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Lesson Plan
National Health Museum

Nhm: Amino Acid Sequences Show Evolution

For Teachers 9th - 10th
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.
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Unit Plan
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Life Science: Structural Evidence for Evolution

For Students 6th - 8th
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Even though two different species may not look similar, they may have similar internal structures that suggest they have a common ancestor. That means both evolved...
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Unit Plan
University of California

University of California Museum of Paleontology: Similarities and Differences

For Students 9th - 10th
A module explaining how two different organisms can possess similar traits by sharing a common ancestor(homology) or due to convergent evolution(analogy).
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Handout
University of California

University of California Museum of Paleontology: Homologies

For Students 9th - 10th
These pages are from the Understanding Evolution website for teachers. They focus on homologous structures that organisms with common ancestors share.
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Handout
University of California

Understanding Evolution: An Introduction to Evolution

For Students 9th - 10th
A textbook definition along with an explanation of the scientific theory of evolution.
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Activity
Northern Arizona University

Northern Arizona University: Embryos and Evolution

For Teachers 6th - 8th
In this lesson, students study the embryos of different organisms at three stages of development to look for features that suggest a common ancestry.
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Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

Alex: Why Comparative Embryology Matters in the Real World

For Teachers 6th - 8th
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...
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Website
Other

Plant and Animal Evolution: Homology

For Students 9th - 10th
In this informative site, homologous is defined and the wings of birds and bats are compared to clarify the concept.
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Lesson Plan
National Health Museum

Access Excellence: Making a Phylogenetic Tree Lesson Plan

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Constructing phylogenetic trees may be a daunting task for young scholars, but this lesson plan is a simulation of what molecular biologists must do to determine relationships. This plan is for students who have a good grasp of DNA...
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Website
PBS

Pbs News Hour Extra: Scientists Discover Oldest Human Ancestor

For Students 9th - 10th
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,...
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Lesson Plan
National Health Museum

Access Excellence: Molecular Biology/primate Phylogeny

For Teachers 9th - 10th
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.
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Lesson Plan
National Health Museum

Nhm: Restriction Maps to Cladograms Lesson

For Teachers 9th - 10th
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.
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Handout
BiologyWise

Biology Wise: Examples of Analogous Structures

For Students 9th - 10th
Explains that analogous structures are ones that are similar in different organisms yet have no common ancestry. This type of phenomenon occurs with convergent evolution. Includes lots of examples for both animals and plants.
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Unit Plan
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Biology: First Cells

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Describes the first cells and the evolution of photosynthesis and cellular respiration.
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Interactive
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Plix Series: Comparative Anatomy: Comparative Embryology

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login Required] Match the animals with their embryos and answer questions about their evolutionary ancestry.
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Handout
PBS

Pbs: Comparative Embryology: The Vertebrate Body

For Students 6th - 8th
Provides a student handout in PDF format that looks at the developmental stages of five vertebrate organisms from fertilization to adult form. Students can look at the pictures to see the similarities and differences at the embryo stage...
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Handout
Wonderville Media

Wonderville: Charles Darwin

For Students 3rd - 8th
Charles Darwin was born in England on February 12, 1809. He was a "naturalist," best known for his theories of evolution. Darwin collected evidence that all life on Earth "evolved" from a common ancestry. He studied the process of...
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Graphic
Curated OER

Educational Technology Clearinghouse: Clip Art Etc: Charles Darwin

For Students 9th - 10th
An English naturalist who established that all species of life have descended over time from common ancestry. He proposed the theory of natural selection and evolution.