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summer workshop

Evolution 2011: A Workshop for Educators

Resources

 

Contents

Monday

Science Standards

Nature of Science

Policies and Reports

Geology and Deep Time

Tuesday

Biodiversity

Variation: Genotype to phenotype

Evo Devo

Wednesday

Coevolution

Human Evolution

Selection

Thursday

Tree Thinking

Simulations

Friday

Adaptation

 

Case Studies

Evolution Education Resources

Videos

 

Science Standards

The topics and materials for this workshop were selected both to cover basic concepts of evolutionary biology and to support national and state science standards.  The specific standards for grades 9-12 are listed for each topic.  The complete standards are available here:

Wisconsin State Science Standards

BIOLOGICAL EVOLUTION

By the end of grade twelve, students will:

F.12.5 Understand the theory of evolution, natural selection, and biological classification

F.12.6. Using concepts of evolution and heredity, account for changes in species and the diversity of species, include the influence of these changes on science, e.g. breeding of plants or animals

NATURE OF SCIENCE

By the end of grade twelve, students will:

B.12.1 Show how cultures and individuals have contributed to the development of major ideas in the earth and space, life and environmental, and physical sciences

B.12.2 Identify the cultural conditions that are usually present during great periods of discovery, scientific development, and invention

B.12.3 Relate the major themes of science to human progress in understanding science and the world

B.12.4 Show how basic research and applied research contribute to new discoveries, inventions, and applications

B.12.5 Explain how science is based on assumptions about the natural world and themes that describe the natural world

 

National Science Standards

BIOLOGICAL EVOLUTION

NATURE OF SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE

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Nature of Science

Understanding Science

A sister site to Understanding Evolution, this website explores the Nature of Science and addresses common misunderstandings about about the process of science. From the University of California Museum of Paleontology (UCMP).

Black Boxes, Hooey Sticks, and Mystery Tubes

From ENSI (Evolution and the Nature of Science Institute), lessons and teaching tips

Modeling for Understanding in Science Education (MUSE)

A set of activities on Natural Selection with a heavy component of Nature of Science.  Developed by the National Center for Mathematics and Science at the U Wisconsin Center for Education Research. 

Teaching About Evolution and the Nature of Science

From the National Academies. PDF availble free.

Nature of Science

From Project 2061 "Science for All Americans" report

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Policies and Reports

AP Biology Revisions Website

AP Revisions Report

AP Revisions Overview

Vision and Change Website

Vision and Change Report

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Geology and Deep Time

UW Geology Museum

Geologic Time Machine

A clickable map of geologic time periods.  From UCMP.

Geologic Time

Collection of information and activities for Middle School.  From Exploring the Environment.

Stories from the Fossil Record

Lessons introducing how scientists study, interpret and use the fossil record.  From UCMP.

Deep Time

From Understanding Evolution

Geologic Time

From the National Museum of Natural History

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Biodiversity

Locations around Madison for exploring biodiversity.  Each organization has an education program.

BioCore

A prairie restoration project managed by the University and open to the public.

UW Arboretum

Focused on conservation and restoration. Classes and tours available.  Contact Molly Murray about outreach programs.

Olbrich Gardens

An international plant collection. Classes and tours are available. Contact Jane Nicholson for education programs.

Ice Age Trail

Sections of the trail are located across Wisconsin.  Contact Laren Malhiot for education programs.

Classroom resources for Biodiversity

Evolution in Hawaii

From the National Academies of Science

Coping with Climate Change

An Evo in the News story and podcast

Where did all of Madagascar's species come from?

An Evo in the News story and podcast

Tough conservation choices?  Ask evolution!

An Evo in the News story and podcast

Sex, speciation and fishy physics

An Evo in the News story and podcast

Encyclopedia of Life

A project to archive information about all organisms on Earth.  Explore species pages, or listen to podcasts on different species.

Biodiversity Hotspots

From Conservation International.  This website lists hotspots and provides information about endemic organisms and their status. 

Animals, Plants and Natural Communities in Wisconsin

From the DNR. Teacher and Youth Leader Programs, and publications for K-12 are available under the environmental education section.

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Variation: Genotype to phenotype

Exploring Evolution through Genetics activity

For more information, lesson plans and seeds, contact:

Rick Amasino or Scott Woody

Aipotu

A computer simulation linking genetics, biochemistry, molecular biology and evolution.

