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Evolution Project

This document provides instructions for an animal evolution project. Students will research the evolutionary history of a modern organism, including describing its earliest ancestors and intermediate species, and providing a timeline of its evolution. They will also research current environmental pressures and hypothesize about the animal's future. Animals to choose from include horses, crocodiles, sharks, tigers, whales, bears, elephants, dogs, and humans. The project should describe the timeline of evolution, earliest and intermediate ancestors using evidence from fossils, DNA, embryology or anatomy, compare modern and ancestral adaptations, describe the animal's habitat and environmental impacts on adaptations, and predict its future given environmental pressures. Information from three sources must be cited.

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112 views2 pages

Evolution Project

This document provides instructions for an animal evolution project. Students will research the evolutionary history of a modern organism, including describing its earliest ancestors and intermediate species, and providing a timeline of its evolution. They will also research current environmental pressures and hypothesize about the animal's future. Animals to choose from include horses, crocodiles, sharks, tigers, whales, bears, elephants, dogs, and humans. The project should describe the timeline of evolution, earliest and intermediate ancestors using evidence from fossils, DNA, embryology or anatomy, compare modern and ancestral adaptations, describe the animal's habitat and environmental impacts on adaptations, and predict its future given environmental pressures. Information from three sources must be cited.

Uploaded by

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Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Animal Evolution Project

Introduction:
Charles Darwin may be the most influential figure in modern scientific thinking with his simple, seemingly
obvious observations regarding the nature of the phenomenal world. Charles Darwin concluded that the
explanation for the miraculous complexity of life on planet earth was due to a few simple truths in biological
systems. Not only does Darwin’s theory of natural selection neatly explain the origin of species but also offers
significant insight into the deep nature of the material world in all the scientific disciplines.
                                                                                      
For this project you will research the evolutionary history of a modern organism. You may work in groups of
two to complete the research, but will be turning in your OWN project. You will be expected to:

a. Find the modern organism's earliest ancestors and describe in general terms the intermediate
species You should be able to describe some of the adaptations, which define your organism.
b. You should also provide a timeline for your organism’s evolution.
c. Finally, you have to research the current environmental pressures on this animal and give a
hypothesis for its future.

Animals to choose from

● Horse ● Crocodile ● Shark


● Tiger ● Dog ● Man
● Whale ● Bear ● Elephant

Checklist:

☐Do I describe the timeline of evolution?


☐Do I describe the earliest ancestors of my animal? (evidence can include fossil record, DNA evidence,
embryology, or comparative anatomy)
☐Do I describe the intermediate ancestors of my animal?
☐Do I compare/contrast modern vs. ancestral adaptations?

☐Do I describe the animal’s habitat and location in the world?


☐Do I compare environmental impacts that have led to their adaptations?
☐Do I describe the environmental pressures that affect the animal currently?
☐Do I predict the future of the animal given the environmental pressures?
☐Do I describe any group behaviors that have helped this animal to survive?

☐Do I include information from 3 different sources? (provide web links)

DUE _______________________________
You can submit this project in any digital format that you would like to use to demonstrate knowledge of
the above checklist. This could include: iMovie, Prezi/PowerPoint, interactive video, skit, song, etc.

Rubric
15 13 11 9
Knowledge Student displays Student displays Student displays Student displays
a high level of moderate level of a fair level of a low level of
subject subject subject subject
knowledge from knowledge from knowledge from knowledge from
the research and the research and the research and the research and
the process of the process of the process of the process of
completing the completing the completing the completing the
evolutionary evolutionary evolutionary evolutionary
history history history history
Response -Response -Response -Response Response is
illustrates an illustrates an illustrates limited incorrect and fails
accurate and accurate understanding of to provide
thorough understanding of some scientific evidence of
understanding of most scientific concepts student
all scientific concepts -Response fails to understanding
concepts -Examples are provide evidence -Science language
-Evidence in the used as evidence to support is not used
form of examples to support student
is used to support student understanding
and reinforce understanding -Science language
student -Appropriate is not used
understanding scientific
-Appropriate language is used
scientific
language is used
and applied
Research Research is Research has Research has Research has
thorough, many specifics some specifics little specifics and
specific, has many and some and a couple one example.
examples. All examples. Most examples. Few Two or less ideas
ideas are clearly ideas are ideas are are explained.
explained explained explained

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