Lesson Plan

The Case of Darwin's Finches

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This The Case of Darwin's Finches lesson plan also includes:

One of the most striking pieces of evidence for Darwin's Evolution of Species was his observations of finches and how their beaks differed from island to island, depending on their primary food sources. So what would happen to the theory of evolution if it turns out, as new evidence shows, that Darwin didn't actually see any finches at all? In an engaging, interactive, and comprehensive lesson, budding biologists take a new look at the evidence to see if evolution still stands up. All the necessary handouts and sheets for the stations are included in the materials section.

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CCSS: Designed
Pros
  • Examines the nature of science when new or contradictory evidence is introduced
  • Designed for Next Generation Science and Common Core standards
  • Would work well for the following middle school NGSS: MS-LS3-1, MS-LS4-2, and MS-LS4-4
  • Several different types of activities incorporate a variety of learning styles 
Cons
  • None