powerful conceptual tools for making sense of the complexity, diversity, and interconnectedness of life on Earth. Order in natural systems arises in accordance with rules that govern the physical world, and the order of natural systems can be modeled and predicted through the use of mathematics.

E. Evolution and Diversity: Sometimes, differences between organisms of the same kind provide advantages for surviving and reproducing in different environments. These selective differences may lead to dramatic changes in characteristics of organisms in a population over extremely long periods of time.
By the end of grade	Content Statement	CPI#	Cumulative Progress Indicator (CPI)	RESOURCES
6	Changes in environmental conditions can affect the survival of individual organisms and entire species.	5.3.6.E.1	Describe the impact on the survival of species during specific times in geologic history when environmental conditions changed.	Encyclopedia of Life Interdependence and Adaptation Variation Variation and Classification Characteristics and Classification Behavior Changes in the Environment Natural Selection Carbon Dating Game The Greenhouse Effect Evolution Humans and the Environment Organisms in their Environment Infrared Zoo Adapt to Fit Natural Selection and Evolution Climate Change for Kids Climate Change Fossils National Zoo Zoology Mammals R Us BrainPop Diversity of Life Biodiversity Bug Hunt Marine Biology Hams Hall Pond (primary) Hams Hall Pond (secondary) Foss Diversity of Life Eskeletons Biodiversity Research Institute - Eagle Cam Duke Farm, NJ - Eagle Cam Raptor Resource
8	Individual organisms with certain traits are more likely than others to survive and have offspring in particular environments. The advantages or disadvantages of specific characteristics can change when the environment in which they exist changes. Extinction of a species occurs when the environment changes and the characteristics of a species are insufficient to allow survival.	5.3.8.E.1	Organize and present evidence to show how the extinction of a species is related to an inability to adapt to changing environmental conditions using quantitative and qualitative data.
8	Anatomical evidence supports evolution and provides additional detail about the sequence of branching of various lines of descent.	5.3.8.E.2	Compare the anatomical structures of a living species with fossil records to derive a line of descent.

Please post a comment below if you have a site or lesson idea to share for teaching these concepts.  I would love your input!