Curated OER
Constitution Day: The 1965 Alabama Literacy Test
Tenth graders examine the United States Constitution. In this American Government lesson, 10th graders read excerpts from President Johnson's speech to Congress and parts of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Students research other...
The Wonder of Science
The Wonder of Science: Ms Ls4 3: Embryological Evidence of Common Ancestry
Work samples, phenomena, assessment templates, and videos that directly address standard MS-LS4-3: embryological evidence of common ancestry.
University of Wisconsin
The Why Files: First Animal Ancestor Discovered in Deep Mud
Two billion years ago, we share a common ancestor with this new-found relative. Is this our origin?
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Dna From the Beginning: Living Things Share Common Genes
This multimedia article includes animations, pictures, video, biographical information, and quiz questions that are accessed by clicking on buttons along the bottom of the page. Here you can see how common genes are evidence for common...
PBS
Tracing Ancestry With Mt Dna
The most common mtDNA ancestor is an African woman named African "Eve" or Mitochondrial Eve. Good explanation of mtDNA versus nuclear DNA through visual interactive family tree.
The Wonder of Science
The Wonder of Science:ms Ls4 1: Fossil Evidence of Common Ancestry and Diversity
Learners analyze and interpret data for patterns in the fossil record that document the existence, diversity, extinction, and change of life forms throughout the history of life on earth under the assumption that natural laws operate...
University of California
University of California Museum of Paleontology: Homologies
These pages are from the Understanding Evolution website for teachers. They focus on homologous structures that organisms with common ancestors share.
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: Why Comparative Embryology Matters in the Real World
In this lesson, students compare similarities in the embryos of different organisms to look for features that would indicate common ancestry. They will then investigate how understanding this aspect of evolution has real-world...
Other
Evidence for Evolution: Genetic Code
These pages are part of a site called Evolution that accompany a textbook by the same name. Mark Ridley is the author. In this section: the universal genetic code provides evidence that life has a common ancestor.
Indiana University
Ensi: Comparison of Human: Chimpanzee Chromosomes Lesson
This is a great lesson plan that combines Karoytypes and evolution. Learners will recognize that the chromosomes of chimpanzees and humans are remarkably similar, then correlate that to their evolutionary relationship.
Countries and Their Cultures
Countries and Their Cultures: Tiv
The Tiv are a group of about a million people who live on both sides of the Benue River, 220 kilometers from its confluence with the Niger, in Nigeria. "Tiv" is the name of the common ancestor from whom all are descended. There is a...
PBS
Pbs News Hour Extra: Scientists Discover Oldest Human Ancestor
Scientists have recently published their research into fossil bones from Ethiopia that they say came from an ancestor common to both humans and chimpanzees. They have named the ancestor Ardipithecus ramidus. In the articles and video,...
National Health Museum
Access Excellence: Molecular Biology/primate Phylogeny
This lesson plan involves comparison of amino acids to create a phylogenetic tree of primates. Students will also use other species information to draw conclusions about evolutionary relationships.
Other
The Evidence for Evolution: Homologous Similarities
This site is a section part of a website that accompanies "Evolution," a textbook by Mark Ridley. Here he covers homologous structures, using them as evidence for evolution.
National Health Museum
Nhm: Amino Acid Sequences Show Evolution
This lesson plan focuses on differences in the amino acid sequence of hemoglobin and myoglobin proteins. They use the number of differences to create a phylogenetic tree.
Other
Evolution: Evidence From Living Organisms
By examining fossils, scientists have collected evidence that supports the theory that species changed over time. As you read this article, study this evidence and critically evaluate whether it indicates that species may have arisen by...
National Health Museum
Nhm: Restriction Maps to Cladograms Lesson
This lesson plan requires students to analyze DNA restriction maps to determine the differences in the sequence for several primates and humans. They then use the information to create a cladogram.
BiologyWise
Biology Wise: Examples of Homologous Structures
Explains what homologous structures are and how they indicate common ancestry between species. Discusses morphological homology, which refers to anatomical and skeletal similarities, and molecular homology, which refers to common...
University of California
University of California Museum of Paleontology: Similarities and Differences
A module explaining how two different organisms can possess similar traits by sharing a common ancestor(homology) or due to convergent evolution(analogy).
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Answers to Exploration Questions: What Is a Dinosaur?
Do you know what a dinosaur is? This site has answers to the exploration questions about dinosaurs and a common ancestors.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Plix Series: Comparative Anatomy: Comparative Embryology
[Free Registration/Login Required] Match the animals with their embryos and answer questions about their evolutionary ancestry.
CommonLit
Common Lit: Text Sets: Immigration
This is a collection of 24 Grade-Leveled texts (5-11) on the topic of Immigration. Most Americans can trace their ancestry back to immigrants coming to the New World. Learn about America's history of immigration, particularly during the...
Globio
Glossopedia: Skates and Rays
There are more than five hundred different species of skates and rays in our oceans. Scientists say that these fish are closely related to sharks, sharing a common ancestor from around 400 million years ago. This article provides an...
BiologyWise
Biology Wise: Synapomorphy
Explains what synapomorphy is by using examples to demonstrate the concept, which plays an important role in the system of cladistics.