Evidence for Evolution

Foldable Instructions
1. Make a layered-booklet foldable using
three pieces of legal sized paper. Make
your tabs at least one inch wide.

2. Add staples at the top fold to keep your

foldable together.
Labels for foldable
1. The top flap should be titled Evidence for Evolution
2. Label each flap as follows:
a. Fossil Record
b. Anatomical Similarities and Differences Between
Fossils and Modern Organisms
c. Anatomical Similarities and Differences Between
Modern Organisms
d. DNA
Fossil Record
Learning Target: Fossils are used to study the history of life on Earth.

Success Criteria:

Understand that geologic and biologic processes operate in the same

way today as they did in the past (uniformitarianism).

Recognize that the fossil record provides evidence that a diverse

group of organisms have lived on earth and that those species have
changed over time.

Explain that some organisms are found in the fossil record and are no
longer on earth (extinction).
Fossil Record
Use the green life science book to find the following definitions (in
glossary).

1.Define fossil record.

2.Define extinction

3.Define evolution

Copy this statement:

Uniformitarianism is the assumption that natural laws and processes

occur today as they have in the past. This includes the rock cycle,
continental drift and reproduction.
Fossil Record Continued
Answer the following questions in your foldable.

1.Why is the concept of Uniformitarianism important to

scientists use of fossils to study evolution? (pages 201-202
in blue Earth Science book)

Watch Cambrian Explosion video (13:07) for questions #2 and

#3.
2.What does the fossil record tell us about the numbers and
types of species that have lived on Earth over time?
3.How have body structures changed over time? Provide
examples that includes at least three different organisms.

4.Does having a complex body plan mean that an organism

is more highly evolved? (Ultimate Animal video)
Anatomical Similarities and Differences
Learning Target: Anatomical similarities and differences, as well as
DNA, help to determine evolutionary relationships

Success Criteria: Identify anatomical similarities and differences

between modern organisms and fossil organisms and use them to infer
evolutionary relationships.
Anatomical Similarities and Differences
Between Fossils and Modern Organisms

Answer the following question: (page 170-171 in the Life Science book)

1. How do scientists use fossils to provide evidence for evolutionary

relationships with modern organisms?
Anatomical Similarities and Differences
Between Fossils and Modern Organisms Continued
Case study: Evolution of the Whale (pages 170 and 171)

1.Cut out each of the diagrams that show a modern toothed whale
and its ancestors.
2. Arrange the diagrams to show the evolution of the whale and
glue/tape them down on the back of your foldable.
3.Add arrows to show the order in which these species existed.
4.Use the textbook and write notes about each species near its
pictures.
5.Make a note about how each species is different from the one
before it.
Anatomical Similarities and Differences
Learning Target: Anatomical similarities and differences, as well as
DNA, help to determine evolutionary relationships

Success Criteria:

Identify anatomical similarities and differences between modern

organisms and use them to infer evolutionary relationships.

Define vestigial structure and explain how they can be used to infer
evolutionary relationships.
Anatomical Similarities and Differences Between
Modern Organisms
Answer the following questions: (page 172 in Life Science Book)

1. How do scientists use skeletal structures as evidence for

evolutionary relationships between modern organisms?

2.What is a vestigial structure?

3.How do scientists use vestigial structures as evidence for

evolutionary relationships?

*Task* Complete pages 2-5, Comparative Anatomy, in the Evidence of

Evolution packet
Anatomical Similarities and Differences
Learning Target: Anatomical similarities and differences, as well as
DNA, help to determine evolutionary relationships

Success Criteria: Describe how DNA from different species is used to

determine evolutionary relationships.
DNA
Answer the following question: (page 172 in Life Science Book)

1. How do scientists use DNA to provide evidence evolutionary

relationships?

*Task* Complete pages 8-9, Molecular Biology in the Evidence of

Evolution packet
Embryos
Learning Target: Similarities in embryological development of
different species provide evidence for evolutionary relationships.

Success Criteria:

Identify similarities between pictures of embryos of different species.

Explain that similarities in embryos may provide evidence for

evolutionary relationships among different species that is not
apparent in the fully formed organism.
Embryos
Answer the following questions:

1.What is an embryo?

2.How are embryos of different species used to infer evolutionary

relationships?

*Task* Complete pages 6-7, Embryology in the Evidence of Evolution

packet