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Human Evolution
Time: 50
minutes
Grade Level: 9-12
Adapted From: http://www.indiana.edu/~ensiweb/home.html
(Go to this url, then click on
Evolution Lessons, List of Titles, and Footprints in Time - use
this document and the information
provided in Footprints in Time to develop your lesson plan)
Objectives:
· Make and use observations of Laetoli
footprints to provide clues to life in the past.
· Collect and analyze data to study the relationship between
foot length and body height.
· Use the data on foot length and body height to estimate
the height of Laetoli hominids.
Idaho Achievement
Standards:
· 648.02a Know that observations and
data are evidence on which to base scientific explanations.
· 648.02c Develop scientific explanations
based on scientific knowledge, logic, and analysis.
· 649.01d Formulate and revise scientific
explanations and models using logic and evidence.
· 652.01b Know that natural selection
and its evolutionary consequences provide a scientific
explanation for the fossil record of ancient life forms, as well
as for the striking molecular similarities observed among the
diverse species of organisms.
· 652.01c Know that the theory of evolution
explains how different species of plants, animals, and microorganisms
that live on earth today are related by descent from common ancestors.
Procedures: (refer to ENSI website
above for further information)
Note: Provide students with the Information
Processing Form and the Experimental Write-up Form
found on the following pages.
1. In your lab group, gather the following data
and record it in the data table; foot length and
height (all measurements must be in centimeters)
2. Plot your data on the transparencies.
3. Draw a best-fit line for the data.
4. Measure the foot length of the provided footprints.
5. Compare this with the scatter-plot graph. Extend the best-fit
line if needed.
Foot length:
distance from heel to toe (without shoe).
Height:
distance from floor to the top of the head (without shoes).
INFO
PROCESSING SHEET
Name____________________________
Partners_______________________________
Topic
Title: ________________________________________________________________________
Learning
Objective Addressed: _______________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
Summary of Information
and/or Data: (Must be a paragraph of at least three sentences.
Tell what you learned, not what you did.)
Rate the likelihood
that the Info-Data is accurate: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Justify
your rating:
Questions relating
to the Info-Data: (Must be complete sentences and should
not be obviously
answered in the activity.)
1.
2.
3.
Connections that
link this Info-Data to OTHER Info-Data: (Only one connection
can be linked to
current studies. They must be about content, meaningful, and in
complete sentences.)
1.
2.
Write a three-sentence summary discussing
how this activity supported the learning objective stated above.
Name_____________________________
EXPERIMENTAL
WRITE-UP
Title:___________________________________________________________________
I. Question:
________________________________________________________________________
II. Prior Knowledge
and Assumptions: _________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
III. Material List and Procedure:
IV. Hypothesis and Prediction:
V. Data Tables:
(provide a sample grid for data here)
VI. Graphs and
Statistical Analysis:
(insert sample of graph paper here)
VII. Conclusion:
(provide several lines for this)
VIII. New Questions:
Evaluation (Take Home)
For homework, complete the Experimental Write-up
and collect the same data from a minimum of three family members
and/or friends. Does the new data correspond with the conclusions
made in class?
What other similar relationships might be useful
in determining the height of individuals? How are they relevant?
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