Human Genetic Variation activity

From the Human Genetic Variation module from the National Institutes of Health.

Breeding Bunnies

A variation on the classic colored bean demonstration of the Hardy-Weinberg principle.  From PBS.

Exploring Variation and Heritability

FastPlants lab activity from the MUSE module developed by the National Center for Mathematics and Science at the U Wisconsin Center for Education Research. 

From Understanding Evolution:

Variation

The basics from Evo 101.

Irish Potato Famine

An example of the importance of variation in agriculture.

Cheating Cheetahs Prosper

An Evo in the News story

Evolutionary Genetics

Articles on genetics from Scitable by Nature Education.

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Evo Devo

Intro to Evo Devo

The basics from Understanding Evolution's Evo101

NOVA Evo Devo Collection

What is Evo Devo? 

An interview with Cliff Tabin

Gene switches

Online essay with images

Guess the Embryo

An interactive tour of embryology

The Zoo of You

An interactive comparison of human body parts with other organisms.

From a Few Genes, Life's Myriad Shapes

Carol Kaesuk Yoon, NYTimes 2007 article with images and graphics.

PNAS Special Edition on Evo Devo (2000)

Free online

What is evo devo?

You Tube video

Sean Carroll's The Making of the Fittest and Endless Forms Most Beautiful

Molecular Insights into Classic Examples of Evolution

Videos and resources from the 2010 NABT Evolution Symposium

Sean Carroll - How bugs get their spots

Classroom resources

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Coevolution

Coevolution Basics

From Understanding Evolution's Evo101

Time to change the Channel: Predator-prey arms races and the evolution of toxin resistance in snakes

Butch Brodie's presentation and educational resources from the 2011 NABT Evolution Symposium. 

Exploring coevolution examples

From PBS

Coevolution and Pollinators

From J. Stein Carter

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Human Evolution

Changing Humans in a Changing Environment

2011 NABT Evolution Symposium.  Lectures and resources available October, 2011.

Bones, Stones and Genes: The origin of modern humans

2011 Holiday Lecture. Webcast October, 2011.  DVDs, online lectures and resources available 2012.

Atapuerca Live
A web site focusing on human evolution. Includes a digital time line and information about archaeology research. Available in Spanish and English.

Becoming Human
Becoming Human brings together interactive multimedia, research and scholarship to promote greater understanding of the course of human evolution

The Genographic Project
National Geographic's "Genographic Project is seeking to chart new knowledge about the migratory history of the human species ...closing the gaps of what science knows today about humankind's ancient migration stories."

Human Evolution: the fossil evidence in 3D
"Welcome to the UCSB online 3D gallery of modern primate relatives and fossil ancestors of humans. This gallery contains five modern primate crania, and five fossil crania. The crania can be rotated 360 degrees. Each cranium is accompanied by a short description of its relevance to human evolution, and a site map."

Human Origins
From the Dolan DNA Learning Center, this module explores human evolutionary history using a variety of approaches including phylogeny, behavior, morphology, and genetics.

The Meaning of Sex: Genes and Gender
This Holiday Lecture from HHMI focuses on sex determination, and in the process covers evolution of the Y chromosome. In addition to full lectures, there are short clips and animations.

The Smithsonian Institution Human Origins Program
An information site based on field work in paleontology.

 

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Selection

EvoDots

Jon Herron

A computer simulation to demonstrate the basic components of selection.

From Understanding Evolution:

Selection

Resources for teaching selection

Misconceptions about natural selection

Superbug, super-fast evolution

Evo in the News story from Understanding Evolution and NESCent

Pocket mouse evolution video clips from HHMI

Predation

Population change

Majerus, M.E.N. 2009. Industrial Melanism in the Peppered Moth, Biston betularia: An Excellent Teaching Exampls of Darwinian Evolution in Action.  Evolution: Education and Outreach Vol2:63-74. DOI 10.1007/s12052-008-0107-y

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Tree Thinking

The New Great Clade Race

Based on Goldsmith, D. 2003. The Great Clade Race. The American Biology Teacher 65(9):679-682.
doi: 10.1662/0002-7685(2003)065[0679:TGCR]2.0.CO;2

An effective activity to introduce tree thinking.

