Evidence for Evolution Station Lab: NGSS Aligned

This station lab is aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Students examine six lines of evidence for evolution (Fossils, DNA evidence, Embryology, homology, vestigial structures, and Divergent/convergent evolution) at different stations. Students can start at any of the stations, which are designed for students to work through as a group.

I made the download a .zip file, which contains an editable word doc, and answer key word doc file.

"Evolution Unit Bundle" includes everything you need to teach a unit on Evolution, and its NGSS aligned.

Get it here: Evolution Unit Bundle

"Speciation Activity" teachings students about several types of speciation, which has students model speciation in a frog population that is divided by a mountain range.

Get it here: Speciation Activty

"Hacking Cladograms" is a student-centered activity that walks students through how to interpret, and create a cladogram.

Get it here: Hacking Cladograms

"Antibiotic Resistance Lab" models the evolution of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Students then simulate the evolution of a “superbug” infection

Get it here: Antibiotic Resistance Lab

"Thinking Like Darwin" is a a good intro activity when teaching evolution, requiring students to make connections, and draw generalizations, about organisms that live in three different locations in the world.

Get it here: Thinking Like Darwin

The entire lab can be done with these basic materials:

String and ruler

These additional materials are not necessary, but enhance the students' experience:

ancient hominid skulls (human skull, ancient hominid skull(s), human skeleton, animal skeletons).

Time Frame: This lab often takes two full classes. It can take longer, depending upon how you approach it.

Details Below:

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You students might enjoy simulating a United Nations Panel on Trophy hunting. It requires them to use higher-order thinking and role-playing

Get it here: Simulating a UN Panel on Trophy Hunting

You students might enjoy this NGSS/STEM project: testing different mixtures for use as a Biological Armor. It uses household materials

Get it here: Designing a Bio Armor

A. NEXT GENERATION SCIENCE STANDARDS HEREIN

DCI’s: LS4: Biological Evolution: Unity and Diversity

Cross Cutting Concepts: Patterns, Cause and Effect, Scale, Proportion and Quantity, Structure and Function, Stability and Change

Scientific and Engineering Practices:

Analyzing and Interpreting data, Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions, Engaging in Arguments from evidence, Using Mathematical Thinking, Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information

B. SUGGESTED USES

Prior Knowledge: This can be used as an introduction to evolution, but more often I use it after I've taught how evolution by natural selection works, so that students may use the concepts they learned to write well-developed responses.

Materials and Setup: See above for materials, and optional materials. The other materials are included in the bottom of the lab. There is some basic cutting out, and stapling/gluing paper flaps onto paper, which is described simply, and included in the download. The materials are reusable, and after the initial cutting and gluing, the setup takes about 10-15 minutes.

Implementing the Lesson:

Since this station lab is designed for students to work through as an autonomous group, there isn't much detail in implementing the lesson. I recommend reading through the answers so that, as you circulate the room while students work, you may guide them in the right direction.

I usually supplement this lab with some formal notes/more examples after the lab is done.

My students enjoy this activity. If yours liked it, there are more like this at my TpT store:

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