Gregory, T.R. 2008. Understanding Evolutionary Trees. Evolution: Education and Outreach Vol 1(2): 121-137. doi:10.1007/s12052-008-0035-x

A thorough overview of common tree reading misconceptions. 

Halverson, K.L. 2010. Using Pipecleaners to Bring the Tree of Life to Life. American Biology Teacher Vol 72(4):223-224. doi: 10.1525/abt.2010.72.4.4

Understanding Phylogenies

From Understanding Evolution

A web based resource for exploring this concept. Also links to related information and activities.

Classification, Hierarchy, Relationships

Evolution and the Nature of Science Insitute (ENSI)

A collection of papers and activities to explore this concept.

Travels in the Tree of Life

Peabody Museum

Two video clips about phylogenies and the applications of evolutionary biology.

Tree of Life

Web site of phylogenetic research, information, and activities.

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Computer Simulations

Aipotu

A computer simulation linking genetics, biochemistry, molecular biology and evolution.

Avida ED

A computer simulation of evolutionary processes.

EvoDots

From Jon Herron. A computer simulation to demonstrate the basic components of selection.

EvoBeaker

This is not a free resource, but is a good teaching tool.

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Adaptation

From Understanding Evolution

Adaptation

Coping with Climate Change

An Evo in the News story and podcast from Understanding Evolution and NESCent

Geological/Paleontological Patterns

From ENSI

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Evolution Education Resources

Resources for Addressing Misconceptions

Understanding Evolution for Teachers

From Understanding Evolution

Teaching Evolution

From ENSI

National Center for Science Education

"Evolution: 24 Myths and Misconceptions" - An article from the April, 2008 issue of New Scientist

Computer Simulations

Aipotu

A computer simulation linking genetics, biochemistry, molecular biology and evolution.

Avida ED

A computer simulation of evolutionary processes.

EvoDots

From Jon Herron. A computer simulation to demonstrate the basic components of selection.

EvoBeaker

This is not a free resource, but is a good teaching tool.

Case Studies

National Center for Case Study in Teaching Science

Investigative Case Based Learning

Videos

TED Talks

A collection of amazing presentations by fascinating speakers on a variety of topics.

Jack Horner on Building a Dinosaur from a Chicken

Richard Dawkins Growing Up in the Universe

Dan Dennett on Cute, sexy sweet, funny

HHMI Holiday Lectures

Evolution

Biodiversity

Infectious Disease

Human Evolution

The Simpsons Evolution of Homer clip

A classic progressive ladder representation of evolution.

Futurama Evolution Under Attack clip

This show is very disrespectful of everyone's viewpoint.  The missing link debate points up the fallacy of the argument nicely.

Basic overview of evolution  (10 min)

Evolution goes to the movies all the time, and so do our students.  These movies are great ways to engage students in discussions about what evolution is and isn't, and address common misconceptions about evolution.

The movie Evolution.

How do we recognize extraterrestrial life?  How likely is it that organisms from other planets could survive on earth?  Would the environment be toxic or would it be kudzu all over again?

The movie Avatar, lecture on the biology of Avatar

Why do all the organisms except the humanoids have six limbs?  Why is bioluminescence so widespread?

The movie Jurrasic Park

Why not frog eggs? Can we build a whole dinosaur from what we know? 

The original Planet of the Apes, and the new Planet of the Apes

If we re-ran evolution, would the results be the same?  What are the evolutionary differences between humans and the other great apes?  Could chimps evolve into something more "human"?

The movie X-Men

Explore the "hopeful monster" theory.

The video game Spore

Design with no regard to the body's previous history.

General Resources

From NESCent

NESCent's Education and Outreach group provides a variety of resources for teaching evolution including:
Curriculum Resources

NABT Evolution Symposium

Evolution in the News stories and podcasts

Understanding Evolution

From UCMP.  An outstanding collection of basic information and resources for teaching evolution.

Understanding Science

From UCMP.  A sister site to Understanding Evolution to guide exploration of the nature and process of science.

Evolution and the Nature of Science Institute (ENSI)

A collection of activities and articles for teaching various aspects of evolution.

National Center for Science Education

Resources for dealing with misconceptions and opposition to evolution and climate change.

PBS Evolution Series

Good collection of short videos, interactive slide shows, activities and articles around the Evolution series.

 

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